The Laois hurlers are once again facing Offaly this weekend, this time in the Joe McDonagh Cup final.
It will be Laois’ first appearance in Croke Park since a Leinster championship loss to Dublin in 2020
Willie Maher will now be tasked with naming a team to try and repeat the feat of Eddie Brennan’s team in the summer of 2019.
The Hill will be awash with blue and white on Saturday after tickets for the terrace were belatedly released last Thursday.
However, Laois will have tough opponents in the way of a second Joe McDonagh, Offaly will be riding the high of their U-20 All Ireland victory last Saturday as Adam Screeney and Dan Bourke are likely to feature.
A win will mean earning a face off against Cork in a preliminary quarter final and a place in next year’s Leinster Championship.
While falling short will afford a preliminary quarter final against Wexford but Laois will remain in Joe McDonagh for 2025.
Ahead of the game we profile all 37 names looking to repeat and maybe even exceed the achievements of 2019.
Goalkeepers
Name: Enda Rowland
Club: St Lazerian’s Abbeyleix
Age: 28
Enda is one of multiple names who featured in the Joe McDonagh final in 2019. He is coming off the back of a successful campaign with Abbeyleix last year who reached the SHC final last year.
Name: Cathal Dunne
Club: Ballacolla
Age: 24
The role of backup goalkeeper to one of the best in Ireland is not an easy task but Cathal Dunne has it this time.
Should anything happen to Rowland, Cathal Dunne has played excellently for Clough-Ballacolla over recent years.
Backs
Name: Ian Shanahan
Club: Ballinakill
Age: 23
After a strong couple of years with the Laois U-20s, Ian Shanahan stepped up to the seniors seamlessly.
A tough defender, he is a great ball carrier who is also capable of scoring.
Name: Ryan Mullaney
Club: Castletown
Age: 27
Ryan Mullaney is among a list of players who had a breakout year in 2019. Featuring in all but one of Joe McDonagh games in 2019 and among the team last year he has amassed plethora of experience in the competition.
He will be hoping to end the campaign with Laois this year on a high note before he travels to America for the summer.
Name: Diarmaid Conway
Club: Clough-Ballacolla
Age: 25
After breaking onto the team, Diarmaid Conway quickly established himself as the team’s main man marker.
He was dearly missed last year when he stepped away but returned this season and excelled.
Name: Liam O’Connell
Club: Rathdowney-Erill
Age: 28
Liam O’Connell made his debut for year one year after minor and then spent several years away from the county game.
But he returned during the second spell under Cheddar Plunkett and is reborn as a half back this year.
Name: Podge Delaney
Club: The Harps
Age: 25
Padraig is among a list of players who debuted for the seniors in 2019.
While he has been a mainstay in the half back line throughout the campaign this year and is arguably one of the best defenders at this level.
Name: Tom Cuddy
Club: Camross
Age: 18
Tom is the youngest member of the panel aged only 18. He already has a senior county medal to his name with Camross and featured in the 2022 Minor Leinster final against Offaly.
Despite his age he has been unplayable this year forcing Willie Maher to put him in the team. Whatever happens on Saturday will certainly have influence from Tom.
Name: Donnchadh Hartnett
Club: Rosenallis
Age: 28
Another one of the players who claimed Joe McDonagh glory in 2019.
He is also among a smaller group of the Laois senior hurling panel who made it to the Minor Leinster final in 2013.
Name: Padraic Dunne
Club: The Harps
Age: 26
Another one from The Harps, Padraic Dunne has found game time hard to come by this year.
But he has shown well in the games he has played and will be well capable if called upon in defence.
Name: Diarmuid Dooley
Club: Rosenallis
Age: 20
Diarmiud was a part of the U-20 panel this year and is one of a few to make the jump to senior.
His last game was at corner back in the U-20 defeat to Offaly and will be hoping Laois get their revenge.
Name: Podge Lawlor
Club: Ballinakill
Age: 31
One of the older members of the squad, Podge Lawlor has been around the block as they say.
Injury has several hampered him this year and he hasn’t featured in recent months.
Name: Andrew Mortimer
Club: Camross
Age: 27
An ankle injury sustained in the 2022 Junior B football final saw him miss all of the 2023 championship winning season for Camross.
But back to full fitness now, he has found opportunities hard to come by with Laois. A fine defender, he’ll play a big role as Camross hope to defend their title later this year.
Name: Lee Cleere
Club: Clough-Ballacolla
Age: 27
Lee has been a mainstay in the Laois Senior hurling panel since he was brought in back 2016.
Despite injury problems during this time he will bring valuable experience to the side.
Name: Bryan Breidin
Club: Trumera
Age: 22
Became the first Trumera player to make an appearance for Laois since Cathal Brophy when he did so this year.
In his first season with the squad, he has gained valuable experience.
Name: Gearoid Lynch
Club: Ballinakil
Age: 23
Gearoid Lynch came from the same U-20 team as Ian Shanahan and can play in both defence and attack.
Hampered by injury early in the year, he is back to fitness now and will provide an option in Croke Park with his pace.
Name: Noah Quinlan
Club: Borris-Kilcotton
Age: 21
A brother of Jer, Noah is also part of a very impressive crop of U-20 hurlers that have come through in recent years.
He has had a noteworthy league campaign with Borris-Kilcotton this year including 1-3 from play against Camross in the fifth round but featured in defence for Laois earlier in the year.
Midfielders
Name: Aidan Corby
Club: Clough-Ballacolla
Age: 28
Aidan Corby has been excellent for Clough-Ballacolla for years but had to wait for his chance to nail down a starting spot with Laois.
He finally did so this year and has regularly been man of the match from midfield.
Name: Paddy Purcell
Club: Rathdowney-Erill
Age: 32
Rathdowney-Errill’s Paddy Purcell has been a crucial part of the Laois midfield this year yet again.
After making his debut in 2013, he has been ever present and will be hoping to finish the year with a Joe McDonagh Cup and SHC title just like he did in 2019.
Name: John Lennon
Club: Rosenallis
Age: 27
John Lennon is another who was also on the team in 2019 and we all remember his goal saving tackle against Dublin that year.
Injury has hampered him this year but he has done well when called upon – particularly in the league final against Carlow.
Name: Fiachra C-Fennell
Club: Rosenallis
Age: 27
Another player who has been on and off the team this year, and in a range of positions, is Fiachra C-Fennell.
His pace makes him adaptable and he should see some game time on Saturday.
Forwards
Name: Aaron Dunphy
Club: Borris-Kilcotton
Age: 25
After breaking into the team in 2019, Aaron has become a mainstay in Laois’ midfield.
Now captain, and still only 25 it will be his turn to guide the next batch of hurlers.
Name: Jer Quinlan
Club: Borris-Kilcotton
Age: 19
Jer is another member of the squad who was born in 2005 but has played like a lad with years of experience behind him.
He hurled this year in the U-20 team and will be looking to seek revenge on Offaly after they put their U-20 campaign to an end in May.
Name: David Dooley
Club: Rosenallis
Age: 21
David is another young hurler who is turning heads this year. Only graduating from the U-20 set up last year.
He started against the opening against Offaly reassuringly and hasn’t looked back since.
Name: Tomas Keyes
Club: Camross
Age: 21
Tomas Keyes is having another successful year with the Laois Seniors after breaking out last year.
His ability to score goals is a crucial asset and he will be hoping to repeat those exploits in Croke Park.
Name: Willie Dunphy
Club: Clough-Ballacolla
Age: 32
Willie Dunphy is another veteran in this year’s Laois Senior Hurling Panel.
He made his intercounty debut in 2011 where he scored two points against Antrim in the All Ireland Hurling Championship and he is still going strong.
Name: Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher
Club: Clough-Ballacolla
Age: 31
Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher is one of the veterans among this Laois panel.
He has been out injured with a hamstring injury for more than a month but everyone will be hoping he is fit to feature against Offaly.
Name: Martin Phelan
Club: Castletown
Age: 27
Martin is Castletown’s second representative in the panel this year.
Now vice-captain of the panel along with Aaron Dunphy. he is a crucial part of the makeup of this squad.
Name: Ross King
Club: Rathdowney-Errill
Age: 29
Ross will be setting his sights on a second Joe McDonagh this weekend.
While he was late addition to the panel this year and has struggled with injury, he has shown well whenever he has got a chance.
Name: Cody Comeford
Club: The Harps
Age: 20
Cody is among a very strong group of U-20 hurlers who made the jump to senior on the first time of asking.
He was an early sub in the win over Down and could feature in Croke Park where his pace would be welcome.
Name: Stephen Bergin
Club: Clough-Ballcolla
Age: 28
Stephen is another man flying the Clough-Ballacolla flag in the Laois panel after making his debut in 2017.
Like Picky, he was a crucial part of the Ballacolla side that won three county finals from 2020 to 2022.
Name: Cillian Dunne
Club: Ballacolla
Age: 21
Cillian is coming off the back of an impressive league campaign with Clough-Ballacolla.
He has been ever-present in the Laois setup since U-14s and is certainly one to look out for in the future.
Name: Eric Kileen
Club: Rathdowney-Errill
Age: 26
Eric Killeen started out life as a back but has been converted into a dangerous and difficult to handle attacker.
Has found it difficult to get game time this year but is more than capable.
Name: James Duggan
Club: The Harps
Age: 22
Duggan burst onto the scene at minor and U-20 level with scores that went viral over the years.
Has done well in the flashes that he has got on the pitch this year and is a real wildcard that could catch fire in Croke Park.
Name: James Keyes
Club: Colt-Shanahoe
Age: 25
A main man on the team under Cheddar Plunkett, Keyes moved to America last year.
He returned after Christmas this year but has found it difficult to get into the team ever since.
Name: Jarlath Connolly
Club: Mountmellick
Age: 21
Jarlath Connolly is another young player who has gained valuable experience this year.
He didn’t play minor or U-20 for Laois but has shown with Mountmellick that he is more than capable at this level.
Name: Mark Dowling
Club: Camross
Age: 26
The final member of the squad is one who will definitely not feature on Saturday.
Mark Dowling sustained a nasty arm injury against Down and it is very unfortunate for him as he had just broken into the Laois team at the time.
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