Written by: Laois PR Team.
The Laois Senior Hurlers are set to begin their new Division 2 league campaign when they take on Down at home in Laois Hire O’Moore Park this Sunday February 4th in the Allianz Hurling League Division 2 Round 1 fixture (2pm kick off).
Tickets can be purchased both online and in person using the following options below and if you cannot attend the game, live match scores and updates will be provided via Twitter.
Tickets can be purchased online here: https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/24OM0402
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 Willie Maher has named the following side to face Down:
1. Enda Rowland (Abbeyleix St.Lazarians)
2. Noah Quinlan (Borris in Ossory/Kilcotton)
3. Liam O’Connell (Rathdowney Errill)
4. Diarmaid Conway (Clough Ballacolla)
5. Tom Cuddy (Camross)
6. Ryan Mullaney (Castletown)
7. Gearoid Lynch (Ballinakill)
8. Willie Dunphy (Clough Ballacolla)
9. Paddy Purcell (Rathdowney Errill)
10. Aaron Dunphy (Capt) (Borris in Ossory/Kilcotton)
11. David Dooley (Rosenallis)
12. Mark Dowling (Camross)
13. Jer Quinlan (Borris in Ossory/Kilcotton)
14. Martin Phelan (Vice Capt.) (Castletown)
15. Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher (Clough Ballacolla)
Subs:
16. Cathal Dunne
17. Ian Shanahan
18. Padraic Dunne
19. Fiachra C Fennell
20. Liam Senior
21. Aidan Corby
22. Cody Comerford
23. James Duggan
24. Stephen Bergin
25. Tomas Keyes
26. Eric Killeen
The following players are set to make their national hurling league debuts:
Noah Quinlan (Borris in Ossory/Kilcotton)
Tom Cuddy (Camross)
Jer Quinlan (Borris in Ossory/Kilcotton)
David Dooley (Rosenallis)
Stats:
If the starting 15 named, start as selected tomorrow:
It will be the first time Laois have started 4+ NHL debutants in one game since Laois played Wexford in 2009.
It will be only the 40th time in 530 league games that Laois have done this.
Captain Aaron Dunphy will make his 60th overall appearance.
Notable others:
Martin Phelan will reach his 10th appearance in both league & championship tomorrow.
Liam O’Connell will reach his 10th league appearance tomorrow.
2024 Walsh Cup Round Up:
The following players made their Senior Debut:
Tom Cuddy (Camross)
Ger Quinlan (Borris in Ossory/Kilcotton)
Cody Comerford (The Harps)
Aaron Phelan (Castletown)
These 4 players have also been named on the U20 Laois Hurling Panel for 2024 by U20 Hurling Manager, Damien Carter.
Players who returned to the panel:
Mark Dowling (Camross)
Lee Cleere (Clough Ballacolla)
Diarmaid Conway (Clough Ballacolla)
Injuries:
Donnacha Hartnett (Rosenallis)
Walsh Cup Round 1: Laois vs Offaly on January 4th in Centre Of Excellence Portlaoise
Final Score:
Laois: 2 – 18
Offaly: 0 – 18
On his return, Mark Dowling scored an excellent goal from play. Tom Cuddy, Cody Comerford and Ger Quinlan (Ger Quinlan scored 1 point) started this game to make their Senior debuts. Plus Aaron Phelan came off the bench to make his Senior Debut also.
Scorers: Enda Rowland 1-4 (1 penalty and three 65’s) Aaron Dunphy 0-5 (3 frees) Mark
Dowling (1 goal from play) Aidan Corby, Martin Phelan and Willie Dunphy (0-2 each) Jer Quinlan, John Lennon and Diarmaid Conway (0-1 each)
Walsh Cup Round 2: Laois vs Galway in Ballinasloe on January 14th
Final Score:
Laois: 2 – 20
Galway: 6 – 29
Despite heavy defeat, Laois gave a very good account of themselves and there was positives to take away from the game from a Laois perspective. Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher and Aaron Dunphy in particular, were excellent. Picky Maher scored 1-10 (1-4 from play) and Captain Aaron Dunphy scored 1-4. Cody Comerford and Tom Cuddy scored their first points as Laois Senior Hurlers (scored 0-1 each).
Scorers: Laois: Stephen Maher 1-10 (0-6 frees), Aaron Dunphy 1-4, Cody Comerford, Jer Quinlan, Tom Cuddy, Fiachra C Fennell, Tomas Keyes and David Dooley 0-1.
Down: 2024 Kehoe Cup Recap:
Down competed in the 2024 Kehoe Cup.
The Kehoe Cup is one tier below the
Walsh Cup.
It is made up of 4 teams every year, 3 from Leinster and 1 from Ulster:
Down, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow.
Kildare were 2024 Kehoe Cup Winners.
Down Results:
Kehoe Cup Round 1: January 14th
Down: 2 – 20
Meath: 1 – 16
The standout players on the day for Down were: Pearse Óg McCrickard (0-12) and Chris Egan (2-0)
Kehoe Cup Round 2: January 20th .
Down: 0-15
Kildare: 2-17
Pearse Óg McCrickard was an attacking threat for the second week in a row for Down having scored 4 points and substitute Oisin McManus scored 3 points.
Despite the 2 defeats, in defence: Conor Cassidy, Caolan Taggart and Niall McFarlane were very strong and equally as impressive as those in attack.
Previous Meeting: Laois vs Down: Joe McDonagh Cup Round 2 on April 16th 2023 in Laois Hire O’Moore Park.
Final Score:
Laois: 7-24
Down: 0-14
The previous meeting between the sides is a particularly memorable one for Laois fans as the Senior Hurlers recorded their highest ever win in history (by 31 points) and scored an outstanding 7 goals to defeat Down in the 2023 Joe McDonagh Cup Round 2 Fixture.
Stephen Bergin’s flawless performance for Laois that day was the standout one as he scored a hat trick. As consistent as always, Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher was in great form and scored 1-6 (1-1 from play).
The highest scorer for Down that day was Paul Sheehan with a total of 6 points. (3 points from play).
Pearse Óg McCrickard, that day scored 0-4 (2 points from play and 2 points from frees).
Also, Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher (Laois) and Pearse Óg McCrickard (Down) were named on the GAA 2023 Joe McDonagh Team Of The Year.
Scorers: Laois: Stephen Bergin 3-0, Stephen Maher 1-6 (4 frees and one 65),
Tomas Keyes 1-1, Paddy Purcell 1-1, Willie Dunphy 1-1, Ross King 0-3, Aaron Dunphy 0-2, James Keyes 0-2, Podge Delaney 0-2, PJ Scully 0-2 (one free), John Lennon 0-2, Podge Lawlor 0-1, Ian Shanahan 0-1.
Down: Paul Sheehan 0-6 (3 frees), Pearse Óg McCrickard 0-4 (2 frees), Liam Savage 0-1, Tom Prenter 0-1, Ruairi Cricked 0-1, Chris Egan 0-1
By Laois PRO Sat 3rd Feb
