Joe McDonagh Cup Round 4 Preview: Laois v Down

Joe McDonagh Cup Round 4 Preview: Laois v Down

Laois are at home tomorrow on Saturday May 16 at 5pm in Laois Hire O’Moore Park to face Down in Round 4 of the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Joe McDonagh Cup Table

Tomorrow’s game is basically a semi final. The winner is in the driving seat for a final place and the defeated team will be unlikely to reach the final, with the winning team gaining the advantage of head to head after tomorrow and their destiny to reach will be in their own hands, win the final game and it’s 100 percent guaranteed. Laois will be away to London and Down at home to Westmeath.

Ticket Information: Buy Your Match Tickets

Follow live match updates and scores on the official CLG Laois X account: @CLGLaois. Plus on our official Facebook page.

All Photo Credits: Captured by Oonagh

Laois team named:

Latest Key Laois Stats (Courtesy of Eoin Culliton @LeixGaelicStats on Twitter)

Gearoid Lynch is only the 29th known sub to score a senior championship hurling goal for Laois.

He’s only the second Ballinakill hurler to do this, after Eamon Jackman in 2003 vs Carlow.

Picky Maher has now equalled Paddy Purcell’s Laois record of 25 championship wins.

For the first time in 13 years, we have increased our scoring in three consecutive SHC games.

Our record is four, which was done in 2002-2003.

It’s only the fifth time that we have had 13 scorers in a SHC match.

2023 v Down

2024 v Meath & Down

2025 v Down

2026 v Westmeath

Laois hurlers have never lost a round3 match in the Joe McDonagh Cup (5) and have never lost in the competition with a Galway ref (4).

That is our third-biggest win over Westmeath in the championship and our biggest since 1969.

22 1948 Laois 7-10 Westmeath 3-0

26 1969 Laois 5-12 Westmeath 0-1

18 2026 Laois 5-28 Westmeath 2-19

Laois fielded their most capped starting hurling championship team v Westmeath (381)

Fiachra C Fennell played his 30th SHC game.

Ciaran McEvoy played his 30th L&C match and David Dooley made his 40th overall app.

Standout Players from Laois v Westmeath

Laois: 5.28

Westmeath: 2.19

Aaron Dunphy was one of the main reasons for Laois’ huge win. He combined brilliantly with Ben Conroy to set up scores, scored himself 1-10 of Laois’s total and was hugely influential in attack throughout the game. Dunphy’s goal in the first half was a stylish finish, and his movement and scoring threat constantly stretched the Westmeath defence. He led the way at key moments when Laois were building their early dominance and stepped up to accurately strike frees in the 2nd half too. Showing he is still highly effective from dead balls as he is from play.

Ben Conroy stood out because of his clinical finishing and direct running. Alongside Dunphy, he was central to almost everything dangerous Laois created in attack. His contribution to the scoreboard was 1-5 and this tally highlighted just how efficient he was in attack, and his work rate off the ball helped Laois maintain their pressure on Westmeath throughout.

As vital as Dunphy’s and Conroy’s scores was Ian Shanahan’s contribution from defence. Through his work rate, support play, and ability to link defence and attack. In a game where Laois had thirteen different scorers and dominated across the field, strong defensive displays like Shanahan’s are also crucial in maintaining intensity and structure throughout the contest. Ian Shanahan won the penalty after a really impressive run from distance that Picky Maher converted.

Laois v Down Previous Meeting in Joe Mc Donagh Cup: in 2025 in Ballycran on April 26th

Laois: 6.36

Down: 1.12

Down are a much improved side this year after impressive showings in the championship so far: lost to table leaders Carlow by just one goal and beat Antrim in the championship and the league. Also in the league, Down produced a brilliant display against Wexford and ran Wexford to just 2 points in the end, the defeat was by.

Down Standout Players this championship:

Pearse Og McCrickard total 1.16 (scored 1.5 against Carlow alone)

Donal Hughes total 2.8