Monday Recap: Latest on Minor Hurling & U20 Football.
Written by Laois PR Team.
It was a positive week for Laois GAA, as the following of our county teams were all in action and all 5 teams went unbeaten in all 5 games:
● Minor Hurlers (Leinster MHC)
● U19 Development Hurlers (U19 Leinster Development League)
● U17 Development Hurlers (Celtic Challenge Cup)
● U20 Footballers (Leinster U20 Football Championship)
● Senior Footballers (Leinster SFC)
Well done to all involved and we wish all teams the very best of luck going forward in their respective championships.
Results:
Wednesday April 2nd:
U20 Leinster Football Championship Round 2.
Laois: 0-19 (19)
Wexford: 1-16 (19)
U19 Hurling Development League:
Laois: 5-16 (31)
Westmeath: 5-16 (31)
Friday April 4th:
Celtic Challenge Cup 2025 Round 1
Offaly: 0-15 (15)
Laois: 2-10 (16)
Saturday April 5th:
Leinster MHC Round 1
Laois: 3-18 (27)
Kildare: 0-11 (11)
Leinster SFC Round 1
Wexford: 2-11 (17)
Laois: 2-21 (27)
Below, we look back on the minor hurlers emphatic win over Kildare and the u20 footballers inspiring comeback draw vs Wexford. Plus we discuss what’s to come next for both teams.
We will look back on our senior footballers great win over Wexford at the end of the week, when we preview their quarter final clash vs Louth. Set for Sunday April 13th at 3pm in Conleth’s Park, Newbridge.
Laois minor hurlers:
Upcoming fixtures:
Leinster MHC Tier 2 Round 2:
Carlow vs Laois in Carlow Venue TBC at 1pm on Saturday April 12th.
Round 3: vs Kerry at home on April 26th.
Permutations: if Laois finish top of the group, they will have a preliminary quarter final vs a 2nd place team from a group of: Antrim, Meath, Offaly, Wicklow, Westmeath. If Laois finish 2nd, they play the 1st placed team from that group.
Round 1 Recap:
Laois: 3-18
Kildare: 0-11
Laois: Eoin Delaney 2-5, CJ Brennan 0-3, Dan Downey 1-0, Tom Og Phelan (frees), LJ Cuddy and Tony Mahony 0-2 each, Donnacha Carroll (free), Luke Hynes, Conor McDonagh and Daniel Jones 0-1 each.
Kildare: Callum Durnin 0-5 (frees) Ben Shortt 0-3 (frees), Oisin McAfee, Robbie Byrne and Ciaran Gorman 0-1 each.
Just 2 minutes into the game, Eoin Delaney used his superb pace after he won a long and high ball 40m out from goal, continued on a massive run and struck a lovely shot at goal from 20m out, resulting in a right hand top corner- goal finish. Delaney’s first goal from play of the day. This set the standards for the rest of Eoin Delaney’s electric performance.
Delaney’s 2nd goal from play came just 12 minutes later, when he was first alert to scoop up possession of a breaking ball and strike the net again, a ball that first fell to him as a rebound by the Kildare keeper Jack O’Dea who had done very well to block Tom Og Phelan’s great goal effort (Tom Og Phelan scored 0-2 from frees). Eoin Delaney scored 2-5 from play and almost got a hat trick only the post denied him before he was directly involved in the set up of Laois’ 3rd goal by Dan Downey.
Dan Downey was also excellent as alongside scoring his goal from play, he worked very hard in the set up play that led to Eoin Delaney’s 2nd goal and LJ Cuddy’s point from play.
In defence: the 3 players of Liam O’Keefe, Donnacha Carroll (0-1 from a free) and Kyle Handcock never put a foot wrong in the Laois back line. O’Keefe done very well to prevent a Kildare goal by forcing a wide with brilliant man marking and defensive pressure applied. Donnacha Carroll and Kyle Handcock were also both highly effective defensively with great tackles and interceptions plus Tony Mahony produced his talented long range striking ability, scored 2 fantastic points from play, both struck from the middle of the field.
Laois U20 Footballers:
Round 2 Recap:
Laois: 0-19
Wexford: 1-16
Laois: Ennae Byrne 0-7 (two frees, one two-point free), Sam Ryan 0-4 (one two pointer), Ryan Little 0-3 (one free), Eoin Johnson (free), Niall Lalor, Darren Brennan, Rory Lalor and Paddy Fitzpatrick (free) 0-1 each
Wexford: James Lawless 0-7 (two frees, one two-point free), Brian Roban 0-3, Darren Rossitter 1-1, Cathal Kehoe and Dean Hillis 0-2 (one two pointer each), Jason Sheridan 0-1 (free)
Permutations: If Laois beat Carlow and Kildare beat Wexford: combined with a 23 point difference swing in Round 3, Laois will go through to the knockout stage.
The two Lalor brothers (0-1 from play each) were in top form (Niall Lalor in midfield and Rory Lalor at centre half forward). When Niall and Rory combined in attacking plays, it made for some excellent scores and opportunities. A brilliant and quick hand passing move between the two players with use of pacey runs forward, the Lalor’s helped win a free in for Eannae Byrne to convert.
Rory & Niall Lalor’s contribution to their attacking team mates was crucial, as he set up Sam Ryan for a long range point from play. Just inside the arc then himself, Rory got his own point from play. Niall Lalor was exceptionally strong in midfield, winning multiple high balls, kickouts and setting up scores, alongside scoring himself. Niall made a superbly timed interception and turnover, that led to a goal chance for Ryan Little. (0-3 total).
Eannae Byrne (no.19) (total 0-7) was highly impressive in attack also as his kicking skills throughout, both his shooting and kick passing were top notch. He scored with ease a difficult 2 pointer from a free. (3 points in a row in the 2nd half) Directly set up a Sam Ryan at full forward (total 0-4) a 2 pointer and Byrne had his own 2 pointer effort hit the post from great distance and angle in the 2nd half.
Darren Brennan with great composure struck under pressure to level the game for Laois after a lovely high ball kicked across from Paddy Fitzpatrick (0-1 free) as the substitutions (also Tom O’Connell and Fionn O’Sullivan) made an incredible impact on Laois’s 2nd half hard fought and well deserved comeback draw as Laois were 12 points down early in the 2nd half.
By Laois PRO Mon 7th Apr
