NHL Division 2 – Kildare v Laois
In Hawkfield at 2pm
The Laois hurlers take on Kildare this afternoon in the second game of this season’s NHL Division 2 campaign.
It’s the first time that Laois find themselves outside of Division 1 since 2013 but they are the favourites to win this league out – and to take their place in the new seven-team Division 2 next season.
Team news?
The Laois senior hurlers have made three changes to their team from the one that defeated Down last week.
Two of the changes are in defence with The Harps’ Podge Delaney and Rosenallis’ Fiachra C-Fennell coming in.
Ryan Mullaney and Gearoid Lynch drop to the bench with the third change an enforced one.
Clough-Ballacolla’s Willie Dunphy is suspended and he has been replaced by The Harps’ Cody Comerford.
There are two changes to the bench with Padraig Lawlor coming in for Tomas Keyes and Liam Senior for the suspended Willie Dunphy.
LAOIS: Enda Rowland (Abbeyleix); Ian Shanahan (Ballinakill), Liam O’Connell (Rathdowney-Errill), Diarmaid Conway (Clough-Ballacolla); Tom Cuddy (Camross), Podge Delaney (The Harps), Fiachra C-Fennell (Rosenallis); Cody Comerford (The Harps), Paddy Purcell (Rathdowney-Errill); Martin Phelan (Castletown), Stephen Maher (Clough-Ballacolla), David Dooley (Rosenallis); Jer Quinlan (Borris-Kilcotton), Aaron Dunphy (Borris-Kilcotton), Mark Dowling (Camross)
Subs: Cathal Dunne (Clough-Ballacolla), Noah Quinlan (Borris-Kilcotton), Ryan Mullaney (Castletown), Gearoid Lynch (Ballinakill), James Duggan (The Harps), Stephen Bergin (Clough-Ballacolla), Aidan Corby (Clough-Ballacolla), Eric Killeen (Rathdowney-Errill), Liam Senior (Clonaslee-St Manman’s), Padraic Dunne (The Harps), Podge Lawlor (Ballinakill)
Kildare have also named their team and it shows one change from the team that lost to Meath.
Cormac Byrne of Éire Óg Corra Choill comes in at right half back in place of clubmate and midfielder, Paul Dolan, who was injured early on in Round 1.
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Cian Shanahan, Seán Christanseen, Mark Grace; Cormac Byrne, Simon Leacy, Conan Boran; Rian Boran, Jack Higgins; Cathal Dowling, Declan Flaherty, Daire Guerin; Muiris Curtin, Jack Sheridan, Cian Boran
What has Kildare’s form been like?
This time last year, all the talk was about Kildare hurling. They backed it up last year by reaching the Division 2 final.
They lost that day in O’Moore Park to Offaly and they seemed to have been unable to recover ever since.
The Joe McDonagh Cup was a disaster last year and they ultimately suffered relegation back to Christy Ring.
This season began a bit better as they defeated Meath to retain the Kehoe Cup but The Royals reversed that last week in the league – winning 2-20 to 3-14.
What Kildare players should we watch out for?
Jack Sheridan top-scored against Meath last week with seven points and is always dangerous.
Cian Boran is another dangerous forward but there is no sign of David Qualter who caused Laois some problems in their Joe McDonagh win last year.
What are the odds?
Laois are 2/9 favourites for today’s game with Kildare at 5/1 and the draw 14/1.
Tickets? TV?
The game is not available to watch on TV but we will keep you updated on our Live Blog.
Tickets can be purchased both online and in person using the following: Online by clicking here.
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