Stage is set for Laois GAA Senior Football Championship

Portarlington will once again enter the championship as favourites as they look to secure a third successive SFC title and a sixth crown in seven years. The only year they have failed to lift the Jack Delaney Cup in that period was 2023, when St Joseph’s defeated Portlaoise in the final.

Courtwood will once again be viewed as genuine contenders after reaching their first-ever senior final last year, where they pushed Portarlington all the way before eventually losing after a replay. Their credentials were further strengthened this year when they claimed the ACFL Division 1 title for the first time in the club’s history, despite being without some of their key players. Niall Dunne is ruled out for the remainder of the year, while inter-county duo Rob Tyrrell and Cian Doyle also missed the league final victory.

Portlaoise will be hoping this is finally the year they end a seven-year wait to reclaim the Jack Delaney Cup. They have suffered final defeats in 2021, 2023 and 2024 as they looked to return to the steps of Laois Hire O’Moore Park, while their 2025 championship campaign ended at the quarter-final stage against a history-making Courtwood side.

This year’s 16-team championship will be the final time the competition is played in this format, with three teams set to be relegated ahead of the introduction of a 12-team senior championship in 2028. The teams defeated in Round 2B, along with the losers from Round 3, will enter the Senior ‘B’ quarter-finals. Those defeated at that stage will then face relegation play-offs rather than relegation semi-finals, as was previously the case. The two teams losing those relegation play-offs will go down, while the two winners will meet in a final play-off, with the losing side becoming the third team relegated to intermediate.

The relegation battle could prove to be one of the most intriguing aspects of this year’s championship due to the unforgiving nature of the format. While there are likely three or four teams capable of winning the Jack Delaney Cup, there are probably twice as many sides who could find themselves dragged into a relegation fight. As has been seen in previous years, dropping out of senior can have a major impact, with the gap between the two grades a significant one.

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The reduction in the number of teams competing in the senior championship has resulted in the intermediate championship expanding to 12 teams, which should create more competitive competitions across both grades.

The action gets underway on Wednesday evening, with Stradbally facing Killeshin in Ratheniska and Graiguecullen taking on Emo in Portlaoise. With the new relegation format adding extra pressure, Round 1 will be more important than ever, with many teams likely focused on securing their senior status before thinking about championship glory.

Thursday evening brings another double-header, with St Joseph’s facing Crettyard in Stradbally, while Laois Hire O’Moore Park hosts the meeting of neighbours Courtwood and O’Dempsey’s. There are no fixtures on Sunday due to the All-Ireland Football final, meaning there will be plenty of action across the week with two games each evening.

Ballyroan-Abbey and Rosenallis meet in Portlaoise, while The Town and Clonaslee-St Manman’s will go head-to-head in Annanough.

Saturday evening sees a double-header in Laois Hire O’Moore Park. Arles-Killeen and 2025 Intermediate champions Park-Ratheniska get proceedings underway before the opening round concludes with reigning champions Portarlington taking on The Heath in a repeat of last year’s Round 1 clash.