'We’ve got bigger fences to jump down the line'- Laois senior hurling manager Tommy Fitzgerald

Laois senior hurling manager Tommy Fitzgerald was delighted to see his Laois side get the better of Kerry in Portlaoise on Saturday.

Laois had the game sewn up by half-time as they led by nine points, having hurled into the wind.

“Job done, yeah, seven out of seven. We probably got our work done in the first half and we were very happy with that. By the second half, the energy had gone out of the game. We probably had control and went 12 or 13 points up with the wind. Job done and on to the big one now,” he said.

Laois got two goals inside the first six minutes and could have had a third from Aidan Corby a few seconds later. Fitzgerald admitted that scoring goals has been something his side has worked on over the last few weeks.

 “We have been working on it (getting goals) and the lads are getting sharper and sharper, and our efficiency was better today than in previous days. We’ve got bigger fences to jump down the line, but for the moment, we’re happy enough,” Fitzgerald said.

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Going back to his side’s first half performance, Fitzgerald said that all the stats showed that it was Laois’ best half of hurling so far in 2026. 

“There was a big, strong wind there; you only appreciate it when you’re out on the pitch, and it favoured Kerry in the first half. I was really happy with our lads at half-time, we brought massive energy, and we were up on all our stats, our turnover stats, tackling stats, and intensity were all way higher than any other game we played this year. We went in nine up at half-time into that wind, which was really pleasing, so we got all our work done at that stage,” he said.

Laois’ defence was excellent on the day and Cathal Dunne was merely a spectator in the goals apart from taking puckouts. No one’s position in the team is set in stone, according to the Laois manager. 

 “They were very, very good. To be honest, there’s a battle for positions in every line of the field; there were lads not even on the 26 today, and I’m sure they’re very disappointed. The lads didn’t get on today, and the lads who did come on will want to be starting. It’s healthy, but it does make it difficult when you’re sitting down on a Tuesday night trying to pick the team; it’s a good place to be in,” Fitzgerald added.

Laois have three weeks off now before making the trip to Carlow in the opening round of the Joe McDonagh Cup. The week after that, Laois welcome Antrim to O’Moore Park.

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 “This day, three weeks and then the week after again, it’s fairly hot and heavy. The next three weeks are important in terms of getting ready, we know it’s a step up in class the next day. Over there (in Carlow) is going to be difficult, but it will be for them too, so it’s about getting our lads as ready as we can be,” he said.

Picky Maher hasn’t featured since scoring four points against Meath in Round 6, but Fitzgerald is hopeful of having the Clough/Ballacolla forward for that Carlow game.

 “We’re hoping he will be (Picky). He picked up a muscle injury in a practice game, but he’s in with the physio and he’s working his way back. He gives you a different dimension and different option as well, so hopefully he’ll be back,” he said.

The one good thing about playing in Division 2 is that the Laois manager has gotten to see all 36 players on his panel.

“It’s been good, it’s healthy for the morale and the panel. Division 2 afforded us that opportunity; if you’re in 1B, you have to go full team every week. One of the few advantages, without wanting to be in Division 2, is getting the opportunity to give lads game time and allow them the opportunity to put their hand up and claim a Laois jersey. Everyone has loads of opportunities and it’s about who’s performing best,” Fitzgerald said.

Laois come into this year’s Joe McDonagh Cup after gaining promotion back to Division 1B, whereas last year, they came into having been relegated from 1B.

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 “It’s hard to know. At the end of the day, we've been playing Division 2 hurling, and look, let's call a spade a spade. It's a far inferior level to Division 1B. We know what's in front of us, and it's just a matter of us negotiating the next three weeks and having these lads in the best condition in three weeks' time,” he said.

Fitzgerald wasn’t getting too far ahead of himself after Laois’ win, but hopes that the winning momentum can help them navigate the challenges down the line.

“It was all about promotion, but then when you do qualify for a final, we say look we’ll go for this. It’s a chance to pick up a cup obviously, and it’s keeping momentum going. If we’re beaten today, you’re trying to find the confidence again. Seven from seven, and we’ve done what we had to do, but we’re very well aware of the challenges down the road,” Fitzgerald concluded.