Laois minor hurlers face a gruelling three games in three weeks

SPEAKING after his side’s impressive victory over Antrim at Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday afternoon, Laois minor hurling manager Brendan Phelan reflected on a result that secured Laois’s progression to Tier 1 hurling.

Having set their sights on reaching the top tier from the outset of the campaign, Laois achieved their primary objective with a hard-fought win over a dangerous Antrim side. Phelan was quick to highlight both the challenge posed by the opposition and the satisfaction in seeing his players rise to it.

“Look at the start of the year the goal was always to be in Tier 1 or that. We knew Tier 2 had its landmines as well. Antrim today were a very good team, they scored 10 goals last week, scored seven in the first round, so we knew we were up against it today. But look, just delighted the boys came through,” Phelan acknowledged.

Reflecting on the performance, Phelan pointed to the intensity and work rate laid down early in the game as the foundation for victory, while also admitting there were aspects of their play that could be improved.

“To be honest, we probably hurled better against the wind than we did with the wind, even though it was swirling diagonally. We probably fell into a trap there of just going long and just panicking and that. But look, the boys got through, it was the work rate that got us through, the intensity. We asked for work rate and asked for intensity and thankfully, look, the lads, especially in the first half, did the job,” he said.

With a demanding fixture schedule ahead, Phelan acknowledged the physical and mental challenge facing his squad as they continue their championship journey over the coming weeks.

“We're three games in a row, so we're out every week until the bank holiday weekend. We've Galway next, Wexford, and then I think it's Westmeath because they beat Offaly”, Phelan added.

Looking ahead to the step up in quality, he emphasised that competing at the highest level is exactly where his team wants to be, praising their ambition and underlining the broader significance for Laois hurling.

“That's where you want to be, that's where you want to hurl. You don't hurl for training sessions and that, you hurl for matches. We said to the boys, today it was either playing Galway or playing in that Tier 2, but we didn't want to play in the Tier 2. The boys showed ambition, and that's great to see. Look, they're happy, and that's great. That's good for Laois hurling in the future,” he concluded.