Laois GAA

The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Cumann Luthchleas Gael Coiste Laois) or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois. The county board is also responsible for the Laois county teams.

The county football team contested the second ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) final in 1889. In 1926, the county won the final of the first National Football League competition, defeating Dublin. 1936 brought the team's only other appearance in an All-Ireland SFC decider.

The county hurling team won an All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (SHC) in 1915.

History
Laois are a dual county, enjoying comparative success at both football and hurling. Laois are one of a select group of counties to have contested All-Ireland finals in both football and hurling. They are six times Leinster Senior Football Champions, and three times Leinster Senior Hurling Champions.

In recent times Laois have been more successful footballers than hurlers. Laois minors have had considerable success over the past two decades, and the Laois senior footballers reached the Leinster final in 2003 (victorious), 2004, 2005 and 2018.

Laois hurlers currently compete in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Sponsorship
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.

Clubs
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 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 won All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship in 1983.

County team
Laois contested the second ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) final in 1889. In 1926, the county won the final of the first National Football League competition, defeating Dublin. 1936 brought Laois's only other appearance in an All-Ireland SFC decider.

Laois defeated Monaghan by a point in the 1985–86 National Football League final. Liam Irwin and Colm Browne both won All Stars for their performances that year.

During the 1990s Laois had a number of successes at minor and under-21 level, including All-Ireland Minor Football Championships in 1996 and 1997. During the mid-2000s Laois football became a strong force at all age levels. Under former Kerry and Kildare manager Mick O'Dwyer, Laois finished as National Football League runner-up and Leinster 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 the Leinster Minor Football Championship in 2004, 2005 and 2007, while the under-21 county team won the Leinster Under-21 Football Championship in 2006 and 2007.

Clubs
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 Senior’A 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

County team
Laois won one All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship title, in 1915, when the day was so wet the team reportedly played the second half in their overcoats. The team currently competes in the Liam MacCarthy Cup (Tier 1 of the Senior Hurling Championship), but has also won three All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championships. 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 most recently contested the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship final in 1985, in what was to be a disappointing final defeat against Offaly. Laois won the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2019, and went on to shock Dublin in the preliminary quarter-final the next week to reach the All-Ireland Quarter Final. This was considered one of the greatest shocks in the history of the championship.

Camogie
Harps won three All Ireland junior club titles in 2006-8. Laois won the Nancy Murray Cup in 2007. They won the third division of the National Camogie League in 2010. They won the under-16 B title in 2000.

Notable players include soaring star award winners Louise Mahony and Eimear Moynan

Under Camogie's National Development Plan 2010-2015, "Our Game, Our Passion", Carlow, Cavan, Laois, Louth and Roscommon were to get a total of 17 new clubs by 2015.

Ladies' football
Laois has a ladies' football team.