Home Hurling Club Hurling Picture becomes clearer as Laois U-20 hurling championships approach knock out phase

Picture becomes clearer as Laois U-20 hurling championships approach knock out phase

28th October 2023

There are 15 teams competing in the U-20 hurling championship this year with eight placed in the ‘A’ and seven in the ‘B’.

The competition got underway in recent weeks and is now approaching the end of the group phase.

In the A, the outcome of one group is already known with one match still to play.

The Harps defeated Borris-Kilcotton by 3-14 to 3-11 last night meaning that they currently sit top with five points from three games.

They defeated Rosenallis in Round 1 and drew with Camross in Round 2 – the latter having already beaten Borris-Kilcotton.

Camross are scheduled to play Rosenallis on Bank Holiday Monday where a win would see them finish ahead of The Harps on points difference – although both are through to the last four regardless.

Group B is still open although Clough-Ballacolla are looking good to advance with big wins over Portlaoise and Rathdowney-Errill already.

They face Abbeyleix on Bank Holiday Monday with the defeated senior finalists sitting second following victory over Rathdowney-Errill in their only game.

Portlaoise host Rathdowney-Errill on Monday with the final game in the group scheduled for Thursday where Portlaoise will host Abbeyleix.

Looking at it now, Abbeyleix and Clough-Ballacolla will be favourites to advance to the last four alongside The Harps and Camross.

In the B, Group A was made complicated by the withdrawal of Mountrath who conceded all of their games.

Park-Ratheniska-Timahoe and Clonaslee-St Manman’s are currently joint first with four points – although Clonaslee have played all of their games.

The big game here is also on Monday and sees PRT host Na Fianna where all sorts of permutations are on the table.

A PRT win will see them and Clonaslee-St Manman’s advance to the semi finals but a Na Fianna win of five points will eliminate PRT and send them plus Clonaslee through.

In Group B, Castletown opened with a big win over Ballinakill-Ballypickas and will be favourites to cement their semi final place when they face Raheen Parish Gaels on Monday.

Raheen Parish Gaels will then host Ballinakill-Ballypickas on Thursday where a win for either team will most likely see them join Castletown in the semis.