Wexford Minor ladies miss out on Leinster title as Laois land three killer blows
THERE WAS disappointment for Wexford in Baltinglass on Saturday as they fell to defeat against Laois in the Leinster LGFA Minor 'B' championship final.
There were no hard luck stories here, as Wexford were simply second best on the afternoon. The loss ends the season for the Slaneysiders, who didn't have the required weapons to match an in-form O'Moore County attack.
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The 42
40 minutes ago
- The 42
Kildare crowned Joe McDonagh Cup champions with victory over Laois
Updated at 16.16 Kildare 2-26 Laois 1-19 Paul Keane reports from Croke Park KILDARE HAVE capped a remarkable 12 months of hurling success with a landmark Joe McDonagh Cup title win, securing their place in the Leinster SHC for the first time since 2004. Brian Dowling's side only won the Christy Ring Cup 12 months ago and, initially at least, would have been happy to simply retain their Joe McDonagh Cup status this term. They even lost their opening group game to Kerry, their ninth defeat from nine games in the competition, but have bounced back in remarkable fashion since then to claim a historic win. Tied at half-time in their first-ever McDonagh Cup final, and fortunate to be level at that stage given the number of chances Laois wasted, Kildare cut loose after the break to beat Laois comfortably for the second time in the competition. Second-half goals from Jack Sheridan and substitute Jack Travers proved crucial, while free-taker David Qualter finished with 13 points on a famous day for the county. But it was a powerful collective performance with centre-back Cian Boran standing out in a strong defence. Kildare, who have already secured Division 1B hurling for 2026, will get an immediate chance to test themselves at the higher level next weekend when they play Dublin in an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final. Laois have at least another week to run in their campaign too, with Dublin set to visit Portlaoise in the MacCarthy Cup. Just like the Dublin footballers a week earlier on the same turf, Laois reflected on a first half of squandered chances, which cost them dearly in the end. The half-time stats made for painful reading for them: 11 wides, five point attempts that dropped short and a shot at goal that was saved. Kildare were more efficient when the ball was at the opposite Davin End and started brighter, showing no signs of anticipated nerves. It was their first final at the grade, and they were bidding to return to Leinster championship hurling for the first time since losing to Westmeath 21 years ago. But they were calm and composed and deserved their early 0-4 to 0-2 lead with Sheridan, James Burke and Qualter picking off three terrific points from play. They showed their athleticism in the 18th minute when they snuffed out a Laois goal chance and worked a speedy move up the pitch that ended with a free and a handy Qualter tap over. Free-taker Qualter finished the half with seven points to his credit and was influential in open play too. Kildare retained their two-point lead approaching the half-hour mark when they were 0-9 to 0-7 ahead. But with the Laois wides tally into double figures at that stage, the scoreline flattered the Lilywhites. Three Laois points in a row from James Keyes and free-taker Tomas Keyes amounted to a strong finish to the half from them, levelling it up at 0-11 apiece at the break. And Laois held onto that momentum with their goal coming just seconds after the restart. Paddy Purcell raced clear with the ball from the throw-in, and though his eventual shot off the turf was saved, Ben Conroy came sliding in and bundled it to the net. Advertisement Laois were desperate to kick on from there and to impose themselves on the game, but couldn't. Instead, it was Kildare that reeled off two separate bursts of three points, taking a three-point lead at the hour mark and then killing off Laois with the two goals. Travers grabbed his in the 61st minute, following up on the rebound after Sheridan's initial shot was blocked. Five minutes later, Sheridan netted himself, shrugging off a jersey pull and darting beyond Ryan Mullaney to get a low shot away that hit the net. Kildare sub Muiris Curtin pointed in the 68th minute and punched the air in delight, realising that the job was done at that stage. Kildare scorers: David Qualter 0-13 (0-11f, 0-1 65), Jack Sheridan 1-4, Jack Travers 1-1, Gerry Keegan 0-3, James Burke 0-2, Simon Leacy 0-1, Paul Dolan 0-1, Muiris Curtin 0-1. Laois scorers: Tomas Keyes 0-6 (0-5f), Ben Conroy 1-2, Padraig Delaney 0-2 (0-2f), James Keyes 0-2, Paddy Purcell 0-2, PJ Scully 0-2 (0-1f), Lee Cleere 0-1, Fiachra C Fennell 0-1, James Duggan 0-1. KILDARE 1. Paddy McKenna (Clane) 2. Richy Hogan (Naas) 3. Rian Boran (Naas – Captain) 5. Daniel O'Meara (Maynooth) 7. Paul Dolan (Eire Og Corra Choill) 6. Cian Boran (Naas) 4. Simon Leacy (Naas) 8. Daire Guerin (Naas) 10. Cathal McCabe (Maynooth) 14. Cathal Dowling (Naas) 11. Jack Sheridan (Naas) 12. David Qualter (Maynooth) 13. Darragh Melville (Leixlip) 9. James Burke (Naas) 15. Gerry Keegan (Celbridge) SUBS 17. Jack Travers (Leixlip) for Dowling (59) 21. Muiris Curtin (Moorefield) for McCabe (64) 20. Conn Kehoe (Moorefield) for Melville (69) 19. Liam O'Reilly (Naas) for Dolan (69) 22. Oisin Lynam (Celbridge) for Keegan (72) LAOIS 1. Cathal Dunne (Clough Ballacolla) 8. Fiachra C Fennell (Rosenallis) 19. Jordan Walshe (Clough Ballacolla) 2. Cody Comerford (The Harps) 6. Padraig Delaney (The Harps) 3. Lee Cleere (Clough Ballacolla) 4. Diarmaid Conway (Clough Ballacolla) 10. Aidan Corby (Clough Ballacolla) 21. James Keyes (Coillte Seanchua) 12. Paddy Purcell (Rathdowney Errill) 11. Tomas Keyes (Camross) 9. David Dooley (Rosenallis – Captain) 13. Mark Dowling (Camross) 14. Jer Quinlan (Borris-Kilcotton) 15. Ben Conroy (Sliabh Bladhma) SUBS 23. Aaron Dunphy (Borris-Kilcotton) for Tomas Keyes (54) 17. Padraic Dunne (The Harps) for Comerford (60) 24. James Duggan (The Harps) for Dowling (62) 19. Ryan Mullaney (Castletown) for Walshe (64) 25. PJ Scully (Borris-Kilcotton) for Conroy (66) Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
As it happened: Kilkenny see off Galway in Leinster final, Kildare win Joe McDonagh Cup and all Tailteann Cup action
GAA | Niall McIntyre Today at 08:00 Kildare and Laois get the action underway at Croke Park at 1.45pm as the Lilywhites bid for their very first Joe McDonagh Cup victory and a chance to play for Liam MacCarthy. Galway will then try to stop Kilkenny's bid for a 77th Leinster title, and their sixth in a row, at Jones Road at 4pm. Niall McIntyre guides you through all the hurling action and today's Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-finals.
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
'Mind-blowing' - Kildare boss awestruck by breakthrough
Kildare manager Brian Dowling admitted the prospect of the county playing in next year's Leinster Championship is "mind-blowing". The Lilywhites opened a new chapter in the sport by winning the Joe McDonagh Cup for the first time this afternoon, the culmination of a long journey in the county. Investment in structures and coaching at youth level has seen a rapid improvement in the senior side. Having won the Christy Ring Cup to enter this level, and then been beaten by Kerry in their opening match, it was unthinkable they would coast the final minutes of a final with Laois at Croke Park to break down barriers. But that is how the day materialised for Dowling's side through a 10-point victory, something he struggled to come to terms with. He told RTÉ Sport: "I'm absolutely blown away by this, I have no words, I just can't believe it. "It's just unbelievable what that group of players have done. "This year we challenged them and we said it might be possible to get through to a final. "There was some amount of hard work in the background. "At half-time we challenged them again, we didn't think the first half was good and by God the second half performance, even after giving away a goal straight away, was unbelievable. "Credit to the players, I'm so happy for them now." Victory over today's opposition earlier in the year was the inspiration to taking the historic step, according to Dowling. Having defeated them in the round-robin, it showed the Kildare panel what was possible. Dowling explained: "We had to beat Laois to get here and that was the thing, I think beating Laois gave us huge confidence. I'd much rather go into a final beating the team you're facing than losing and we needed that confidence coming in here. "The players had that belief, I know there's people saying Kildare probably built it up too much in the last two weeks. We had an open night on Tuesday night and closed up shop after that. Full focus was on this game, the lads were so focused on this since we got to this final and just couldn't wait to get out here. "What better place to come out and show your hurling? "I think we did that, especially in the second half." Dublin await Kildare next weekend in Newbridge in an occasion undoubtedly set to capture the imagination in the county. It will be difficult to bring the players back down to earth after the euphoria of winning the Joe McDonagh, something Dowling has to consider now. "We can't believe we're out again next Saturday so I don't know what's going to happen there. "Even to think we're in the Leinster Championship next year, it's mind-blowing. I'm so happy for the people of Kildare. Hopefully there's loads of youngsters looking in and they'll be the next lads there playing for Kildare again." Kildare's Man of the Match Cian Boran was struggling for words after his side's fantastic Joe McDonagh Cup victory over Laois... Kildare 2-26 Laois 1-19 #RTEgaa 📺Watch LIVE on RTÉ2 🎙️ Listen on RTÉ Radio 1 📱 Follow on — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 8, 2025 Kildare's man of the match Cian Boran looked at their loss to the Kingdom back in April as the turning point for their season. He explained: "I'd say all 15 lads walked straight into the dressing room after that game when the full-time whistle went. We were fairly mad, it was really disappointing. "But it kind of gave us a bit of a bite then for the rest of the championship. We didn't want to lose again now after that Kerry game. It stood to us so I'm kind of happy it happened, it showed us a bit of grit." Laois coach Tommy Fitzgerald was left distraught by how they wilted in the second period. They were favourites to come out on top in the decider and it has looked within the grasp for the first half, only for Kildare to take control. Fitzgerald stated: "We're just after leaving the dressing room there, and we're all devastated. We didn't come up here to be beaten, by that margin especially. "It's still very, very raw. I'm extremely disappointed. "We had a lot of work done the last couple of weeks, and we thought we had our homework done. And maybe in the first half, I think we had 11 wides in the first half, we probably should have been a couple of points ahead. "And we got the goal straight from the throw-in, and we looked well-placed. But in fairness to Kildare I suppose they got on top of our puck-outs in the second half, and that was probably the biggest difference. "We struggled to win our own puck-outs, and they put a few scores on top of that." Fitzgerald took time to praise Kildare for their breakthrough success, as well as former manager Darren Gleeson with the assistance provided to him over the course of the year. "Kildare are a very good side, they're very well-coached. I thought their conditioning was top-class as well," Fitzgerald said. "They definitely finished stronger than us, and they had athletes all over the pitch, and it probably came into play as well. "Sometimes in hurling things are put in perspective. I'd just like to wish Darren Gleeson well. He should have been here today, and when I did take over, he was a fantastic help to me, a pure gentleman.
