Deadly Duggan breaks Laois scoring record in dream debut

Laois' James Duggan in action during the McDonagh clash with Kerry ©INPHO/Ben Brady

James Duggan marked his first championship start for the Laois senior hurlers with a sensational first half haul of 5-2 (17 points) against Kerry in the Joe McDonagh Cup yesterday.

The Harps corner forward ran riot as Tommy Fitzgerald’s charges romped to a 5-28 to 1-21 victory at Laois Hire O’Moore Park to continue their impressive start to the second-tier competition. It was announced over the public address system at half-time that Duggan was the first Laois player to score five goals in a championship tie since Billy Delaney in 1939.

All of Duggan’s scores came from play on a day when Westmeath football sharpshooter Luke Loughlin – who is in the form of his life – scored a staggering 1-17 in an emphatic Tailteann Cup Round 1 victory over Antrim at TEG Cusack Park.