Saturday, May 13

Joe McDonagh Cup Round 5

Kildare v Down, Hawkfield, 5.30pm

Ref: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)

This bottom of the table clash will decide which team is relegated to the Christy Ring Cup for 2024.

It’s somewhat of a surprise to see Kildare in this position after their hugely encouraging League campaign, but it seems as though the effort required for that has sapped their strength for the Joe McDonagh Cup.

They’ve lost every match they’ve played, but so too have Down, and it’s difficult to judge which team is at the lower ebb.

Home advantage should stand to Kildare, and they also look a bit more defensively solid that a Down team that conceded six goals in their last game against Carlow.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Niall Ó Muineacháin, Rian Boran, Cian Shanahan; Cathal McCabe, Simon Leacy, Alan Goss; Brian Byrne, Killian Harrington; Johnny Byrne, James Burke, Gerry Keegan; David Qualter, Declan Flaherty, Cian Boran. Subs: Seán Burke, Cormac Byrne, Richie Hogan, Jack Travers, Micheál Hogan, Drew Costello, Sean Christanseen, Mark Delaney, Paul Dolan, Paul Divilly, Jack Higgins.

DOWN: Stephen Keith; Darragh Mallon, Caolan Teggart, Niall McFarland; Matt Conlon, Ruairi McCrickard, Mark Fisher; Jordan Doran, Pearse Óg McCrickard; Daithi Sands, Paul Sheehan, Finn Turpin; Oisin MacManus, Liam Savage, Chris Egan. Subs: Pearse Smyth, Eoghan Sands, John McManus, Tom Murray, Barry Trainor, Ryan McCusker, Tim Prenter, Stuart Martin, Jason Croskery, Deaglan Mallon, Aodhan Furlong

Carlow v Offaly, Netwatch Cullen Park, 5.30pm

Ref: Chris Mooney (Dublin)

Offaly have already qualified for the Joe McDonagh Cup Final courtesy of last weekend’s impressive 11-point victory over Kerry.

Manager Johnny Kelly has taken advantage of this luxury by resting a number of players to ensure his team is as fresh as possible for the Final in two weeks time.

That spells opportunity for Carlow who currently sit in second-place in the Joe McDonagh Cup table and can assure themselves of a place in the final with a win here.

They shouldn’t lack for confidence after banging in six goals against Down last weekend. Forwards like Martin Kavanagh, Chris Nolan, Jon Nolan, and James Doyle are all in fine form at the moment and capable of shooting their team to victory.

CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Conor Lawlor, Niall Bolger; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Diarmuid Byrne, Jack McCullagh; Conor Kehoe, Kevin McDonald; Jon Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, James Doyle; Jack Tracey, Paddy Boland, Chris Nolan. Subs: Damien Jordan, JP Treacy, Richard Coady, Michael Joyce, Fiach O’Toole, John Michael Nolan, Jack Kavanagh, Paudie O’Shea, Ciarain Kavanagh, Sean Joyce, John Doyle

OFFALY: Eamonn Cleary; Conor Hardiman, Ben Conneely, James Nally; Dara Maher, Killian Sampson, Eoghan Parlon; Paddy Delaney, Jack Screeney; Liam Langton, Joey Keenaghan, Conor Langton; Cathal O'Meara, Shane Dooley, John Murphy. Subs: Stephen Corcoran, Paddy Clancy, Eimhin Kelly, David King, David Nally, Jack Clancy, Jason Sampson, Ciaran Burke, Brian Duignan, Sam Bourke, Joe Hoctor

Kerry v Laois, Austin Stack Park, 5.30pm

Ref: Liam Gordon (Galway)

Both teams need a win here to qualify for the Joe McDonagh Cup Final and then hope that Offaly can do them a favour against Carlow.

They have identical records with two wins one draw and one loss from their four games to date, but Laois have arguably put together the more convincing body of work.

They were more competitive against top of the table Offaly than Kerry were, and will probably feel that’s a game they could just as easily have won.

And they’re surely kicking themselves still they allowed Carlow claim a draw by scoring a penalty with the last puck of the game three weeks ago.

Kerry will make this a battle, but Laois have scored an average of nine points more per game during this campaign, and that greater firepower should give them an edge.

KERRY: John B O'Halloran; Evan Murphy, Eric Leen, Kyle O'Connor; Mickey Boyle, Fionan MacKessy, Jason Diggins; Eoin Ross, Michael Leane; Paudie O'Connor, Gavin Dooley, Jordan Conway; Brandon Barrett, Shane Conway, Padraig Boyle. Subs: Louis Dee, Sean Weir, Morgan Madden, Cillian Trant, Darragh Shanahan, Colin Walsh, Keith Carmody, Niall Mulcahy, Philip Lucid, Dan Goggin, Ricky Heffernan

LAOIS: Enda Rowland; Ian Shanahan, Liam O'Connell, Donnchadh Hartnett; Jack Kelly, Padraig Delaney, Fiachra C Fennell; Aidan Corby, Ross King; James Keyes, Stephen Maher, Patrick Purcell; Stephen Bergin, Martin Phelan, Aaron Dunphy. Subs: Peter Walsh, Padraic Dunne, Ryan Mullaney, Liam Senior, Padraig Lalor, Gearoid Lynch, Tomás Keyes, John Lennon, Fionán Mahoney, James Duggan, William Dunphy