Laois primary schools impress at inaugural Laois/Offaly badminton qualifier

History was made in Portarlington this past week as the inaugural Laois/Offaly Primary Schools Badminton County Qualifier took place at Portarlington Community Centre.

For the first time, schools from both Laois and Offaly competed in a dedicated regional qualifier, with the top two schools in each category earning a place at the upcoming Leinster Finals.

The event drew strong participation from across both counties, and the standard of play was high throughout. Mayo National School, the reigning Leinster champions and 2024 All-Ireland qualifiers, set an early benchmark in the boys’ competition, while Portlaoise Educate Together NS, who finished fifth in Leinster last year, were among the frontrunners once again. They were joined by Sandylane NS, Presentation NS and Scoil Padraig NS.

Mayo NS quickly established their dominance, securing early wins to take command of the standings. Portlaoise ETNS remained firmly in contention, while Sandylane NS and Scoil Padraig NS stayed within striking distance.

One of the biggest games of the day came when Sandylane met Portlaoise ETNS in a crucial tie that would determine the second Leinster qualification spot. Sandylane made a strong start, taking the opening game 30–21, before PETNS fought back to lead 15–12 midway through the second. However, the Portarlington school regrouped and held firm, sealing the match 30–19, 30–28 to claim runner-up honours behind the Laois representatives, Mayo NS.

Although Portlaoise ETNS narrowly missed out on qualification, their performance earned praise for its fighting spirit and quality of play, with many tipping them as a team to watch in next year’s series.

In the girls’ division, it was Sandylane NS who brought major success back to Laois, turning in a superb performance to capture both the Laois/Offaly title and qualification for the Leinster Finals. From the outset, Sandylane looked composed and focused, while Presentation NS, competing in their first-ever badminton event, quickly emerged as worthy rivals. The two sides met in a thrilling final that showcased the best of school sport, but Sandylane proved too strong, taking victory 30–25, 30–25.

Presentation NS’s runners-up finish also earned them Leinster qualification, ensuring Laois will be well represented when the finals take place in Dublin on January 29.

Badminton Ireland Development Officer Garry Kehoe, who organised and oversaw the event, praised both counties for their enthusiasm and talent and highlighted the importance of opportunities like this for the sport’s growth at grassroots level.

"It was a pleasure to deliver the first-ever regional primary school badminton qualifier here in Portarlington. The skill and passion on display were incredible. Some schools were playing badminton for the very first time and didn’t look out of place at all. For many of these children, this will be a memory they’ll remember forever, and hopefully it will inspire them to continue playing long into the future," he said.

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