HURLING PREVIEW: Laois U-20s open Leinster campaign as minors play Kildare

It’s a big Saturday for Laois GAA hurling sides, with both the U-20s and minor teams in championship action as their respective Leinster campaigns gather pace.

The focus first turns to Laois Hire O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, where the Laois U-20 hurlers begin their Leinster Championship journey against Offaly. There is a strong sense of continuity in the Laois squad, with over half of the panel named by manager Derek Delaney having been involved in the 2025 campaign that saw the county reach a Leinster semi-final.

Last year’s journey tested Laois against top opposition. Drawn in a difficult Tier 1 group alongside Galway and Offaly, they suffered defeats in both outings before regrouping impressively. A preliminary quarter-final win over Kildare was followed by an excellent six-point victory away to Wexford in the quarter-final. Their run eventually came to an end against eventual champions Kilkenny in the semi-final, but the experience gained appears to have laid a strong foundation for this year’s campaign.

Offaly arrive with some changes from the side that defeated Laois in Tullamore in 2025. Only seven players from that game are included in Saturday’s matchday panel: Ajay Cleary, Gearoid Maher, Andrew Hogan, James O’Sullivan, Patrick Lyons, Conor Egan and Darragh Scully, highlighting a degree of turnover within their ranks. Odhran Fletcher, who featured on the Offaly minor side heavily beaten by Laois in 2025, makes the immediate step up to the U-20 panel and is named to start.

OFFALY team for Saturday: Matt Watkins; Sean Og Foley, Ajay Cleary, Joey McLoughlin; Andrew Hogan, James O'Sullivan, Harry Sweeney; Sean Carey, James Hennessy; Mark Mulrooney, Liam O'Riordan, Gearoid Maher; Odhran Fletcher, Patrick Lyons, Conor Egan. Subs: Eanna Mulhare, Marc Ryan, Darragh Scully, Caelum Larkin, Noel Standish, Michael Dooley, Conor Berry, Dylan Hollywood, Oisin Carroll.

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There is also a link back to the 2022 Leinster minor final between the counties. Caelum Larkin, named among the Offaly substitutes, is the only player from that final still involved on their side, while Laois can call on the experience of Cormac Byrne, Eoghan Murphy and Justin Duggan from that decider.

With home advantage and a core of experienced players, Laois will be aiming to make a strong start as they look to build on last year’s progress and push deeper into the championship.

Laois have only got five days before their next game as they travel to Parnell Park to face Dublin on Thursday, April 9, before ending their Group 2 campaign away to Meath 13 days later on Wednesday, April 22.

Laois v Offaly throws-in at 2pm on Saturday, April 4, in Laois Hire O'Moore Park Portlaoise.

Later in the afternoon, attention switches to the Kildare Centre of Excellence in Hawkfield, where Brendan Phelan’s Laois minor hurlers face Kildare in a crucial Round 3 clash.

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Laois come into the game after a two-week break following their opening round victory over Kerry, while Kildare have had a more demanding route. After losing to Meath in their opener, Kildare bounced back with an impressive win away to Wicklow in Aughrim last weekend to keep their campaign alive.

The stakes are high, with the four Round 3 winners progressing to Round 4, where they will again face off for places in Tier 1 Phase 2. From there, the successful teams will join one of the top-tier groups alongside counties such as Kilkenny, Dublin, Galway or Wexford.

A win for Laois would keep their momentum going and set up another quick turnaround, with Round 4 fixed for the following weekend. Regardless of the outcome, the championship schedule remains intense, with games continuing weekly through April and into May, culminating in provincial finals on May 16.

LAOIS team for Kildare: Ryan Keeshan (Rathdowney-Errill); Conor Hickey (Borris-Kilcotton), Jack Rice (Mountrath), Darragh Keeshan (Borris-Kilcotton); Harry Donoghue (The Harps), Dan Bowe (Rathdowney-Errill), Oisin McRedmond (Portlaoise); Luke Hynes (Camross), Jamie Mahony (The Harps); Dan Downey (Park-Ratheniska/ Timahoe), Callum Jones (Borris-Kilcotton), Bobby O'Connor (Trumera); Oisin Gilligan (Ballyfin), LJ Cuddy (Camross), Cillin Hoey (Portarlington).

Laois v Kildare throws-in at 4.15pm on Saturday, April 4, in Hawkfield. You can follow all the live updates from Hawkfield on the Leinster Express/ Laois Live from 4pm.