Laois Senior Hurling Championship Round Two previews and predictions

This weekend sees hurling action dominate the fixtures as the Senior Hurling Championship kicks into gear for the second round of fixtures in the group stages.

Four-in-a-row seeking Clough-Ballacolla face a must win game having lost their opening game to Rathdowney-Errill. Camross will be hoping to cement their position at the top of Group B after they won their opener against Castletown. The other game in Group B sees the two losers face each other as Borris-Kilcotton face Castletown. 

Laois Hire O'Moore Park will play host to two double headers, one on Saturday evening involving Group A and the other on Sunday afternoon involving the Group B teams. 

Garry Mernagh's Clough-Ballacolla side face The Harps knowing a loss could be detrimental to their hopes of claiming a fourth successive Bob O'Keefe Cup. The Harps also know it's a must-win game if they are to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle having had to survive a relegation final last year to preserve their Senior status for 2024.

Rathdowney-Errill and Rosenallis face off on Saturday evening with both sides knowing a win will all but secure at least a place in the quarter-finals. Ross King was Rathdowney-Errill's top scorer in their defeat of Clough-Ballacolla while Rosenallis' David Dooley fired over double digits against The Harps. 

Sunday sees Group B take centre stage as the two losers from Round 1 face off in the form of Borris-Kilcotton and Castletown. Abbeyleix St Lazarians had three points to spare over the 2019,2020 and 2021 Senior Championship runner-up. Meanwhile, Castletown were beaten by 14 points in the opening fixture of this year's championship. Both sides will need to be at their best on Sunday as a loss could slip them into relegation trouble.

The final game of the double headers sees Camross face Abbeyleix St Lazarians, in what is a repeat of the Division 1 semi-final which took place at the beginning of July. On that occasion, Camross needed extra-time to get the better of Abbeyleix and come Sunday, a tight battle is expected yet again as Abbeyleix St Lazarians have their tails up following their opening round victory. 

See the fixtures and predictions below:

Saturday August 5

Clough-Ballacolla v The Harps at 5.30pm in Laois Hire O'Moore Park. Prediction: Clough-Ballacolla

Rathdowney-Errill v Rosenallis at 7pm in Laois Hire O'Moore Park. Prediction: Rathdowney-Errill

Sunday August 6

Castletown v Borris-Kilcotton at 1.30pm in Laois Hire O'Moore Park. Prediction: Borris-Kilcotton

Camross v Abbeyleix St Lazarians at 3pm in Laois Hire O'Moore Park. Prediction: Camross