Rowland and Purcell gearing up for 2020 season

This weekend will see the Laois hurlers begin their Allianz National League campaign.

They welcome Wexford to O’Moore Park on Saturday evening at 7pm.

Speaking ahead of their first game, All Star nominee and Laois goalkeeper, Enda Rowland said: “We need to play the same way we did against Dublin (last year), if not better every day we’re out this year.

“The Leinster Champions are coming to O’Moore Park next week.

“They’re the games you want to be in and the teams you want to be playing – testing yourself against the best.”

Weighing in on the upcoming league was the 2019 Joe McDonagh Cup Player of the Year and last year’s Laois captain, Paddy Purcell.

“We want to be competitive in every match. Our main focus would probably be on our performance levels.

“Our ultimate goal is May and June. That’s when we want to be at our peak. You have to go through this games and see where you are and take the learnings from it and see where it takes us from then,” explained the Rathdowney-Errill man.

Looking ahead, Purcell explained: “We’ve a good few new faces in this year which mean blooding them in for a couple of matches as well.

“You need a strong panel especially with matches that are coming down the line. We’ve 4 Leinster matches in 5 weeks against top opposition and there’s going to be heavy-hitting so you’re going to need everyone fully fit so that’s the basis of the league.

“We still want to win matches too, we’re not here to make up the numbers either, we’re here to win next Saturday night and the weeks following that.”

 SEE ALSO – Blow for Laois hurlers as experienced defender opts out of panel

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source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/01/23/rowland-and-purcell-gearing-up-for-2020-season/