Joe McDonagh Cup final: Laois v Westmeath (tomorrow, Croke Park, 1.45pm, live on TG4 Youtube)
THE Kilkenny factor at Croke Park tomorrow won’t be limited to their Leinster final match with Wexford as former great Eddie Brennan attempts to put the seal on a fantastic season for the Laois hurlers.
Three straight wins in their opening three games earned the side a spot in the Joe McDonagh Cup final against a Westmeath side that will be determined to make up for last year’s final loss to Carlow.
The teams did meet in the final round but with Laois already qualified and Westmeath practically alongside them if they avoided a catastrophe, there wasn’t too much at stake. Fittingly the sides finished level.
Brennan rested six players for that game so it will be a stronger side that takes to the field here, something Joe Quaid’s Westmeath will have to guard against.
Quaid wasn’t in charge for last year’s loss to Carlow but the majority of players were and they will be using the pain of that loss for inspiration.
They were their own worst enemy as they racked up 10 wides within the first 25 minutes and they’ll be hoping for much better accuracy this time around.
Their four tallies in the competition this season have ranged from 22 to 29 points so they have been showing well in front of the posts with Killian Doyle leading the way with 2-50. Doyle racked up an incredible 0-17 against Antrim alone with six points coming from play and his performance will have a huge bearing on the outcome.
Regardless of who wins today, both counties will now progress to the All-Ireland series. An argument could be made that losing would be better in the short term here as the victors face Cork while the defeated side will come up against Dublin.
These are two counties who have been starved of silverware in hurling though. Winning tomorrow will absolutely take preference over any favourable All-Ireland draw, especially as it carries with it a spot in next year’s Leinster round-robin series.
Laois have been the stand-out team to date and would be deserving victors.
