Weekend Preview: Joe McDonagh Senior Hurling Championship & Leinster Senior Football Championship 2023
Ahead of a busy weekend for both our Senior Hurler’s and Footballer’s, we provide a short preview of both games.
Preview – Senior Hurling: Joe McDonagh Cup vs Offaly
Manager Willie Maher has named his side to face Offaly in the Joe McDonagh Cup Round 1 fixture. Throw in at 3pm in Glenisk O Connor Park Tullamore on Saturday April 8th.
Team news: There are 2 changes to the side that faced Westmeath a fortnight ago in the Allianz League Division 1 Relegation Play-Off . Liam “Fonzy” O’Connell replaces Padraig Lalor at no.7 and Aidan Corby replaces Tomas Keyes at no.12.
One’s to watch: Colt Shanahoe’s James Keyes continues a solid run of form with a a great performance against Westmeath last time out in Thurles, making a number of runs through the Westmeath defence and scoring 5 points along with Clough Ballacolla’s Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher who scored 8 points against Westmeath and 11 points against Dublin. Another positive note is the fact that all 6 of Laois’ forwards got scores against Westmeath.
Joe McDonagh Cup 2023 Format Explained: The Round Robin stage consists of the Joe McDonagh consists of a group of 6 teams, which will all face each other – Laois, Offaly, Carlow, Down, Kildare & Kerry. The top 2 teams from the round robin stage will play-off in the final to be held in Croke Park on May 27th/28th 2023 to decide the winner of the Joe McDonagh Cup. The 2 teams competing in this final will advance to the 2023 All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Knockout Stages. The bottom ranked team in the round robin stage will be relegated to the Christy Ring Cup.
Preview – Senior Football: Leinster Senior Football Championship vs Wexford
Manager Billy Sheehan has named his side to face Wexford in the 2023 Leinster SFC Round 1 fixture. Throw in is Sunday April 9th at 3.30pm in Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.
Team news: There is 1 change to the starting side that faced London. Padraig Kirwan (no.7) replaces the injured Brian Byrne and James Finn (no.26) comes into the bench.
One to watch: Crettyard’s Evan O’ Carroll who has a great record against Wexford in particular, scoring 1-4 against them when Laois defeated Wexford in this year’s Allianz League Division 4 Round 2 fixture back in February this year by 5 points (Laois – 1-18. Wexford 1-13).
Leinster SFC 2023 Format Explained: The Winner of Laois vs Wexford will go on to face Dublin in the quarter final with the advantage of a home fixture taking place in 2 weeks time. The Loser of Laois vs Wexford will go into the 2023 Tailteann Cup. Unless Laois reach the 2023 Leinster SFC Final, they will play in the Tailteann Cup where 16 teams will play in 4 groups.
Get your tickets:
Senior Hurling Match tickets: Offaly vs Laois – https://www.ticketmaster.ie/offaly-v-laois-joe-mcdonagh-cup-co-offaly-08-04-2023/event/18005E83CDF59EA7
Senior Football Match tickets: Laois vs Wexford – https://www.ticketmaster.ie/leinster-senior-football-championship-laois-v-co-laois-09-04-2023/event/18005E74BFB68554
Follow the games on Twitter:
To follow live match updates & scores: Laois GAA Twitter: https://twitter.com/CLGLaois
By Laois PRO Fri 7th Apr
