Laois Senior Footballers 2024

[County Man]

Just a few reflections on the 2024 season for the Laois senior footballers.

All in all, a successful season with great improvements shown, a game plan and pride restored. 8 league games, 7 wins, a division 4 title and promotion gained to division 3. Plenty of new players blooded during the league and experience gained. A good mixture of youth and experience. Notable wins against Wexford away in round 2 by 10 points and the victory in the final v Leitrim by 14 points.

Championship: 8 championship games, 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats. The only off day really was against Offaly but losing James Kelly so early in the game and Damon Larkin going off injured early in the game were 2 massive blows. Highlight of the championship has to be our 5 point win against Kildare in O'Connor Park, a first championship win since 2005 v Kildare and possibly our best championship win since 2012 when beating both Monaghan and Meath. Beating a decent Antrim team by 5 points was impressive too and getting out of Aughrim with a win. There was a fine display against Fermanagh also despite losing by a point and to run Down to 2 points compared to 22 last year showed the progress that has been made.

While Down deserved the win, the lads executed the game plan and were no pushovers.

For year 2 of Justin Mcnulty's reign, we must not get relegated from division 3. Obviously, the team will aim for promotion but it will be a very competitive division. Hopefully we can get 4 games at home. The club championships should be interesting to see if we can find some new players and hopefully some lads might return from travels etc and strenghten our cause.

For the Leinster championship, maybe we can have a go at a run in it if we're on the opposite side the draw to Dublin and if we do find ourselves again in the Tailteann, hopefully we can follow up on this year.

Plenty to look forward to anyway.

[les Antiques]

FOOTBALLERS LEAGUE FIXTURES

R1: Leitrim (A) 25th Jan 2.30 Pm
R2: Offaly (H) 2nd Feb 4.00 Pm
R3: Sligo (H) 15th Feb 2.00 Pm
R4: Kildare (A) 22nd Feb 7.00 Pm
R5: Antrim (H) 1st Mar 5.00 Pm
R6: Clare (H) 15th Mar 6.00 Pm
R7: Fermanagh (A) 23rd Mar

[Sideline12]

Does anyone know the senior football panel that's in training for the upcoming national league, can't find it on any laois gaa news.