Monday Recap: Round 1 U20 & Minor: Leinster Hurling & Football.

Written by Laois PR Team

In the past week, our u20 hurlers and footballers plus our minor footballers began their 2025 leinster championship campaigns:

We look back on the 3 games and what’s to come next.

Laois U20 Hurlers:

Upcoming Fixtures in U20 Hurling Leinster Championship Group 1 Tier 1.

Round 2: on April 12th vs Offaly in an Offaly venue. Time TBC.

Permutations:

1st place group finish: Leinster semi final

2nd place: Leinster quarter final

3rd place: Leinster preliminary quarter final vs 1 of the winners from the following Tier 2 groups: Kerry, Kildare, Carlow or Meath, Westmeath, Antrim.

Round 1 Recap: March 29th

Laois: 0-8

Galway: 1-28

Laois: Jer Quinlan 0-3 (one free), Rick Bannon 0-2, Cormac Byrne 0-1, Ben Deegan 0-1 (free), Eoghan Cuddy 0-1 (free).

Galway: Rory Burke 1-8 (1-0 penalty, 0-3 frees, 0-2 65), Aaron Niland 0-3, Conor Lawless 0-3, Ryan O’Donnell 0-2, Jason Rabbitte 0-2, Brian Callanan 0-2, Cullen Killeen 0-2, Conor Gilligan 0-2, Micheal Burke 0-1, Donnacha Campbell 0-1, Colm Burke 0-1, Paddy MacCartaigh 0-1

Standout Players Laois:

Despite heavy defeat, there were a good few positives to highlight and take from the overall Laois performance:

The man of the match perfomance was produced by the talented goalkeeper and very effective shot stopper: Brochan O’Reilly.

He made 4 outstanding saves throughout, all from point blank range.

In the 1st half half: O’Reilly made his 1st superb stop of the game to prevent Ryan O’Donnell’s excellent effort a certain goal.

In the 2nd half: O’Reilly made another point blank range save impressively with a flick of his hurl and at full stretch to prevent Ryan O’Donnell again who was very dangerous in front of goal for Galway. O’Reilly then made a fantastic double-save from both Rory Burke and Ryan O’Donnell.

Alongside providing excellent long range puckouts accurately and caught a lot of dangerous high ball with confidence in his own box.

Full back Ciaran Flynn was impressive defensively, particularly in the 1st half. Ciaran Flynn, with a strong tackle and turnover in possession prevented Aaron Niland from Galway an early goal opportunity and set up a Laois attack instead. Ciaran Flynn’s manmarking skills were very good to apply defensive pressure at crucial moments and prevent further Galway scores. A perfectly timed tackle combined with a block prevented Brian Callanan (whom was brilliant for Galway) a point from play.

Right half back Cormac Hogan was solid defensively but also highly effective in contributing to Laois attacking plays. Cormac Hogan’s high ball winning skills combined with his long range accurate pucks into the Laois midfield and forward line, cleared alot of Galway danger. Hogan then made a great tackle to turn over possession from Galway’s Jason Rabbitte and Hogan then after applying superb pace on his run forward whilst holding onto the ball, set himself up with a great goal chance that was saved only by a point blank range save from Galway’s goalkeeper Donagh Fahy

Laois Minor Footballers:

Upcoming Fixtures in Leinster MFC Group 1

Round 2: vs Dublin in Dublin venue at 7.30pm on Thursday April 10th

Round 3: vs Offaly in Offaly venue at 7.30pm on Tuesday April 15th.

Permutations:

1st place in group finish: Leinster semi final

2nd place: Leinster quarter final

3rd place: Leinster preliminary quarter final

4th: exit Leinster, Tier 3 All Ireland.

Round 1 Recap: March 29th

Laois: 0-12

Louth: 1-15

Laois: Cian O’Sullivan 0-6 (five frees), Sean Rowan 0-4 (one free), Finn Dawson and Ultan Dunne (free) 0-1 each

Louth: Connell Kelly 0-8 (one two-point free, one 45, one free), Cian Rooney 1-0, Tadhg Devaney (two pointer), Cillian McQuillan and Conal Mannion 0-2 each, Andrew O’Reilly 0-1

Standout Players Laois:

Right corner back Sean Powders was very strong defensively throughout with an excellent block on a shot from Louth’s Cian Rooney to prevent a goal early on. Sean Powders displayed quick thinking and awareness off the ball also as he was first to the ball and out in front to make some vital interceptions. A great turnover from Powders also led to a Laois Cian O’Sullivan point from free. Powders again cleared Louth danger by winning a free out as he created turnovers quickly.

Centre half back Fionnan Brennan was really impressive for the entirety of the game with brilliant defesive work and whilst also contributing greatly to the Laois attack. Brennan won 2 Laois kickouts in a row in quick succession, and displaying superb pace as he went on massive rubs forward beating Louth players, Brennan set up 2 Laois attacking opportunities when he combined with and layed the ball off to midfielder Mark O’Connor.

O’Connor’s accurate hand passing to his teammates in the forward line set up alot of attacks. Fionnan Brennan’s fantastic long runs into attack set up important Laois scores, a Sean Rowan point from play and then a Cian O’Sullivan point from a free. (O’Sullivan also had an excellent goal chance blocked down and out for a 45.)

Fionnan Brennan continued to be a hugely important defender in the 2nd half also; making some quick interceptions: his hightlights of the 2nd half was he: both made a strong and perfectly timed tackle & blocked a shot from Louth’s Cian Rooney and Michael McGlew to prevent goal chances. When Brennan turned over possession after these excellent defensive moves: he directly set up a Sean Rowan point from play too.

Laois U20 Footballers:

Upcoming Fixtures in Group 3 of the U20 Leinster Football Championship:

Round 2: (Wednesday April 2nd in Laois Hire O’Moore Park, at 7.30pm) Laois vs Wexford.

Round 3: (Wednesday April 9th in a Carlow venue at 7.30pm) Carlow vs Laois.

Group 3 Permutations:

1st place and 2nd place group finishers, will qualify for the knockout stages.

Round 1 Recap: March 26th.

Laois: 0-6

Kildare: 3-18

Laois: Sam Ryan and Ennae Byrne (two point free) 0-2 each, Rory Lalor and Robbie Murphy 0-1 each

Kildare: Jay O’Brien 1-5 (1-0 pen, one two-pointer), Ben Loakman 0-6 (one two-pointer), Fintan Quinn 1-1, Cathal White 1-0, Evan Boyle, James Harris, Senan Murphy, Ryan Sinkey, Colm Moran and Eoin Cully 0-1 each

Standout Players Laois:

Despite heavy defeat, there were a good few positives to highlight and take from the overall Laois performance:

In the back line:

Captain Jake Darcy at left corner back and James Dunne at right half back, both displayed excellent defensive performances. As a result of a great and hard work rate throughout. Jake Darcy made important interceptions from both Kildare’s Fintan Quinn & Eoin Cully to prevent goal chances, alongside directly setting up his teammates, Robbie Murphy & Rory Lalor with 0-2 from play. Darcy also displayed great pace going forward as he had a brilliant effort on goal, stopped only by the feet of and point blank save from Kildare keeper Charlie Carroll.

James Dunne consistently made some very strong tackles and was both very alert & aware go prevent Kildare attacking danger. Dunne’s manmarking and defensive pressure prevented Kildare’s Ben Ryan scoring a point. He made an interception on Colm Moran to prevent another score and made 2 perfectly timed last ditch tackles preventing 2 Kildare goal chances from Eoin Cully & Colm Moran. Dunne also won a sideline ball for Darragh Loughman and won a free in for Sam Ryan.