It all began against Westmeath seven years ago

IT all began against Westmeath seven years ago here in Portlaoise on a sunny Saturday afternoon in May. Laois were expected to claim a famous first in the first round of the first ever Joe McDonagh Cup, and that was against Saturday’s opponents, Westmeath.

A year earlier the sides collided in the Leinster championship, also in O’Moore Park, and the hosts won narrowly 1-23 to 2-17. Ross King accounted for ten points and Stephen Maher 0-4 while Niall Mitchell and Allan Devine were top scorers for the visitors.

Laois went on to claim the scalps of Meath and Kerry but fell short when they played Wexford, again in Portlaoise. Westmeath lost to Kerry in Mullingar, but accounted for their Royal neighbours by two points. In the quarter-finals Offaly beat their neighbours on the North side in Mullingar.

Back to the new competition and Laois welcomed Westmeath on that May day in 2018.

Robbie Greville pointed for the visitors and five minutes later the same player hit the back of the Laois net. Laois got their first scores via Neil Foyle and Ross King. Laois through Paddy Purcell and Ross King brought the teams level after 12 minutes.

Westmeath upped their hurling and fired over points from Niall O’Brien, Cormac Boyle and Eoin Price. Ross King converted a free but Westmeath replied with Brendan Doyle and Aongus Clarke points.

Laois trailed by four points but a few switches saw an improvement in attack. Ben Conroy, Cha Dwyer, then a defence splitting move yielded a great goal. Aiden Corby started it. He fed Dwyer who fired a rasper at the keeper Paddy Carroll, who once played with Mountrath. He blocked the shot but the in-running Neil Foyle finished to the net.

Ciaran Doyle replied with a point but Laois were moving well. Points by Ross King and Aiden Corby had Laois three ahead approaching the half time break. Niall O’Brien added a brace for the visitors but Laois hit back with like scores from Cha Dwyer, Willie Dunphy and Laois went to the break leading 1-13 to 1-10.

Within a minute of the resumption the teams were level. A high ball into the Laois goalmouth fell kindly for Niall Mitchell and his ground shot beat Enda Rowland. Westmeath were now hurling with confidence as points were swapped regularly. Laois brought on Stephen Maher but Westmeath added by Aonghus Clarke and Niall O’Brien.

Laois made a bold bid for victory in the closing quarter. Points from Matthew Whelan, Ross King and Cha Dwyer narrowed the gap to three points and within the range of the hosts.

Then Laois added three more points, Ross King and Neil Foyle on target. Westmeath hit back with a brace which ensured safety and revenge for the year before.

WESTMEATH: Paddy Carroll; Shane Power Tommy Doyle, Gary Greville; Liam Varley, Paul Greville, Derek McNicholas (0-1); Eoin Price (0-2), Cormac Boyle (0-3);, John Gilligan, Aonghus Clarke (0-4), Joey Boyle; Robbie Greville (1-3), Ciaran Doyle (0-2), Niall O’Brien (0-6).

Subs: Alan Devine for J Gilligan (ht), Niall Mitchell (1-0) for J Boyle (ht), Brendan Doyle for S Power (45m), Conor Shaw for T Doyle (59m), Alan Cox for C Boyle (75m).

LAOIS: Enda Rowland; Joe Phelan, Leigh Bergin, Lee Cleere; Padraig Lawlor, Matthew Whelan (0-1), Eric Killeen; Ben Conroy (0-1), James Ryan; Cha Dwyer (0-4), Aiden Corby (0-1), Patrick Purcell (0-1); Ross King (0-9), Neil Foyle (1-2), Willie Dunphy (0-1).

Subs: Stephen Maher (0-1) for A Corby (ht), Ryan Mullaney for J Phelan (45m), PJ Scully for W Dunphy (53m), Cian Taylor for J Ryan (55m), Colm Stapleton for L Cleere (62m), Mark Kavanagh for N Foyle (63m) Referee: Pat Murphy :Carlow).

Westmeath went on to contest the first Joe McDonagh Cup final beating Meath, Kerry and Antrim along the way. They travelled to Carlow and suffered a first defeat but it was enough to take their place in Croke Park on 1 July where Carlow hit the ground running and claimed the new trophy in style.