 | |
| Nickname(s): | The O'Moore County |
|---|---|
| Province: | Leinster |
| Dominant sport: | Dual county |
| Ground(s): | O'Moore Park, Portlaoise |
| County colours: | Blue White |
| County teams | |
| NFL: | Division 4 |
| NHL: | Division 1B |
| Football Championship: | Tailteann Cup |
| Hurling Championship: | Joe McDonagh Cup |
| Camogie: | Jack McGrath Cup |
The Laois County Board of theGaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish:Cumann Luthchleas Gael Coiste Laois) orLaois GAA is one of the 32county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible forGaelic games inCounty Laois. The county board is also responsible for the Laois county teams.
Thecounty football team contested the second everAll-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) final in1889. In 1926, the county won the final of the firstNational Football League competition, defeatingDublin. 1936 brought the team's only other appearance in an All-Ireland SFC decider.
Thecounty hurling team won anAll-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (SHC) in1915.
Laois is adual county, and has a comparable record at both football and hurling. It is one of a select group of counties to have contested All-Ireland finals in both football and hurling. Laois is a six-time Leinster Senior Football Champion, and three-time Leinster Senior Hurling Champion.
In recent times Laois have been more successful footballers than hurlers. Laois minors have had considerable success over the past two decades,[when?] and the Laois senior footballers reached the Leinster final in 2003 (victorious), 2004, 2005 and 2018.
As of2025, Laois hurlers compete in theJoe McDonagh Cup.
MW Hire sponsored Laois GAA for 14 years, while Laois Hire was announced as its new sponsor in a five-year deal from October 2022 onwards.[1]
The major local club competitions in Laois are the championships which are listed below.
In addition, all teams compete in theAll-County Football League from Division 1 down to Division 7.
Laois Senior Football Championship
Laois Intermediate Football Championship
Laois Junior Football Championships
Laois Junior B Football Championship
Laois Junior C Football Championship
Laois Under 21 Football Championship
Laois Minor Football Championship
Portlaoise wonAll-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship in 1983.
Laois contested the second everAll-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) final in 1889. In 1926, the county won the final of the firstNational Football League competition, defeatingDublin. 1936 brought Laois's only other appearance in an All-Ireland SFC decider.
Laois defeatedMonaghan by a point in the1985–86 National Football League final.Liam Irwin andColm Browne both won All Stars for their performances that year.
During the 1990s Laois had a number of successes atminor and under-21 level, includingAll-Ireland Minor Football Championships in 1996 and 1997. During the mid-2000s Laois football became a strong force at all age levels. Under formerKerry andKildare managerMick O'Dwyer, Laois finished as National Football League runner-up andLeinster Senior Football Championship winner in 2003. Laois would go on to contest the Leinster Senior Football Championship Final again in 2004 (lost after a replay) and 2005 (lost by one point). During the same period the minor county team won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship again in 2003 and theLeinster Minor Football Championship in 2004, 2005 and2007, while the under-21 county team won theLeinster Under-21 Football Championship in 2006 and 2007.
The major local club hurling competitions in Laois are the championships which are listed below.
In addition, all teams compete in theAll-County Hurling League from Division 1 down to Division 6.
Laois Senior Hurling Championship
Laois Senior B Hurling Championship
Laois Intermediate Hurling Championship
Laois Junior Hurling Championship
Laois Under 21 Hurling Championship
Laois Minor Hurling Championship
Laois Junior B Hurling Championship
Laois Junior C Hurling Championship
Laois won oneAll-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (SHC) title, in 1915, when the day was so wet the team reportedly played the second half in their overcoats. Laois has also won threeAll-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship titles. The hurlers reachedNational Hurling League (NHL) semi-finals in 1981 and 1983. The team then lost theCentenary Cup hurling final toCork in 1984. The hurlers were back in the NHL semi-final in 1996. Laois most recently contested theLeinster SHC final in 1985, with the result a defeat toOffaly. Laois won theJoe McDonagh Cup in2019, and went on to shockDublin in the preliminary quarter-final the next week to reach the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final. This was considered one of the greatest shocks in the history of the championship.[2]
Under Camogie's National Development Plan 2010-2015, "Our Game, Our Passion",[3]Carlow,Cavan, Laois,Louth andRoscommon were to get a total of 17 new clubs by 2015.[4]The Harps won three consecutiveAll-Ireland Club JCC titles between 2006 and 2008.[5][6][7]
Laois won theAll-Ireland JCC's Nancy Murray Cup in 2007.[8] The team won the third division of theNational Camogie League in2010.[9] As of 2024, Laois were playing in the junior championship and the National Camogie League's Division 3.[10] Noel Brennan managed the team in 2023.[10] Pat Collier and Robert Jones succeeded him in 2024.[10] Former Offaly hurlerBarry Whelahan has coached the team.[10]
The team won an under-16 B title in 2000.[citation needed]
Laois has a ladies' football team.
