PREVIEW: Laois minor hurlers host Galway in Tier 1 Leinster Championship opener

The Laois minor hurlers begin their Tier 1 Leinster Championship campaign on Saturday when they welcome Galway to Laois Hire O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.

Laois earned their place in the top tier after a strong showing in Tier 2, where they opened with a win over Kerry, beat Kildare two weeks later and secured qualification last weekend with a crucial victory over Antrim in Portlaoise.

That progress marks another encouraging step for a developing minor group who now step up to face the strongest teams in the province.

Galway arrive in Portlaoise with a strong reputation at this level, having reached last year’s Leinster minor final before losing out to Kilkenny. They remain one of the traditional powerhouses of underage hurling and will provide a major test for the home side.

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The last meeting between the counties at minor level came in 2022 in an All-Ireland quarter-final in Portlaoise. On that occasion, Galway emerged victorious on a scoreline of 0–23 to 2–14, in a contest played after Laois had reached that year’s Leinster final before losing to Offaly.

TEAM NEWS

LAOIS: 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), Rory Standish (Rathdowney-Erill); Cillin Hoey (Portarlington), Bobby O’Connor (Trumera), Killian James (St Paul’s); Oisin Gilligan (Ballyfin), LJ Cuddy (Camross), Callum Jones (Borris-Kilcotton). 

Laois' other two games in the Tier 1 Championship are against Wexford on Saturday, April 25 and Westmeath on Saturday, May 2.