Laois GAA Chairman PJ Kelly gives his thoughts ahead of Tailteann Cup final against Down
Kelly was speaking at the launch of the Laois Shopping Centre Club Championships
The Laois Shopping Centre in Portlaoise was awash with club colours from across Laois on Thursday evening as this year's club championships were officially launched with them due to get underway on Wednesday, July 17.
Laois GAA Chairman PJ Kelly spoke to the Leinster Express/ Laois Live to give his thoughts on Laois' upcoming Tailteann Cup final against Down in Croke Park.
"It is our All-Ireland Final. The Tailteann Cup, yeah, it's a Grade 2. We were asked before, do we see a need for it? My personal view is we do. I think we're there on merit. If we feel we're too good for it, we can work our way out of it. We have an opportunity on Saturday," he said.
Kelly believes that if Laois can perform 'to their ability and to their maximum' that they won't be far away from getting a result which would see them into the Sam Maguire Cup for 2025.
"I think Saturday will bring a good performance and I believe if we do bring a good performance, if the lads play to their ability and to their maximum, we'll be there or thereabouts. Now, it is a massive undertaking and a mammoth task. Down are going to win us serious favourites. Maybe rightly so, I don't know, after last year but I believe last year's gone. Every game is different. Our guys will have confidence going as well. Good management team in place. They're good guys, they're level, they're not letting it get to their head. They've had the hard work put in. So I'd be quietly confident, yeah, I'd be quietly confident and I'd like to wish them well," PJ Kelly said.
Laois and Down throws-in at 3pm on Saturday, July 13.