PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS: Busy Sunday of Laois GAA club football action

Sunday is another busy day of Laois GAA football action with the second of the Intermediate Football semi-finals and the other two SFC quarter-finals taking place.

The quarter-finals feature sides that are no strangers to each other over the last few years.

St Joseph’s v Ballyroan-Abbey

The first SFC game on Sunday sees 2023 champions St Joseph’s go up against Ballyroan-Abbey. These sides met at the same stage in 2025, with St Joseph’s coming out on top in a narrow 2-16 to 2-14 win. The clubs also met in the ACFL Division 1 final in 2025, where St Joseph’s again triumphed. They also clashed in Round 2 of the 2023 SFC, the year in which St Joseph’s ended a 23-year wait to win the Jack Delaney Cup.

St Joseph’s won their first two games of this year’s championship and have sat idle for the last five weeks waiting to see who would come through Round 3. They were pushed all the way by Crettyard in Round 1 before narrowly getting past Graiguecullen, 1-13 to 1-12, in the Winners’ Section of Round 2.

Managed by Athy’s Brian Cardiff in 2026, Joes lost in the semi-finals to first-time finalists Courtwood in 2025. They were beaten by Portlaoise in the last eight in 2024 as they attempted to win back-to-back titles. They were also beaten by Courtwood in this year’s ACFL Division 1 final in July having come through a semi-final against Ballyroan-Abbey.

Ballyroan-Abbey, led by Diarmuid Whelan, got the better of Rosenallis in Round 1, with Whelan contributing 10 of their 19 points. However, they conceded 5-16 to Courtwood in Round 2 to drop into Round 3. They came through that game with the goals proving the difference as they beat Park-Ratheniska 2-17 to 0-17. James McWey has scored 20 points in the first three games and sits second in the scoring charts behind Crettyard’s Evan O’Carroll. McWey was immense last time out when he scored 10 points, including two two-pointers. Ballyroan-Abbey will be hoping they can once again call on the services of Diarmuid Whelan, who came off injured inside the first 10 minutes against Courtwood and missed their win over Park-Ratheniska.

St Joseph’s have been motoring well in the championship and I predict them to reach the last four and join Killeshin and Courtwood.

Prediction: St Joseph’s

The game starts at 2.15pm on Sunday, September 13.

Portarlington v O’Dempsey’s

Three-in-a-row chasing Portarlington are back in action five weeks after they were big winners over Stradbally in Round 2. Ronan Sweeney’s side have been impressive in their first two games, beating The Heath in the opening round.

Port are looking to win their sixth title in seven seasons and their second three-in-a-row in that time.

They’re facing O’Dempsey’s, a side they beat in 2022 to complete their first three-in-a-row. The sides met as recently as July, with Port getting the better of their neighbours in the ACFL Division 2 final. Their last championship meeting came in Round 1 of the championship in 2024 when Port beat them in the LOETB Centre of Excellence.

Eoin Kearns is back at the helm in Killenard and was the manager when Portarlington beat Kearns’ O’Dempsey’s in the 2022 final. His side probably should have beaten Courtwood in Round 1, but they regrouped and fired in 5-13 against Emo while only conceding 0-6.

That put them into Round 3 against Arles-Killeen. They had played the first two games without Mark Barry, who was playing football in Boston. He was back in the fold three weeks ago and scored eight points as they won by nine points to reach the last eight.

Portarlington have had the upper hand in these derbies over the last few years and I expect that to continue on Sunday afternoon from 4pm.

Prediction: Portarlington

The second IFC semi-final takes place on Sunday morning at 11.45am. Ballyfin and Ballylinan go head-to-head with the winners set to face Kilcavan after their win over Mountmellick on Friday evening. The early throw-in is due to Ballylinan celebrating their 100th anniversary. The club are set to welcome GAA President Jarlath Burns to officially open their redeveloped facilities at 3pm.

Ballyfin were relegated from the SFC in 2025 by Crettyard and are looking to bounce straight back up. They’ve had a five-week break since their last competitive game, having defeated Portlaoise and Kilcavan in the first two rounds.

Ballylinan, on the other hand, had to come through a Round 3 game three weeks ago as they beat Ballyroan-Abbey’s second string. They had opened their campaign with victory over Arles-Kilcruise before being beaten by Mountmellick in the Round 2 Winners’ game, dropping them into Round 3.

I predict Ballyfin to reach the final and go one step closer to an immediate return to the senior ranks.

Prediction: Ballyfin

The game throws in at 11.45am in Annanough on Sunday, September 13.