Written By Laois PR Team
Tailteann Cup Semi Final: Laois vs Antrim at 2pm on Sunday, June 23rd in Croke Park
Tickets can be purchased both online and in person using the following options below:
Tickets can be purchased online here: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/gaa-tailteann-cup-semi-finals-antrim-dublin-23-06-2024/event/180060D1AEF65497
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
Watch live on TV: on channel RTE 2 or stream via RTE Player
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 Justin McNulty has named the following side to face Antrim:
There is 1 change to the side named from the Kildare game: Ben Dempsey was a late change and replaced Dylan Kavanagh in the starting line up vs Kildare. Ben Dempsey is named on the bench vs Antrim, while Aaron McEvoy now comes in to the bench to replace Dylan Kavanagh for the Antrim game.
The Laois team lines out as follows:
What’s next:
The winners will go through to the final of the Tailteann Cup, set to take place in Croke Park on July 13th. They will face the winners of Down vs Sligo (the other semi final). The defeated side will exit the competition.
Recent Laois Stats
After his score of 1-1 (total 4 points) vs Kildare last Sunday, Evan O’Carroll is now in third spot in overall scoring for Laois seniors.
The top 10 is:
556 Ross Munnelly
463 Donie Kingston
320 Evan O’Carroll
319 Mick Lawlor
310 Damien Delaney
287 MJ Tierney
284 Chris Conway
274 Willie Brennan
262 Gary Walsh
222 Jack Kenna
League and Championship Appearances:
Against Kildare, Mark Timmons made his 130th league & championship appearance. Kevin Swayne made his 30th and Killian Roche made his 20th.
Other Stats vs Kildare:
It was Laois’ first win over Kildare in 19 years, since the Leinster semi final win over Kildare in 2005.
That win stopped a run of five winless cship matches vs Kildare (longest since 11-in-a-row ended in 1936).
It also stopped the first three losses in a row since eight in a row ended in 1931.
2-11 is the biggest score vs Kildare since the 2005 win and 0-12 is the lowest score conceded since that game.
The second-half “win” of five points is the biggest one vs Kildare since 1943 (8).
Laois led for 39 minutes vs Kildare.
For 70 minute matches vs Kildare, it’s the shortest that we’ve ever led in a victory.
It’s the shortest amount of time we have led in a victory against Kildare since 1946 (36/62).
It’s shortest percentage of a victory in the lead since 1943.
The last time we played Antrim in the championship, the previous game to it was against Kildare in O’Connor Park.
Quarter Final Recap: Laois vs Kildare on June 16th in O’Connor Park, Tullamore.
Laois: 2-11
Kildare: 0-12
Standout players for Laois: The Kildare game seen the return of key defenders, Ben Dempsey and James Kelly to the starting 15. In what was both players 1st appearance in this 2024 Tailteann Cup, after both were absent from injury since the Leinster quarter final defeat to Offaly last April 13th.
Dempsey’s and Kelly’s solid defensive performances made a significant impact in the Laois win. It is a great boost to have these players back and in form for the semi final. Ben Dempsey was excellent at man marking Kildare’s Niall Kelly, reducing his attacking threat throughout. James Kelly also excellent in defence, had contributed to the Laois attack too. With a bursting run forward on goal that resulted in a Laois penalty, which Mark Barry cooly converted.
Gaa.ie’s Tailteann Cup Team Of The Week: featured 4 Laois players named in the line up, as a result of the great win over Kildare: Killian Roche, Conor Heffernan, Evan O’Carroll and Mark Barry.
Goalkeeper Killian Roche scored a total 0-4, one point of which was an outstanding free, scored from the incredible distance of the 65 metre line. Conor Heffernan was brilliant in midfield at winning possession and also added a point from play. Electric in attack, were the current in form duo of Evan O’Carroll and Mark Barry. O’Carroll scored a total 1-1, the goal of which was a stunning finish from play and Barry was Laois’s top scorer on the day with a penalty converted and 2 points (total 1-2.)
Antrim: Previous results:
Round 1:
Antrim: 4-12
Tipperary: 2-13
Round 2:
Wexford: 0-17
Antrim: 1-15
Round 3:
Antrim: 0-20
Sligo: 0-20
Prelim. Quarter Final:
Antrim: 3-11
London: 2-10
Quarter Final
Fermanagh: 0-11
Antrim: 1-11
Standout players: Full forward Ruairi McCann is a massive goal scoring threat on Sunday, having scored 5 goals from play so far in this Tailteann Cup campaign alone.
In defence , full back Eunan Walsh has been consistently solid and midfielder Cathal Hynds has been on a strong run of form recently.
In goals, Michael Byrne similar to Laois’ Killian Roche, not only makes great saves but contributes to adding to the scoreline. Byrne was instrumental in Antrim’s comeback win of overcoming a 2nd half, 7 point deficit to Fermanagh. Byrne made a crucial 1st half save to prevent a Fermanagh goal and then in the next play, responded by scoring a 45. Byrne has scored a total 0-5 this Tailteann Cup campaign (4 from 45’s and 1 free).
Laois vs Antrim: Previous meetings (in the League)
Allianz Football League Div.3 on February 26th 2022 in Laois Hire O’Moore Park
Laois: 1-8
Antrim: 1-8
Allianz Football League Div.3 on March 19th 2017 in Corrigan Park
Antrim: 1-10 (13)
Laois: 0-11 (11)
Previous meeting (in the Championship)
All Ireland SFC Qualifier Round 1A on June 21st 2015 in Laois Hire O’Moore Park
Laois: 1-16 (19)
Antrim: 2-15 (21)
