Galway minor hurlers surive a scare against Laois in Leinster Championship
GALWAY’S minor hurlers did just enough to see off Laois and open their Leinster Championship campaign with a win last Saturday in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.
Laois came into the match with the benefit of three games in Tier Two of the competition, while this was Galway’s first competitive outing of 2026.
Kenneth Burke’s side led for most of the contest, but Laois mounted a late push in the final quarter before Galway held on for a narrow four-point victory. Galway had chances to push on in the first and second half but Burke will know this competitive outing will stand to his side moving forward into the latter stages of the championship.
At times, the game developed into a scoring duel between Galway’s Anthony Poinard and Laois forward LJ Cuddy. Poinard was in excellent form, finishing with 0-11, while Cuddy impressed with 0-13. Galway vice-captain Tadgh MacCartaigh missed the clash through injury.
Joey McMahon and Conor Lynskey impressed in defence for the boys in maroon and white, while Jamie Egan, Eoghan McClearn and Michael Coen proved to be a handful for the hosts.
Galway made a strong start, racing into a 1-5 to 0-2 lead after eight minutes. Poinard struck twice early on, with captain Gus Lohan, Ultan O’Connor and Michael Coen also contributing. Eoghan McLearn of Loughrea capped a brilliant solo run with a well-taken goal past Laois ‘keeper Ryan Keeshan.
Cuddy kept Laois in touch with a point from play and a placed ball, and on 12 minutes he cleverly played a short free to Calum Jones, who calmly finished to the net to leave it 1-5 to 1-2. The Tribesmen then outscored their opponents 0-7 to 0-4 over the next 18 minutes.
Poinard converted three placed balls, while Jamie Egan, Tom McAdam, McLearn and corner-back Joey McMahon also added points, stretching the lead to 1-12 to 1-6. Cuddy remained accurate from frees, adding three more, with Luke Hynes also on target to keep Laois within touch. However, Burke will have been frustrated with his side’s shooting at times, as they hit six wides during that spell.
After the restart, Galway looked to be pulling away as Coen, O’Connor and two more Poinard frees extended their lead to 1-16 to 1-7 after 37 minutes. Despite efforts from Cuddy and Bobby O’Connor, further scores from Egan and Culann Leen pushed the visitors 1-18 to 1-9 ahead, suggesting they might cruise to victory.
Laois had other ideas, though. Hynes, Tadgh Hughes and two more Cuddy frees cut the gap to 1-18 to 1-13. Poinard responded with a pair of frees to steady Galway, but Laois built momentum again, with Hynes and Killian James reducing the deficit to five points.
Substitute Daithí Linnane and Poinard added late insurance scores for Galway, while Cuddy narrowed the gap to four points in the closing stages. That proved as close as Laois would get, as Galway held firm to begin their Leinster campaign on a winning note.
Galway will aim to make it two wins from two when they face Kilkenny in round two on Saturday at Nowlan Park (1pm).
GALWAY: M Walsh (Carnmore); E White (Craughwell), D Shaughnessy (Turloughmore), J McMahon (0-1, Athenry); C Donoghue (Clarinbridge), C Lynskey (Liam Mellows), U Leen (Craughwell); G Lohan (0-1, Oranmore Maree), J Egan (0-2, Oranmore Maree); U O’Connor (0-2, Ardrahan), E McLearn (1-1, Loughrea), T McAdam (0-1, Carnmore); C Larkin (Killimor), M Coen (0-2, Clarinbridge), A Poinard (0-11, 0-9f, 0-1 65 Athenry). SUBS: C Leen (0-1, Craughwell) for O’Connor (42), D Linnane (0-1, Gort) for White (45), C Power (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry) for Coen (52), C O’Neill (Sarsfields) for U Leen (55), D Dillon (Kilnadeema Leitrim) for McAdam (59).
LAOIS: R Keeshan; C Hickey, J Rice, D Keeshan; H Donoghue, D Bowe, O McRedmond; L Hynes (0-3), R Standish; C Hoey, B O’Connor (0-1), K James (0-1); O Gilligan, L Cuddy (0-13, 0-12f), C Jones (1-0). SUBS: T Hughes (0-1) for Standish (Half-time), R Dwyer for Rice (38), J O’Connell for Hoey (42), J Mahony for D Keeshan (52), E O’Loughlin for Jones (52).
REFEREE: Dean Alford (Dublin).