'Proud' Laois can't compete in current hurling system

Kilkenny's Martin Fogarty, who served as the GAA's first national hurling development manager for five years, feels that more hurling clubs need to be established in the county for the inter-county side to thrive.

Camross are the only Laois side to have won a Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship in the 52 years that the competition has been played. The kingpins of Laois hurling were crowned Leinster Club champions in 1976 and 1996. Clough-Ballacolla, Castletown and Portlaoise are the only other Laois clubs to have reached a Leinster final. Castltown were beaten in three finals, Portlaoise beaten in two and Clough-Ballacolla lost out in 2021 to Ballyhale Shamrocks of Kilkenny.

In an article posted by RTÉ, Fogarty had this to say about Laois. "The big problem is club hurling. I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever, that for hurling to rise at county level, it has to start at the bottom and build the clubs.

"Even if we jump into the middle tiers and take Laois and Offaly. Two proud hurling counties. Excellent hurling counties, excellent GAA counties. Probably the best examples of the dual sport people. But to be very fair to Laois and Offaly, beside Kilkenny, how would 10 to 15 hurling clubs consistently compete with Kilkenny with 44.

"To me, those counties, if they can find their way to building, to go from 15 to 30 hurling clubs, then everything will rise. That’s the key to it. It’s a huge task. The big problem I see is, who will take ownership of it, who will take responsibility?", Fogarty said.

On an inter-county scale, 2023 was a bad year for all involved with Laois hurling. The O'Moore County were relegated from Division 1 of the National Hurling Leagues while also failing to reach the Joe McDonagh Cup final. Laois had been in Division 1 since winning the Division 2A title back in 2013. On many occasions, Laois would only win one game over the course of the league defeating the likes of Offaly, Carlow, Antrim and Westmeath which meant they kept their spot in Division 1. 

Apart from their Division 2A victory in 2013, Laois hurling fans haven't had much to celebrate apart from the magical summer of 2019 under the stewardship of Eddie Brennan. Laois were crowned Joe McDonagh champions which meant they qualified for an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final against Dublin in O'Moore Park. Laois defeated Dublin on that famous day in July. They then gave a good account of themselves in the All-Ireland quarter-final against eventual All-Ireland winners Tipperary.

2024 presents a good opportunity for Laois to get that winning feeling back as they compete in Division 2A of the league as well as the Joe McDonagh. With the experience that Laois have from their Division 1 exploits, there's no reason as to why they can't win both competitions and give Laois hurling fans something to celebrate.