As the 2023 AIB Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship Quarter-final approaches, Tullogher Rosbercon gears up to face Colt Shanahoe in what promises to be a thrilling clash in Portlaoise.
The quarter-final fixture, scheduled for a 1:30 pm throw-in this weekend, has generated a buzz of excitement among supporters, and manager Michael Doyle is expressing confidence in his team’s chances.
Speaking to KCLR, Doyle revealed his optimistic outlook for the upcoming match, stating, “It’d be foolish to not give this a lash now and try to double your money in the next couple of weeks because they spent so long trying to win the junior title or trying to win any title.”
Setting the tone for Tullogher Rosbercon’s ambitious aspirations, Doyle continued, “I did say to them at the start of the year, if we could win junior, a cloud would lift and it might open up the opportunity to win a little bit more. I’m hoping now, and I think they will, I think they’re gonna seize this opportunity.”
Acknowledging the competitiveness of the championship, Doyle is aware of the challenges ahead but believes in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion. He emphasized, “There obviously gonna be serious teams in it, but I think the way we hurled in the Kilkenny championship, if we can slowly and steadily over the next five or six weeks, gradually build up and reach that level again, it could be enough to get over the line.”
Tullogher Rosbercon’s journey to the quarter-final has been marked by a comprehensive victory in the preliminary game, where they convincingly defeated St. Patrick’s (Wicklow) with a scoreline of Tullogher Rosbercon 6.19 to St. Patrick’s 1.7. This impressive performance has undoubtedly fueled the team’s confidence as they approach the next crucial stage of the competition.
Their opponent, Colt Shanahoe, emerged as the Laois Intermediate champions for the first time, showcasing their prowess with a brilliant second-half display against Trumera in O’Moore Park. The closely contested final ended in a draw initially, but Colt-Shanahoe secured victory in the replay, finishing 4-15 to 14 points.
Both sides will undoubtedly be eyeing a coveted spot in the later stages of the championship.
Want to hear about Kilkenny hurling? Check out the Kilkenny Hurling podcast
Each week Robbie Dowling and former Blacks and Whites manager Eddie Scally cast their eye over all the action from the weekend’s senior, intermediate, and junior league and championship games as well as looking ahead to the next round of action.
