Laois GAA
| File:Laois.png | |
| Irish: | Laois |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s): | The O'Moore County |
| Province: | Leinster |
| Dominant sport: | Gaelic Football |
| Ground(s): | O'Moore Park, Portlaoise |
| County colours: | Blue and White |
| County teams | |
| NFL: | Division 1 |
| NHL: | Division 1 |
| Football Championship: | Sam Maguire Cup |
| Hurling Championship: | Liam McCarthy Cup |
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Template:Lang-ga) or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.
History
One of a select group of counties to have contested All Ireland finals in both football and hurling, which was a long time ago and probably will never be seen again. Laois have recently enjoyed a football revival associated with the success of their minor teams from 1996 on and the winning of the Leinster Senior Football Championship in 2003.
Gaelic football
A great display by midfielder Liam Irwin helped Laois beat Monaghan by a point in the 1986 National Football League final. They have been to the National Football League semi-final three times in the 1990s.
After winning All-Ireland Minor Football Championships in 1996 and 1997 Laois became a field study to show if the minor championship really works as a breeding ground for senior success. They topped up an appearance in the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship final with a breakthrough Leinster Senior Football Championship in 2003 under former Kerry and Kildare manager Mick O'Dwyer. Laois won another All-Ireland Minor Football Championship in 2003, beating Dublin in the final.
In 2006, Mick O'Dwyer's management of Laois ended and he was replaced by the former Limerick manager, Liam Kearns.
Honours
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Finalists: 2
- 1889, 1936
- All-Ireland Minor Football Championships: 3
- 1996, 1997, 2003
- All-Ireland ‘B’: 1
- 1993
- National Football League: 2
- 1926, 1986
- Semi-finalists: 1952, 1978, 1994, 1995, 1997
- Leinster Senior Football Championships: 6
- 1889, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1946, 2003
- Leinster U21 Football Championships: 8
- 1964, 1969, 1982, 1987, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2007
- Leinster Minor Football Championships: 9
- 1932, 1966, 1967, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2007
- Leinster Junior Football Championships: 5
- 1907, 1941, 1968, 1973, 1993
- O'Byrne Cup: 5
- 1978, 1987, 1991, 1994 and 2005
- All Stars: 5
- 1986 (Colm Browne, Liam Irwin), 2003 (Fergal Byron, Joe Higgins, Tom Kelly)
- Women's MF in 1992
- Portlaoise won All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship in 1983
Famous Former Players
- Bill Delaney
- Tommy Murphy
- Mick Haughney
- Des Connolly
- Paddy Dunne
- Fintan Walsh
- Jack Kenna
- Bobby Miller
- Karl Lenihan
- Tom Prendergast
- Liam Irwin
- Colm Browne
- Mick Aherne
- Mick Dempsey
- Pat Roe
- Leo Turley
- Mick Lawlor
- Tony Maher
- Denis Lalor
- George Doyle
- Hugh Emerson
- Damien Delaney
- Ian Fitzgerald
- Colm Begley
- Fergal Byron
- Chris Conway
- Kevin Fitzpatrick
Laois Gaelic football Squad
Laois Club Football
The major local club competitions in Laois are the championships which are listed below.
In addition, all teams compete in the All-County Football League from Division 1 down to Division 5.
Laois Senior Football Championship
Laois Intermediate Football Championship
Laois Junior Football Championship
Laois Junior "B" Football Championship
Laois Junior "C" Football Championship
Laois Under 21 Football Championship
Laois Minor Football Championship
Hurling
Laois's only All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship title was in 1915 when the day was so wet the team reportedly played the second half in their overcoats.
The hurlers reached National Hurling League semi-finals in 1981 and 1983 before losing the Centenary Cup hurling final to Cork in 1984, and were back in the National Hurling League semi-final in 1996. Laois's last big Leinster Senior Hurling Championship win, over Wexford in 1985, was followed by a disappointing final defeat against Offaly.
Honours
- National Hurling League: 1
- 2002
- semi-finalists 1981, 1983, 1996.
- Div 2 Hurling in 1960 and 1965
- All-Ireland Senior B Hurling: 2
- 1977 and 1979,
- Leinster Senior Hurling Championships: 3
- 1914, 1915, 1949
- Leinster Minor Hurling Championships: 4
- 1934, 1940, 1941, 1964
- Leinster Junior Hurling Championships: 3
- 1910, 1914, 1933
- All Stars: 1
- 1985 (Pat Critchley)
- Walsh Cup H in 1980 and 1991,
- Keogh Cup H in 1982.
Notable Former Players
- Mick Aherne
- Jack Finlay
- Pat Critchley
- PJ Cuddy
- Pat Roe
- Sean Delaney
- Timmy Fitzpatrick
- Frank Keenan
- Paddy Lalor
- Christy O'Brien
- Paddy Ruschitzko
- John Taylor
- Denis Lalor
Laois Hurling Squad
|
|
Laois Club Hurling
The major local club hurling competitions in Laois are the championships which are listed below.
In addition, all teams compete in the All-County Hurling League from Division 1 down to Division 5.
Laois Senior 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
Bibliography
A Hundred Years Of The GAA In Laois by Teddy Fennelly, 1984.
Clubs of Laois
see Category:Gaelic Athletic Association clubs in County Laois
