Leinster Championship groups revealed for Laois GAA U-20 and minor footballers

Leinster GAA have confirmed the draws for the 2026 Under-20 and Minor Football Championships, with Laois handed challenging assignments in both competitions as they prepare for the new season. 

The Laois U-20 footballers have been drawn into Group 2 alongside Meath, Carlow and Longford, with Meath being viewed as the standout side in the group.

The Royal County were crowned Leinster U-20 champions in 2024, ending a 23-year wait for success when they defeated Louth in the final. Louth exacted revenge in 2025, denying Meath back-to-back titles, but their pedigree at this level remains strong. Laois know Meath well, having faced them as recently as the 2024 Leinster quarter-final in Ashbourne, a game that formed part of Meath’s eventual championship-winning run.

Carlow have become a familiar opponent for Laois at U-20 level in recent years. The sides met in April of this year in SETU Carlow, playing out a draw, while in 2024, Laois came out on top with a 3-8 to 0-10 victory at the LOETB Centre of Excellence. They also played each other in 2023, with Laois winning that game in Netwatch Cullen Park. Longford complete the group, and Laois will take confidence from their most recent meeting with them in March 2023, when they secured a 2-12 to 2-9 win.

Laois will once again be managed by Kieran Kelly for the 2026 campaign as they look to navigate a demanding group stage.

The 2026 Leinster Under-20 Football Championship gets underway on Wednesday, March 25, with subsequent rounds on April 1 and April 5. Group 1 consists of Louth, Dublin, Westmeath and Wexford, while Group 3 features Kildare, Wicklow and Offaly.

Meanwhile, the Laois minor footballers have been handed what many will describe as a 'group of death' after being paired with Louth, Kildare and Meath in Group 1 of the 2026 Leinster Minor Football Championship.

Louth were Leinster finalists in 2025 and also defeated Laois in the opening group game of that campaign in Portlaoise, winning by 1-15 to 0-12 on their way to the decider. Kildare and Laois last crossed paths at minor level in 2023, with the Lilywhites emerging victorious on that occasion.

Meath add further quality to an already formidable group. The sides met in a Leinster Minor Football Championship semi-final in December 2020, when Meath overcame a Laois team managed at the time by current Courtwood boss Mark Bates.

Laois will be under new management at minor level for 2026, with Dave McGrath of Arles-Killeen taking charge.

The Leinster Minor Football Championship begins on Tuesday, March 24, with the second and third rounds scheduled for April 7 and April 14, respectively. Group 2 contains Offaly, Dublin, Westmeath and Longford, while Group 3 features Carlow, Wicklow, Wexford and Kilkenny, who will compete in the shield.

READ NEXT: Times and venues confirmed for Laois’ first-round O’Byrne and Walsh Cup fixtures in the New Year