Joe McDonagh Cup Round 4 Preview: Laois v Kildare

Joe McDonagh Cup Round 4 Preview: Laois v Kildare

Written by Laois PR Team

The Laois senior hurlers will play Kildare at home in the Round 4 game of the Joe McDonagh Cup on Sunday May 18th, with throw in at 3pm in Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

Tickets can be purchased both online and in person using the following options below.

Tickets can be purchased online here:

https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/buy/25OM1805

**Please note that juvenile u16 tickets cost 5 euro and must be purchased alongside an adult ticket for entry.**

Tickets can be purchased in person via selected participating SuperValu stores:

SuperValu Stradbally

Breslin’s SuperValu Rathdowney

McConville’s SuperValu Mountmellick

McLoughlin’s SuperValu Portarlington

Mulhall’s SuperValu Portlaoise

SuperValu Abbeyleix

SuperValu Parkside Portlaoise.

Follow live match scores and updates on our official CLG Laois Twitter account: @CLGLaois.

Manager Tommy Fitzgerald has named the following side to face Kildare.

Permutations: The winner of Laois vs Kildare qualifies for the Joe McDonagh Cup Final.

Latest Laois Stats: Round 3 vs Kerry

Courtesy of Eoin Culliton: @LeixGaelicStats on Twitter.

James Duggan’s 5th goal: first Laois player to score five goals in the championship in a single game since Billy Delaney of Errill in 1939.

James Duggan’s 4th goal: first Laois player to score 4 championships goals in a single game – since Paddy Lalor in 1959.

James Duggan’s hat trick goal: The Laois sharpshooter completed a hat trick—the 22nd known in Laois championship hurling history. It was Laois’s first championship hat trick since Stephen Bergin’s in 2023.

James Duggan’s 2nd goal vs Kerry in Round 3: (after also scoring 2 goals vs Down in Round 2): Duggan is the first Laois hurler to score 2+ goals in consecutive championship matches since Paddy Kelly in 1951.

It should be noted too, that Duggan’s 5-2 (17pts) was a new championship scoring record for Laois senior hurlers, passing the 16pt-record set by Billy Delaney (5-1) in 1939 and equalled by James Young (1-13) in 2006.

Aaron Dunphy reached a major milestone, scoring his 100th championship point in the second half.

Congratulations to Paddy Purcell, who made his 50th SHC appearance today. He’s in rarefied air, with only Tommy Fitz (50) and Matthew Whelan (52) having reached that mark.

Congrats to John Lennon who made his 25th SHC appearance yesterday, becoming the 33rd player ever to do so.

Only eight different clubs were represented in the match vs Kerry (incl subs).

It’s the first time since 2015 (v Dublin) that it has been this low.

Last time:

7 – 2014 v Wat

6 – 2001 v Wex

4 – 1926 v Off

3 – 1923 v Off

Laois senior hurlers have scored 14 goals in three championship matches.

It’s the biggest three-game total since 1951 (also 14).

The highest ever was was 17 (1939-1940).

Laois hurlers have now scored 3+ goals in three championship games in a row for the first time since 1972-1973.

Round 3 Recap:

Laois: 5-28

Kerry: 1-21

Laois scorers: James Duggan 5-2, Tomas Keyes 0-7 (six frees, one 65), Aaron Dunphy 0-6 (three frees, one 65), David Dooley 0-4, Fiachra C Fennell 0-3, Mark Dowling 0-2, Podge Delaney (free), Ryan Mullaney, Paddy Purcell and Willie Dunphy 0-1 each

Laois subs: Donnacha Hartnett for Cuddy and Aaron Dunphy for Quinlan (both ht), John Lennon for Dooley (41), Mark Dowling for Conroy (46), Willie Dunphy for Keyes (57)

Standout Players (Laois)

James Duggan (total 5-2 from play) continued his remarkable championship form, netting his total of 7 goals from play so far in the Joe McDonagh Cup 2025 campaign. (2 vs Down and 5 vs Kerry)

Ryan Mullaney: Scored 1pt from play and set up 2 goals directly. Duggan’s fourth goal came from a clever flick on the end of a superb long ball delivered from the halfway line by Ryan Mullaney. Duggan’s fifth goal was the result of another precise long ball from Mullaney, who set up Duggan to finish clinically.

Diarmaid Conway: A rock in defence, Diarmaid Conway put in a commanding display. He launched a stunning solo run from the backline, controlling the sliotar on his hurl and driving through Kerry’s lines before setting up Duggan for a point from play. Conway also executed a key tackle and turnover on Kerry’s Adam Segal, showcasing his physical presence and vision under pressure.

Fiachra C. Fennell: delivered an impressive midfield performance, scoring two points from play in quick succession and contributing tirelessly on both ends of the pitch. In the second half, he produced a crucial tackle and turnover on Paudie O’Connor, directly leading to a point from Aaron Dunphy. Fennell was also denied a goal only by another top-class save from Kerry keeper Louis Dee. His overall point total reached 0-3 from play.

Kildare:

Round 1 – April 19:

Kildare 0-19

Kerry 1-17

Kildare narrowly lost their opening match by a single point. David Qualter was a standout performer, contributing 0-10 (including 1 from a ’65 and 4 frees).

Round 2 – April 26:

Kildare 3-24

Westmeath 2-11

Kildare bounced back with a strong victory. Jack Sheridan led the scoring with 1-3 (all from frees), while James Burke added 1-2.

Round 3 – May 10:

Carlow 1-20

Kildare 2-23

In a surprising upset, Kildare defeated Carlow. David Qualter scored 0-7 (all from frees), and James Burke contributed 0-5 from play.

Previous meeting result: Laois v Kildare

In the 2023 Joe McDonagh Cup, Laois secured a decisive victory over Kildare with a final score of 1-23 to 0-11 in Laois Hire O’Moore Park.