PREVIEW: Clane face stiff test in Leinster Semi-Final as Kildare champs meet Laois' Clonad

Clane booked their place in the Leinster Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Finals last time out against Louth SHC winners Naomh Moninne. They didn’t have it all their own way against the Louth champs who were fresh off the first league and Championship hurling double to be done in the county since 1998.

The men in white trailed by a point at half-time, 1-9 to 0-11, but levelled quickly after the restart before two quick-fire goals sent them clear. The first from green flags was raised by substitute Shane Henry and the second by county goalkeeper Paddy McKenna, the latter of which registered an exceptional 1-8 on the day.

The semi-final clash they have set up see’s them meet Laois men Clonad in the final four on Saturday, November 22 at 1:30pm at a Kildare venue.

Clonad emerged from Laois’ Intermediate ranks following an 1-18 to 1-13 final success over Mountrath, which marked the club's first Championship success since winning the Laois Senior title in 1992. That particular win in the 90s brought to an end an era of 15-year dominance that had seen Camross and Portlaoise be the only clubs to win the Laois SHC between 1976 and ‘91.

The Laois side were of course, as their Kildare counterparts were, ecstatic to have restored their Senior status, but didn’t dwell on it and carried that momentum into their Leinster opener and indeed Quarter-Final with Dublin’s Junior champs, Kevin’s.

Clonad finished 0-19 to 0-16 the better of the two sides, but met stiff competition in their trip to Crumlin and trailed by two as the game entered its final 10 minutes.

Crucial for their turnaround, having led by three themselves at the break, was free-taker and talisman John Onions. The forward has had an exemplary season in front of the posts and, despite the success of my grandfather’s vegetable patch in 2025, there will be a hope of no further Onion cultivation on Kildare soil this year.

Another massive element to Clonad’s success has been their captain and man between the posts James Farrell, who provided yet another goal-saving stop late on against Kevin’s in their Leinster Quarter-Final. Goalkeepers don’t win too many games but they are well able to lose them and the Laois champs, much like Clane with Mark Doyle, will be confident in their stopper headed into this tie.

In the documenting of key players for the Laois side, we meet Barry McCormack, a former Lilywhite and Kildare man who, as well marshalling the midfield for Clonad, has also chipped in with a few scores this year and has been a mainstay in the spine of this team. McCormack will be matching up with either Seán Shanahan or the similarly superb Cormac Vizzard. It goes without saying that the battle in the middle of the pitch will be crucial in controlling this match-up.

The Kildare Senior ‘B’ champs are littered with quality of their own right the way from Dan Colbert up to Caolan Smith, as well as the names mentioned above. They will be prepared for what should be a superb contest on home soil.