PREVIEW: Busy Saturday with Laois Camogie, minor hurlers and LGFA minor footballers all in action

It’s set to be a packed Saturday of Laois GAA action, with the Laois Camogie team, the Laois minor hurlers, and the Laois LGFA minor footballers all taking to the field.

As well as the three games taking place in Laois, the Laois senior hurlers make the trip to Ruislip to face London in the last round of the Allianz Hurling Leagues. That game throws-in at 1pm.

First up, the Laois Camogie team welcome Westmeath to Laois Hire O’Moore Park at 1pm. Laois have enjoyed a three-week break since defeating Carlow in Netwatch Cullen Park on March 7, a win that secured their Division 2 status.

Currently third in the table on seven points, Laois can still reach the league final if they beat Westmeath and results elsewhere go their way. Meath sit second with nine points and face an already relegated Carlow, while top-of-the-table Kerry travel to Derry. SEE THE LEAGUE TABLE BELOW.

Westmeath come into the game with just one win, against Carlow. A victory for Laois could see them in a league final, but even if it doesn’t, it provides excellent preparation for the Leinster Intermediate Championship.

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After the Carlow win, joint-manager Rob Jones said: “Our goal at the start of the year was to try and stay up; that’s what we’ve done. If it doesn’t work out that we don’t get to a final, so be it. We’ll just have to prepare for the Leinster Championship, that’s all we can do.”

The camogie game forms part of a double-header at O’Moore Park, with the Laois minor hurlers also in action as they begin their Leinster Championship campaign against Kerry.

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The Leinster minor hurling championship operates on a backdoor system, giving every county a second chance after Round One. Round 1 winners advance, while the four losers face off in Round 2 for another chance to progress. Subsequent rounds determine which sides qualify for Phase 2 Tier 1, where they join Kilkenny, Dublin, Wexford, or Galway in criss-cross groups. Teams failing to reach Tier 1 will compete in Tier 2, with fixtures confirmed after Phase 1 concludes.

The final game of the day sees the Laois LGFA minor footballers face Offaly in Annanough at 2pm. Laois made a winning start to their campaign in Round One with a victory over Westmeath in Mullingar.