All you need to know as the Laois hurlers set to face Waterford in All-Ireland Qualifiers Round 1

After last week’s heroic performance against Antrim, the Laois hurlers are back in action against Waterford today.

It will be their third visit to Nowlan Park this year – with defeats to Kilkenny and Wexford making it an unhappy hunting ground this far.

Below, we take a look at the game in more detail:

When, where, what time and can supporters go?

The game throws in at 2pm in Nowlan Park in Kilkenny.

Initially, only 500 tickets were being allocated for the game but this has been successfully increased to 3,500.

Fans may now purchase and download their tickets by accessing the link here.

Tickets are sold in pods of 2s and 4s at €25 per ticket.

Team news

Laois manager Seamas ‘Cheddar Plunkett has yet to name the starting team – but no changes to the 15 that started against Antrim are anticipated.

Waterford have named their team.

WATERFORD: Shaun O’Brien; Conor Gleeson, Conor Prunty, Ian Kenny; Callum Lyons, Iarlaith Daly, Kevin Moran; Austin Gleeson, Neil Montgomery; Jack Fagan, Jack Prendergast, Stephen Bennett; Dessie Hutchinson, Shane Bennett, Patrick Curran

What’s Laois’s recent history like against Waterford?

Laois and Waterford have not played too often over the last decade – the most recent meeting being a league game in 2019 which the Deise won 4-22 to 1-15. 

Before that, you have to go back to 2015 for the next most recent competitive meeting between Laois and Waterford which was also a Division 1B league match.

It was a mauling for Cheddar Plunkett’s men in Dungarvan as Waterford won by 3-21 to 0-12 – Pauric Mahony scoring 1-14.

The last championship meeting came in an All-Ireland Qualifier in 2014 where once again the Deise came out on top on a scoreline of 2-22 to 1-15.

What have Waterford been like this year?

Waterford were in Division 1A in the league this year and finished second behind Galway.

They lost to the Tribesmen and Cork but defeated Tipperary, Limerick and Westmeath.

As defeated All-Ireland finalists in 2020, they entered the Munster championship full of confidence but came a cropper against Clare in the quarter final – 1-22 to 0-21.

Austin Gleeson, Stephen Bennett and Shane Fives are among their main men.

What happens after this game?

One way or another – Laois will still have at least one more game to play before their 2021 campaign is over.

They will have to play Westmeath in the Division 1 league relegation playoff – but the exact date is dependent on what happens here.

If Laois win, they will progress to Round 2 of the All-Ireland hurling Qualifiers.

But if Laois lose, they will face Westmeath next weekend – with the Lake County playing Kerry in the Joe McDonagh Cup final later today.

Who’s the referee?

The man in the middle for this game is Liam Gordon from Galway.

His last game involving Laois was a 2019 league defeat to Dublin – when snow made parts of the motorway impassable on the way home!

What are the odds?

Waterford are 1/40 favourites with Laois at 15/1 and the draw priced at 33/1. The handicap is 14 points.

Where can I follow the action?

We will be providing minute-by-minute updates on our Live Blog and there will also be coverage on Midlands 103. While the game is on GAA Go.

SEE ALSO – Gardai investigating following attempted armed robbery at Laois post office

The post All you need to know as the Laois hurlers set to face Waterford in All-Ireland Qualifiers Round 1 appeared first on Laois Today.

source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2021/07/17/all-you-need-to-know-as-the-laois-hurlers-set-to-face-waterford-in-all-ireland-qualifiers-round-1/