All-Ireland winning hurling coach and sports psychologist help Laois to GAA league triumph

An All-Ireland winning GAA coach and a highly regarded sports psychologist were part of the background success in the Laois win in Division 2A National Hurling League.

Laois defeated Kerry 3-18 to 0-13 in the GAA Division 2A Hurling League final last weekend. Galway natives, Jeff Lynskey and Tony Óg Regan are part of the Laois senior hurling backroom team this year.

Lynskey has led Galway minor teams to All-Ireland glory on three occasions. He was also the U-20 hurling team manager with the Tribesmen for three seasons. He is coaching with the O’Moore County.

Former Galway senior hurler Tony Óg Regan serves as performance coach. The sports psychologist has worked with the All-Ireland winning Galway minor hurling teams of 2015 and 2017, which Lynskey managed. 

He has also worked with the 2016 Tipperary All-Ireland winning senior hurling team and the 2016 Connacht championship winning Galway footballers. John Kiely also recruited him to work with the Limerick hurlers in 2019.

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Laois hurling manager Tommy Fitzgerald, whose father hails from Galway, was previously involved with Galway club hurling kingpins of recent St Thomas’. MORE BELOW PHOTO

Laois captain David Dooley lifts the cup after the Allianz Hurling League Division 2 final match between Laois and Kerry at Laois Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Following their win in the hurling league final, Laois will not focus on the McDonagh Cup and a first round match on April 18 against Carlow who were relegated from Division 1B of the league. 

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The Portlaoise man will be hoping to go one better as manager in the competition than in 2025 when Laois were beaten by Kildare in the final. Victory in the Joe McDonagh Cup would send Laois back into the race for Liam McCarthy in 2026.