Laois GAA reveals 2024 award winners as Murphy, Cleere, Corby and Roche claim top honours

Picture Credits: Oonagh Maher, Denis Byrne and Sportsfile

placeholder image — Picture Credits: Oonagh Maher, Denis Byrne and Sportsfile

The awards night will take place on Friday, November 29

Laois GAA have announced the winners of the prestigious GAA awards for 2023. There are 13 clubs represented with the awards ceremony set to take place on Friday, November 29 at the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise.

Senior Club Hurling Championship winning captain Aidan Corby and Killeshin goalkeeper Killian Roche scoop the respective Inter-County Player of the Year Awards after their fine performances while playing for their beloved Laois.

Corby was outstanding from the first Laois game right up until the unfortunate defeat to Offaly in the Joe McDonagh Cup final. Laois were also crowned Division 2A champions against Carlow. As well as working tirelessly in the Laois midfield, Corby popped up with crucial scores at crucial times. He scored four points in the Joe McDonagh decider where he and Paddy Purcell ruled the middle of the park with Rathdowney-Errill's Purcell adding five points of his own, all from play.

Goalkeeper Killian Roche was an important part of Justin McNulty's set-up as the Armagh All-Ireland winner returned to Laois hotseat since leaving the job in 2013. As well as doing the usual roles that come with being a goalkeeper, Roche scored some exceptional points for the O'Moore County.

One of the points of the year came from Roche's boot as he pointed a free from the 65' against Kildare in the Tailteann Cup Quarter-Final in June. He raised an astonishing 15 white flags across the 2024 season. Laois were promoted to Division 3 of the league having won the Division 4 title in March before going on to be beaten by Down in the Tailteann Cup final.

The Senior Club Players of the Year were awarded to Portarlington's Rioghan Murphy (football) and Clough-Ballacolla's Lee Cleere (hurling).

Murphy was at the forefront for Portarlington throughout the championship and stepped up to the mark when Pat Roe needed his leaders to get them over the line. His goal against Graiguecullen in the semi-final was one of the goals of championship. Portarlington got the better of Portlaoise to win a fourth Laois championship in five years in October's County Final.

County champion Lee Cleere had one of his best years in the Clough-Ballacolla jersey with his outstanding showings at centre-back. He had a great game in the County Final where he came out with the ball on multiple occasions as well as chipping in with three superb points in his side's six-point County Final victory against Rathdowney-Errill.

PJ Scully is the Premier Intermediate Hurler of the Year, Crettyard's Cormac Murphy is Intermediate Footballer of the Year, Minor Hurler is Castletown's Kyron Cuddy while Darren Brennan is the Minor Football of the Year.

The Heath's Tom Jones is the Hall of Fame recipient while Rathdowney-Errill's Anthony Stapleton has been awarded Referee of the Year.

See the full list of award winners below:

Senior Football: Rioghan Murphy (Portarlington)

Senior ‘B’ Football: Paddy Fitzpatrick (The Heath)

Intermediate Football: Cormac Murphy (Crettyard)

Intermediate ‘B’ Football: Jamie Conway (Arles Kilcruise)

Junior Football: Cian Ryle (Kilcavan)

Minor Football: Darren Brennan (Portlaoise)

Laois Inter County Senior Football: Killian Roche (Killeshin)

Senior Hurling: Lee Cleere (Clough/Ballacolla)

Premier Intermediate Hurling: PJ Scully (Borris-In-Ossory Kilcotton)

Intermediate Hurling: Laurence Kenny (Mountmellick)