New Laois hurling boss Seamas ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett has finalised his management team.
In his second stint at the helm having succeeded Kilkenny legend Eddie Brennan, Plunkett has assembled an impressive backroom team which includes Galway All-Ireland winning coach Francis Forde.
Forde was Micheal Donoghue’s right-hand man when Galway reclaimed the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2017 and is listed as ‘hurling analyst’ in Plunkett’s set-up, with Donach O’Donnell the hurling coach, having held a similar role previously with Limerick.
Leo Tiernan and David Matthews will oversee strength and conditioning. Matthews, a two-time Olympian at 800m, has previously been involved with the Cork and Offaly hurlers.
Former Laois senior football manager John Sugrue and his colleague from the Laois Physiotherapy Clinic Conor Bolton are also on board, while JP Campion will be the team doctor.
Portlaoise clubman Plunkett previously managed Laois from 2012 to ‘16, a period during which they became more competitive against high ranking counties, most notably when in 2013 and particularly ‘14, when they pushed Galway close in the Leinster Championship.
More recently, he spent two years in charge of Kilkenny club James Stephens, guiding them to a county final in 2019, which they lost to Ballyhale Shamrocks, who also edged them out in a county semi-final last year.
