Laois captain 'grateful' moment of 'mayhem' went their way to secure McDonagh Cup final spot

"It was just crazy. Mixed emotions really. Like, it felt like it was gone from us with a couple of minutes to go and then just the way it finished was something I've never experienced before," admitted David Dooley.

MAYHEM: David Dooley of Laois during a Joe McDonagh Cup Final media day at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Laois captain David Dooley has acknowledged that it took a little bit of 'mayhem' to secure their return to the Joe McDonagh Cup final.

The beaten 2024 finalists appeared to be cruising back to this year's decider when they started the campaign with big wins over Westmeath, Down and Kerry, registering 14 goals in the process.

But the wheels came off then with a surprise 11-point loss to Kildare followed by a draw with Carlow that was only secured thanks to a late, late goal from James Duggan after a goalmouth scramble.

Thanks to that goal, and the draw, Laois edged out Carlow on scoring difference in the group, locking down their final place alongside Kildare.

"I think mayhem is probably the word that I'd use to describe it," said Dooley of the chaotic closing moments of the Round 5 fixture.

"It was just crazy. Mixed emotions really. Like, it felt like it was gone from us with a couple of minutes to go and then just the way it finished was something I've never experienced before. To win in that fashion was just unbelievable.

"If that goal hadn't gone in, a Carlow man would be sitting here talking to you now. It comes down to a very fine margin at the end of it all and we're just grateful that we were on the right side of it."

Ard Stiúrthóir Tom Ryan, centre, with David Dooley of Laois, left, and Paddy McKenna of Kildare during a Joe McDonagh Cup Final media day at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

If Laois can complete the job on Sunday, and match their 2019 McDonagh Cup success, it would mark another twist in Dooley's personal sporting tale.

He only made his league debut for Laois last year having spent the two previous seasons playing rugby, making it as far as the Leinster academy and even training with the first team.

A contract offer never materialised though and after just one season back with Laois, Dooley was handed the team captaincy by manager Tommy Fitzgerald for 2025.

Still just 22, he has packed a lot into a short period of time. Not that he was reluctant or disinclined to take on the armband because of his age.

"No, not really," he said. "Probably the overriding feeling was just pride. I snatched his hand off when I got the call. I wasn't really expecting it but there are so many big leaders within the group as well.

"I wouldn't be the biggest talker in the group or anything like that but I try my best to lead by example if I can on the pitch. That's where I probably add the most amount of value to the group."

Back in the oval ball game, some of his former colleagues are kicking on to the next level.

"I would have played with Sam Prendergast up along," he said, referencing the Ireland international.

"It's great to see him going really well. He's probably the biggest star at the minute I played with but there's plenty of lads who have Irish caps at the minute and who will earn Irish caps as well in the next couple of years, who I would have been playing with.

"I'm still in touch with a lot of them and still friends with a lot of them."

McDonagh Cup final opponents Kildare won the Christy Ring Cup title just last year yet are on the verge now of Leinster SHC activity in 2026, a romantic tale that has captured the imagination of hurling neutrals.

"They're physical, they're strong, and they can hurl," said half-forward Dooley.

"It's going to be incredibly tough on Sunday because they set up very well. They counteracted our plan really well the last day. We'll have our work cut out for sure."