Laois hurlers travel to Tullamore to face Offaly in Joe McDonagh Cup opener

The Joe McDonagh Cup begins this weekend with Laois taking on Offaly in the first group game. Both sides come into the game having had differing seasons to date.

Laois were relegated to Division 2A after a four-point loss in the relegation play-off to Westmeath. It now means that Laois have suffered back-to-back relegations with them being relegated from the Leinster Championship last year by the same opposition.

The side managed by Willie Maher come into the championship having failed to win a game in the league this year. They were comprehensively beaten by Waterford, Kilkenny, Dublin, Tipperary and Antrim in Division 1B.

Offaly will take the place of Laois in Division 1 as they got the better of Kildare in Portlaoise last weekend to capture the Division 2A crown.

Laois hurling captain, Willie Dunphy describes the feeling around the panel following their drop down in the divisions for the first time since 2012. 

“The mood in the camp is disappointing to be honest. We thought we hurled well enough, but we weren’t fit to get over the line. We missed too many chances and gave away soft goals. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. We’re bitterly disappointed and we have to draw a line in the sand now and forget about the league and move on. All roads lead to the championship now.”, he said.

Dunphy’s focus is on the first game against Offaly as Laois go in search of their first win in competitive hurling this year. 

“We’re lucky enough in a way with the quick turnaround, we can’t dwell on the league a whole lot. It’s a matter of getting straight back into it and going all guns blazing for the Joe McDonagh. We have to push on and try to get a win in the first game against Offaly. Laois haven’t won a game in competitive hurling so we’re crying out for a win. If we can get one, I feel we can create a winning habit and put us in a good position for the Joe McDonagh.”, Dunphy added.

The Clough-Ballacolla man was part of the panel in 2019 when Laois last won the Joe McDonagh and famously beat Dublin in Portlaoise. In 2019, Laois had a near perfect campaign which saw them remain undefeated in the group stages with three wins and a draw. Their results leaving them top of the table and a final showdown with Westmeath. Laois winning out by 11 points in the end.

“It would be massive if we were to win the Joe McDonagh. I was part of the panel in 2019 and that was our best ever year in a Laois jersey, so that’s our aim of course. There’s a lot of new lads on the panel this year so it would be a big boost to them. It could kick start our momentum and really push the younger lads on.”, he said.

The league format has been widely criticised this year with many of the big teams using it as a platform to integrate the younger players as well as getting the stars of the team to full fitness. Dunphy feels now is the time to change the structure of the league itself.

“We’ve been crying out to play against the top teams but we’re just not there at the moment. I feel there’s a division there for us from the top nine counties down. It’s tough, our first three games of the league this year were against Waterford, Tipperary and Kilkenny. They’re serious All-Ireland contenders and we’re just not at the pace of it, physically and hurling wise.

“Next year, I feel we would have a more realistic chance to get to a league semi-final or even better, a league final. I was on the panel in 2013 and we won the Division 2A final and we haven’t competed in a league semi-final since. These are the things we want to be playing for, we want realistic targets and it hasn’t been the case over the last number of years.”, he said.

The Laois captain wants his side to hopefully walk up the steps of the Hogan Stand and lift the Joe McDonagh Cup for the second time in as many years. However, getting over the challenge of Offaly is Dunphy’s first objective. 

“Our hopes are to get to Croke Park and up the steps of the Hogan Stand. That’s no different to the other five teams competing in the Joe McDonagh so it’s all to play for. We feel the first game is very important against Offaly. In 2019, we had a titanic battle with Offaly in Round 1 in Tullamore and luckily enough we came out with a win that day. If it had gone the other way, who knows we might have never gotten to Croke Park. The first game is massive and if we can get a win there, it’ll set us up nicely.”, he said.

Laois face Offaly in Tullamore on April 8 followed by games against Down, Carlow and Kildare before finishing off the campaign against Kerry.