Tomas Keyes of Laois in action against Jack McCullagh of Carlow during the 2024 Allianz Hurling League Division 2A Final match between Carlow and Laois at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
Saturday, May 24
Joe McDonagh Cup Round 5
Carlow v Laois, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm
This table-topping clash will have a big say who qualifies for the Joe McDonagh Cup Final.
Both teams are currently level on six points each after four games, but Laois’ superior scoring difference means a draw would suffice for them to make it to the final.
A draw would also be good enough for Carlow, but only if Down manage to beat Kildare which seems unlikely based on recent form.
Both teams have shown impressive fire-power so far in the campaign with Carlow banging in 17 goals and Laois 15.
Carlow forwards like Martin Kavnagh, Chris Nolan, and James Doyle will do serious damage given service, but the same is true at the other end of the field of Laois attackers like Tomás Keyes, Cha Dwyer, James Duggan and Ben Conroy.
It’ll likely be decided then by whichever team can get a tighter grip on the middle third to ensure a good supply of ball to their shooters.
CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Niall Bolger; Evan Kealy, Kevin McDonald, Jack McCullagh; Ciaran Whelan, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jon Nolan, James Doyle, Donagh Murphy; Chris Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, Conor Kehoe. Subs: Kyle Foley, Paidi O’Shea, John Michael Nolan, Jack Treacy, Paddy Boland, Sean Joyce, Richard Coady, John Doyle, Ted Joyce, Fiach Ó Toole, Tony Lawlor.
LAOIS: Cathal Dunne; Cody Comerford, Lee Cleere; Diarmaid Conway; Tom Cuddy, Padraig Delaney, Ryan Mullaney; Fiachra C Fennell, David Dooley; Aidan Corby, Charles Dwyer, Paddy Purcell; James Duggan, Tomás Keyes, Ben Conroy. Subs: Eoin Fleming, Padraic Dunne, Donnacha Hartnett, Jordan Walshe, John Lennon, James Keyes, Martin Phelan, Jer Quinlan, Mark Dowling, Willie Dunphy, Aaron Dunphy.
Kildare v Down, Cedral St. Conleth’s Park, 2pm
Kildare started their campaign on a very dull note as they conceded the last five points of the match to lose by one against Kerry.
Since then though they’ve been excellent, winning three games in a row including victories over fellow promotion-chasers Carlow and Laois.
They have the best defence in the competition thanks to players like Rian Boran, Cian Boran, and Simon Leacy, while the likes of Jack Sherdian, David Qualter, and James Burke give them plenty of punch in attack.
Down had a very poor start to the competition as they conceded six goals against both Carlow and Laois on the way to heavy defeats, but they’ve been much better since then.
They notched a vital first win last time out against Kerry, which gives them a decent shot of avoiding relegation to the Christy Ring.
It’s hard to see them stalling Kildare’s drive for a place in the Joe McDonagh Cup Final, but even if they lose here they will retain their Joe McDonagh Cup status as long as Westmeath beat Kerry.
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Richy Hogan, Rian Boran, Daniel O’Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Simon Leacy; Daire Guerin, James Burke; Cathal McCabe, Jack Travers, David Qualter; Gerry Keegan, Cathal Dowling, Jack Sheridan. Subs: Mark Doyle, Darragh Melville, Harry Carroll, Liam O’Reilly, James Dolan, Jack Higgins, Oisin Lynam, Killian Harrington, Conn Kehoe, Cormac Byrne, Frank Bass.
DOWN: Stephen Keith; Matt Conlan, John McManus, Niall McFarland; Ruairi McCrickard, Caolan Taggart, Ben Taggart; Tim Prenter, Phelim Savage; Pearse Óg McCrickard, Donal Hughes, Finn Turpin; Paul Sheehan, Eoghan Sands, Daithi Sands. Subs: Cahal Lavery, Shea Pucci, Michael Dorrian, Liam Savage, Jordan Murphy, Owen McGreevy, Conor Cassidy, Owen McDermott, Marc Fisher, Tiernan Connolly, Chris Egan.
Kerry v Westmeath, Austin Stack Park, 2pm
Kerry need to draw or win this game to avoid relegation to the Christy Ring Cup.
Westmeath’s need is great too because if they’re beaten here and Down draw with or beat Kildare, then the Lake County will be relegated for the second year in succession.
Kerry started their campaign in very encouraging fashion with a win away to Kildare, but they’ve struggled since then with three defeats in a row, the most damaging of which was a loss to Down last weekend.
The Kingdom’s big problem is that they’re just not scoring enough, hitting an average of just 22 points per game.
Westmeath, on the other hand, have looked sharp enough in attack, with an average of 29 points per match. That greater firepower should see them come out on top.
KERRY: Louis Dee; Kyle O’Connor, Flor McCarthy, Dara Kearney; Darragh Shanahan, Kevin Goulding, Daithí Griffin; Paudie O’Connor, Killian Hayes; Tom Doyle, Luke Rochford, Daniel Casey; Niall Mulcahy, Padraig Boyle, Shane Nolan. Subs: Diarmuid Quirke, Luke Crowley, Jermey McKenna, Adam Segal, Tomás Godley, Darragh Conway, Seamie Foran, Rory Mahony, Sean McGrath, Ronan Walsh, Oisín Maunsell.
WESTMEATH: Ciarán O’Brien; Conor Gaffney, Tommy Doyle, Gary Greville; Eoin Keyes, Robbie Greville, David Hickey; Davy Glennon, Éamon Cunneen; David O’Reilly, David Williams, Mark Cunningham; Peter Clarke, Niall O’Brien, Killian Doyle. Subs: Jack Gillen, Joseph Boyle, Aaron Craig, Matthew Cunningham, Adam Ennis, Dean Ennis, Oisín Loughlin, Rory Keyes, Niall Mitchell, Kevin Regan, Shane Williams.
