It's a long time since last August. It's a very long time since Richie Hogan clattered into Cathal Barrett and Tipperary were crowned All-Ireland Champions. It's even longer since Limerick lost their crown in a classic to Kilkenny, or since Wexford so nearly made it, or since Laois were the darlings of the summer. Championship hurling has been a long time coming, but it's back at last. Saturday night, Dublin will meet Laois (in the dark!), yellow sliotar and all! On Sunday, Limerick and Clare will meet in a Munster quarter-final come League final. It's all a bit odd. It's all a bit precarious. But, it's back!
As we prepare for the burst of life that hurling fans have been waiting far too long for this weekend, we've been looking back on some of the great moments of Championships past. Given that the two sides face each other in the opening match of this year's championship, we could not overlook, the incredible moment Laois provided against Dublin in 2019. Relive it here.
*****
Laois caused the biggest shock of this year's hurling championship by beating Dublin at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise in their All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.
The McDonagh Cup champions beat Dublin by two points on a scoreline of 1-22 to 0-23 just a week after winning the second tier championship final against Westmeath at Croke Park.
Above average day in O'Moore Park!!!!!
Laois advance to the quarterfinals on the back of our first championship win over Dublin since 2005.
Superb performance by ever single one of the players. Simply amazing win.— Laois GAA (@CLGLaois) July 7, 2019
Dublin were strong favourites having beaten Galway at Parnell Park three weeks ago to finish third in the Leinster Championships
Laois' reward for today's victory is a quarter-final against Tipperary at Croke Park on Sunday.
You can listen to the final few minutes commentary of the game from Midlands 103 with Jack Nolan (who nearly lost his voice) and Shane Stapleton by forwarding to the 1:16.30 mark below.
Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
See Also: Remembering That Joe Canning Semi-Final Of 2017
