Written by Laois PR Team
Laois Senior Hurlers have qualified for the Joe McDonagh Cup Final after 4 wins from 4, as they head into the final round fixture of the group stage on Saturday May 25th in Cusack Park, Mullingar at 1pm where they will face Westmeath.
Westmeath are now safe from relegation after their win over Meath last weekend and they will now compete again next year in the 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup.
Laois will next face Offaly on June 8th in Croke Park in the Joe McDonagh final, where the winner will win the prize of competing in next year’s 2025 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.
Current Table Standings (heading into Round 5)
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/24ck2505
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
Stream the match live: Clubber TV: clubber.ie
Follow live match scores and updates on our official CLG Laois Twitter account:
@CLGLaois
Radio: The match will be broadcast live on Midlands Radio 103.
Manager Willie Maher has named the following side to face Westmeath
Changes from the Down game in Round 4:
Starting changes:
Diarmaid Conway, Lee Cleere, John Lennon, Gearoid Lynch, Cody Comerford and Martin Phelan come into the starting 15 in place of Tom Cuddy, Aidan Corby, Paddy Purcell, Jer Quinlan, David Dooley and Mark Dowling.
Bench changes:
Andrew Mortimer replaces starter Lee Cleere, Bryan Bredin replaces starter Cody Comerford, Jarlaith Connolly replaces starter John Lennon, James Keyes replaces starter Gearoid Lynch and Cillian Dunne replaces starter Martin Phelan.
The Laois team lines out as follows:
Stats:
vs Down in Round 4 last Saturday May 18th:
For Laois:
Last time we had one game with 2+ players each with 2+ goals was in 1990 vs Wexford (Niall Rigney & John Fitzpatrick).
Mossy Keyes is the first Laois senior hurler since PJ Cuddy to have scored 28+ points from play in their first 11 SHC games. He is also only the fifth Laois player to have scored 6+ goals in his first 11 cship games.
David Dooley’s point in the 1st half was Laois’ 3000th white flag ever in the championship.
Third biggest cship win ever. (After Down 2023 & Meath 2024 were both 31pts)
First time to hit 30 white flags in a championship game.
Highest ever scoring half of championship hurling that Laois have ever been involved in (37). Passes the 35pts set in 1939 vs Meath.
This is only the 12th ever time that Laois have scored 4+ goals by HT.
The number of co-incidences between the two wins over Down (2023 & 2024) is high.
Clubs on starting teams: 9
Players with >30 SHC apps: 4
Scorers: 13
Scoring subs: 4
Debuts: 1
1st half goals: 4
Total points scored: 45 (2023) & 43 (2024)
Goals conceded: 0
Recap: Laois vs Down. Joe McDonagh Cup Round 4. Laois Hire O’Moore Park on May 18th
Final score:
Laois: 4-31
Down: 0-17
Laois scorers: Willie Dunphy 2-2, Mossy Keyes 2-2, Aaron Dunphy 0-5, Ross King 0-4, Aidan Corby 0-4, Jer Quinlan 0-3, David Dooley 0-3, Paddy Purcell 0-2, James Duggan 0-1, Podge Delaney 0-1, Cody Comerford 0-1, Ryan Mullaney 0-1, Martin Phelan 0-1.
In defense, Tom Cuddy switched to left corner back, adapted nicely and played very well in this position. Liam O’Connell (right half back) and Podge Delaney (centre half back), were both very solid defensively and produced excellence.
In attack: the 2nd half introduction of the electric James Duggan was very positive as he came on and produced great pace, skill and attacking intent, in which he provided a brilliant point from play that was the result of a skilful one handed strike. David Dooley was also very efficient at half forward and Jer Quinlan at centre half forward, was unstoppable in front goal with 3 pts from play, a goal chance and assisted 3 of the other Laois goals scored.
Westmeath: have had their struggles this Joe McDonagh campaign in which sees them just one spot above relegation but ensured safety to compete in the 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup, after a Round 1 loss at home to Kerry (by 6pts), a Round 2 loss away to Offaly (by 6pts), a Round 3 draw away to Down and a home win over Meath in Round 4. (by 18 pts).
The positives in player performances however: Darragh Clinton had a great game in front of goal last time out in the win over Meath (the win which ensured Westmeath’s safety from relegation) as he scored 1-4 from play.
Peter Clarke has played well in defense throughout also.
David O’Reilly has scored a total 1-6 from play this Joe McDonagh campaign and top scorer is the talented Killian Doyle, with a total score of 1-33 (of which 25 of these pts came from frees).
Laois vs Westmeath previous championship meeting:
Leinster SHC Round 5 in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on May 21st 2022
Laois: 1-18
Westmeath: 5-24
Laois scorers: Ross King 0-6, Paddy Purcell 1-1, Enda Rowland 0-4, James Keyes 0-3, Ben Conroy 0-2, Cha Dwyer 0-1, Padraic Dunne 0-1.
Westmeath scorers: Killian Doyle 0-7, Eoin Keyes 2-1, Niall Mitchell 2-0, Niall O’Brien 1-3, Joey Boyle 0-5, Davy Glennon 0-3, Jack Galvin 0-2, Cormac Boyle 0-1, Aaron Craig 0-1, Jack Gillen 0-1.
By Laois PRO Fri 24th May
