Laois GAA teams struggle to compete in Leinster Club Championships

Following the weekend's results, Ballylinan and O'Moore's are the only Laois sides left standing out of their 10 club representatives that have competed over the past month.

To their credit, The Harps gave a good account of themselves in the Leinster Junior Camogie Championship as they reached the Leinster final only to be ousted by Wicklow champions Knockananna. 

Camross faced off against five-in-a-row Kildare champions Naas in the Senior Club Championship having had to wait five weeks since their county final victory over Abbeyleix. Naas were fully deserving of the win in the end as they had an exceptional first-half which saw them lead by six at half-time while also keeping Camross' Mossy Keyes relatively quiet.

Portlaoise made the trip to Aughrim to square off against last year's Leinster Intermediate Hurling champions Bray Emmets, who accounted for Abbeyleix on their way to the title in 2022. It was a game of few goal chances with 22 of the 34 points coming from frees with both goalkeepers untested for the 60 minutes.

A period of five points unanswered midway through the first-half put Bray Emmets in the driving seat and it always felt like they had Portlaoise where they wanted them, should Portlaoise up their performance. Tommy Fitzgerald's side ultimately losing out by two points in the end as Christy Moorehouse and Aaron Bergin gave the crowd an exhibition of free-taking but Moorehouse won out in the end as the top-scorer from their 2022 Leinster-winning campaign got Bray Emmets over the line.

In the Junior Hurling competition, Colt-Shanahoe had gotten past the challenge of European champions Amsterdam two weeks previous to tee up a date with Kilkenny champions Tullogher Rosbercon.

It was always going to be an uphill task for the Laois Intermediate champions and that shone through as Tullogher-Rosbercon held them to two scores throughout the game, one goal and one point. With multiple All-Ireland winner in their ranks, Walter Walsh put on a fine-scoring performance of 2-6 all from play. Colt-Shanahoe will be proud of their efforts throughout the championship as they can now look forward to having a crack the Premier Intermediate Championship in 2024. They'll also be hoping that star man James Keyes is available for the 2024 campaign.

Just like Camross did in the hurling side of things, St Joseph's crashed out of the Leinster Senior Club Championship at the first hurdle four weeks ago. Mick Dempsey's side going down to a resolute Eire Og side from Carlow after a titanic battle which went to extra-time. Eire Og were subsequently beaten by All-Ireland champions Kilmacud Crokes. St Joseph's will be delighted that they finally broke their 23-year wait to lift the Jack Delaney Cup after beating Portlaoise in a county final. They also only had six days rest before their Leinster clash which certainly didn't help in their hopes of progressing in Leinster.

Ballylinan will go into this weekend's game with Allenwood full of confidence with Padraig Clancy's side aiming to reach the Leinster Intermediate final and prolong Laois' hopes of claiming at least one Leinster Club title in 2023. Allenwood were pushed to the pin of their collar in the semi-final as they needed extra-time to get the better of St Malachy's of Westmeath. Johnny Doyle is still going strong at the prime age of 45 and is one to watch in Saturday's game. The winner will face Rathkenny (Meath) or Dublin's Scoil Uí Chonaill in the decider on Saturday December 2.

Annanough were the Junior Football representatives for Laois and they too were beaten albeit after extra-time to the hands of Gylde Rangers of Louth having gotten the better St Mullins in the opening game.

Shanahoe and Crettyard exited in the opening rounds of the Ladies Intermediate and Junior Championships respectively. In the Senior Ladies Club Championship, Portlaoise were forced to withdraw due to an issue with fixture clashes between their Senior and Minor teams.

O'Moore's face Na Fianna (Meath) in the Leinster Intermediate Camogie final this coming Sunday in Carlow with Ballylinan facing Allenwood in Laois Hire O'Moore Park at 1.30pm on Saturday November 18.