Fitzgerald names team named to play Carlow in the opening round of the Joe McDonagh Cup

LAOIS hurling manager Tommy Fitzgerald has named the starting 15 for Saturday evening's opening round of the Joe McDonagh Cup against Carlow in Netwatch Cullen Park.

Fitzgerald has made three changes from the team that were beat Kerry to be crowned Division 2 champions three weeks ago.

Clough/Ballacolla's Diarmaid Conway comes in at wing-back replacing The Harps' Cody Comerford. Slieve Bloom's Ben Conroy, wearing 13 to replaces James Keyes ()Colt-Shanahoe). The last change at full-forward Castletown's Martin Phelan gets the nod ahead of Clough/Ballacolla’s Cillian Dunne.

There is also some good news for Fitzgerald and Laois, Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher has recovered from his injury and is named on the bench on the bench.

There was a time when Laois hurlers would be expected to account for their Barrowside neighbours. But that certainly changed last year.

Laois had beaten Carlow twice in 2024, in the third round of the National League by five points and for a second tine in the Division 2A final when Laois had 13 points to spare.

But Carlow got their revenge last year. In Division 1B of the league they beat Laois 2-26 to 0-29. Then they shared the spoils when the two met in the fifth round of the Joe McDonagh Cup on a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-20.

The sides have had very differing experiences in this year’s National League. Laois, as mentioned earlier, beat Keery to be crowned Division 2A champions and win promotion to Division 1B for next year. In contrast Carlow swapped places with Laois being relegated to Division 2A for 2027.

On that form Laois will be expected to cross back over the River Barrow with an opening round win.

DATE & VENUE:

Saturday, Netwatch Cullen Park, 6pm 

BETTING:

Carlow 15/8, Laois /15, Draw 8/1 

LAOIS: Cathal Dunne (Clough/Ballacolla); Ian Shanahan (Ballinakill), Lee Cleere (Clough/Ballacolla), Diarmaid Conway (Clough/Ballacolla); Ciaran McEvoy (Portlaoise), Podge Delaney (The Harps), Fiachra C Fennell (Rosenallis); David Dooley (Rosenallis), Aidan Corby (Clough/Ballacolla); Aaron Dunphy (Clough/Ballacolla), Jack Kelly (Rathdowney/Errill), Ryan Mullaney (Castletown); Ben Conroy (Slieve Bloom), Martin Phelan (Castletown), Tomas Keyes (Camross).

Carlow 15/8, Laois /15, Draw 8/1 LAOIS: Cathal Dunne (Clough/Ballacolla); Ian Shanahan (Ballinakill), Lee Cleere (Clough/Ballacolla), Diarmaid Conway (Clough/Ballacolla); Ciaran McEvoy (Portlaoise), Podge Delaney (The Harps), Fiachra C Fennell (Rosenallis); David Dooley (Rosenallis), Aidan Corby (Clough/Ballacolla); Aaron Dunphy (Clough/Ballacolla), Jack Kelly (Rathdowney/Errill), Ryan Mullaney (Castletown); Ben Conroy (Slieve Bloom), Martin Phelan (Castletown), Tomas Keyes (Camross).

Fitzgerald names team named to play Carlow in the opening round of the Joe McDonagh Cup opener Denis J. Croke Three changes made to the team that were crowned Division 2A champions LAOIS hurling manager Tommy Fitzgerald has named the starting 15 for Saturday evening's opening round of the Joe McDonagh Cup against Carlow in Netwatch Cullen Park.

Fitzgerald has made three changes from the team that were beat Kerry to be crowned Division 2 champions three weeks ago.

Clough/Ballacolla's Diarmaid Conway comes in at wing-back replacing The Harps' Cody Comerford. Slieve Bloom's Ben Conroy, wearing 13 to replaces James Keyes ()Colt-Shanahoe). The last change at full-forward Castletown's Martin Phelan gets the nod ahead of Clough/Ballacolla’s Cillian Dunne.

There is also some good news for Fitzgerald and Laois, Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher has recovered from his injury and is named on the bench on the bench.

There was a time when Laois hurlers would be expected to account for their Barrowside neighbours. But that certainly changed last year.

Laois had beaten Carlow twice in 2024, in the third round of the National League by five points and for a second tine in the Division 2A final when Laois had 13 points to spare.

But Carlow got their revenge last year. In Division 1B of the league they beat Laois 2-26 to 0-29. Then they shared the spoils when the two met in the fifth round of the Joe McDonagh Cup on a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-20.

The sides have had very differing experiences in this year’s National League. Laois, as mentioned earlier, beat Keery to be crowned Division 2A champions and win promotion to Division 1B for next year. In contrast Carlow swapped places with Laois being relegated to Division 2A for 2027.

On that form Laois will be expected to cross back over the River Barrow with an opening round win.

DATE & VENUE:

Saturday, Netwatch Cullen Park, 6pm BETTING:

Carlow 15/8, Laois /15, Draw 8/1 LAOIS: Cathal Dunne (Clough/Ballacolla); Ian Shanahan (Ballinakill), Lee Cleere (Clough/Ballacolla), Diarmaid Conway (Clough/Ballacolla); Ciaran McEvoy (Portlaoise), Podge Delaney (The Harps), Fiachra C Fennell (Rosenallis); David Dooley (Rosenallis), Aidan Corby (Clough/Ballacolla); Aaron Dunphy (Clough/Ballacolla), Jack Kelly (Rathdowney/Errill), Ryan Mullaney (Castletown); Ben Conroy (Slieve Bloom), Martin Phelan (Castletown), Tomas Keyes (Camross).