Laois senior hurlers 2026

mcwregor · December 10, 2025, 07:36:04 AM

Any updates on the formation of the panel for next year. Heard they have 2 matches played against Kildare and Tipp U20s. Anyone hear who was playing or who went well. Any major omissions from last years panel?

Voice of tReason · December 10, 2025, 12:40:21 PM

Tom Cuddy probably the biggest omission from what I've heard. Not sure if Paddy Purcell is back. Diarmuid Conway out injured and will miss all the league.

I've heard Ryan Mullaney, Aaron Dunphy, Eoin Gaughan and Padraic Rafter all hurled very well against Kildare.

Genocide Organ · January 04, 2026, 05:54:41 PM

Just looked at today's game on Clubber. Laois competitive, and leading, even, until the last 5 minutes, and then Wexford ran away down the final furlong. Usual story. Not that it matters. However, good to see Ciaran McEvoy back. Good games from half-back line, and Jack Kelly got on a lot of ball at wing-forward. Seemed to get a lot of wides, but ended up top-scorer from play, which perhaps doesn't say a whole lot for the rest of them...

Next game v Carlow on Thursday night at Stradbally, apparently (!?).

Heard Paddy Purcell has retired. He's been a great servant, and is still one of our liveliest and more exciting players. However, we'd want someone else to be taking on the mantle at this stage.

Laoisred · January 04, 2026, 08:59:25 PM

Heard that Paddy Purcell decided not to go back in this year. Instead trying to get his groin injury sorted out, which troubled him all of last year.
Might not see him in Laois colours again, but you'd never know. Fitzgerald has left door open to him apparently
But I agree, he has been a brilliant servant as has Dunphy but it's time for others to step up and try to get to their levels.

Zooming around · January 05, 2026, 01:29:20 PM

Well done to Willie Dunphy on a great service to Laois hurling.

redsetanta · January 07, 2026, 01:06:19 PM

Sorry to see Willie go but he's given great service to the county and won't have any regrets.

He would always come up with big scores when they were needed.

Matured over the years in the sense that he took a lot of abuse and often reacted getting carded or sent off. In saying that he was a man for the fight and the dirty ball.

His performance against the Dubs in 2019 was immense and he hit some cracking scores.

Unfortunately we don't have anyone who can step into his boots so he will be a big loss.

Fair play to him.

Laois Rising · January 07, 2026, 02:09:31 PM

I was hoping that him and Purcell would be given the league off and then maybe come back in for a final two month blast to win the Joe McD. Clare did it with Shane O'Donnell and he ended up player of the year that year. Those lads well able to keep themselves in good condition and returning to squad in April would be a massive boost to the squad following hopefully a league title. We simply do not have a player like him and he's a massive loss. Purcell will be a loss as well and Cha, despite years of travelling and coming back and forth, proved in club championship to be still one of top players in the county. The younger players in the county still need to take another step or two up in their development to reach the levels of these players. Willie, as Redsetanta, mentioned really matured as a player in his later years and could compete with the very best in the country.

redsetanta · January 07, 2026, 03:40:56 PM

I remember Cheddar saying (could have been a podcast with Wooly) that Willie had fierce problems with one or both knees and would be in bits after a game.
I'd say it's more down to that than anything else.

Genocide Organ · January 07, 2026, 06:29:35 PM

Quote from: Laois Rising on January 07, 2026, 02:09:31 PMI was hoping that him and Purcell would be given the league off and then maybe come back in for a final two month blast to win the Joe McD. Clare did it with Shane O'Donnell and he ended up player of the year that year. Those lads well able to keep themselves in good condition and returning to squad in April would be a massive boost to the squad following hopefully a league title. We simply do not have a player like him and he's a massive loss. Purcell will be a loss as well and Cha, despite years of travelling and coming back and forth, proved in club championship to be still one of top players in the county. The younger players in the county still need to take another step or two up in their development to reach the levels of these players. Willie, as Redsetanta, mentioned really matured as a player in his later years and could compete with the very best in the country.

Yes, Cha should have been asked back in. Heard he was disappointed he wasn't.

Leixman · January 09, 2026, 07:43:14 AM

Quote from: Genocide Organ on January 07, 2026, 06:29:35 PM
Quote from: Laois Rising on January 07, 2026, 02:09:31 PMI was hoping that him and Purcell would be given the league off and then maybe come back in for a final two month blast to win the Joe McD. Clare did it with Shane O'Donnell and he ended up player of the year that year. Those lads well able to keep themselves in good condition and returning to squad in April would be a massive boost to the squad following hopefully a league title. We simply do not have a player like him and he's a massive loss. Purcell will be a loss as well and Cha, despite years of travelling and coming back and forth, proved in club championship to be still one of top players in the county. The younger players in the county still need to take another step or two up in their development to reach the levels of these players. Willie, as Redsetanta, mentioned really matured as a player in his later years and could compete with the very best in the country.

Yes, Cha should have been asked back in. Heard he was disappointed he wasn't.

Why would he be disappointed? Sure he abused the manager.

Genocide Organ · January 09, 2026, 07:59:46 AM

He wouldn't be the first to abuse a manager and then be disappointed not to get the call, you can be sure!

redsetanta · January 09, 2026, 11:18:26 AM

Any of you at the game in Stradbally last night?

Must be a first, having an inter county hurling match at the Windy Gap.

KK up next.

Zooming around · January 09, 2026, 05:17:09 PM

Good win last night. Impressed with Eoin Murphy at wing back and the forwards were lively. Colin Byrne and the two Keyes looked dangerous. Great to see Reilly back. Holland and Gaughan struggled amongst others but overall it was a good night's work.

Zooming around · January 13, 2026, 09:17:10 AM

It was tough going on Sunday with the conditions. Kilkenny got a very fast start and were 1-5 to 0-0 ahead after 6 minutes. Laois settled well with Jack Kelly getting into the game. Our backs did well but the full forward line struggled.

Spiritof1915 · January 13, 2026, 10:08:03 AM

Quote from: Zooming around on January 13, 2026, 09:17:10 AMIt was tough going on Sunday with the conditions. Kilkenny got a very fast start and were 1-5 to 0-0 ahead after 6 minutes. Laois settled well with Jack Kelly getting into the game. Our backs did well but the full forward line struggled.

Totally agree with this. Our full forward especially are full of pace, hard work, skill and endeavour. However there all similar in stature. While this won't be a problem in division 2 of the league it may catch us out in the latter stages of the Joe mc Donagh.
Hopefully the likes of picky or a returning paddy Purcell will help the cause