With no current GAA to report on over the past couple of months we have continued to dig deep into the archives.
And our regular Cumann na mBunscol Memories pieces have proven to be a big attraction and a very popular trip down memory lane.
After going back as far as 2000, this week we look back on a more recent vintage – the 2014 football finals, held that year, as always, in late October.
And as ever there was plenty of excitement – very high scoring and no shortage of talented young players.
St Paul’s Portlaoise won the Division 1 boys final as 2-2 from Ben Brennan helped them get the better of Ballyroan while Emo beat The Heath in the Division 1 girls final.
There was disappointment for the Emo boys in the Division 2 final as a Ratheniska side including future Ireland underage soccer player Colin Conroy proved too strong.
And there was also a future Irish soccer player in the Division 2 girls final – with Della Doherty scoring 4-2 in Portarlington’s win over Ballyadams.
Future Laois minor dual player DJ Callaghan scored 2-6 in Clonaslee’s win over Knock in the Division 3 boys final while Jessica Hewitt hit 5-1 for St Colman’s of Stradbally their Division 3 girls final win over Sacred Heart of Portlaoise.
Clonaghadoo did a boys and girls double to continue their proud Cumann na mBunscol tradition while there was also wins for Ballyadams, Derrylamogue, Knockmay, The Rock, Shanganamore, Rosenallis, Killenure, St Fiac’s of Graiguecullen and an historic first ever win for the girls of Educate Together in Portlaoise.
You can check out the results in full below as well as great selection of photos from Alf Harvey.
Boys Division 1 – St Paul’s 4-8 Ballyroan 2-6
Girls Division 1 – Emo 1-6 The Heath 0-5
Boys Division 2 – Ratheniska 4-6 Emo 1-3
Girls Division 2 – Presentation Port 6-5 Ballyadams 3-6
Boys Division 3 – Clonaslee 3-7 Knock 1-6
Girls Division 3 – St Colman’s 9-6 Sacred Heart 2-8
Boys Division 4 – Ballyadams 3-12 The Rock 3-8
Girls Division 4 – Derrylamogue 5-5 Clough 2-3
Boys Division 5 – Knockmay 6-9 Gaelscoil Phortlaoise 2-7
Girls Division 5 – Clonaghadoo 5-9 Killeen 1-9
Boys Division 6 – Clonaghadoo 9-12 Killeen 10-7
Girls Division 6 – The Rock 3-6 Castlecuffe 1-10
Boys Division 7 – Shanganamore 4-6 Mayo 4-4
Girls Division 7 – Rosenallis 8-6 Raheen 4-6
Boys Division 8 – Killanure 3-11 The Swan 4-3
Girls Division 8 – Educate Together 4-4 Sacred Heart 1-4
Boys Division 9 – St Fiac’s ‘B’ 3-6 Ballyadams ‘B’ 2-3
Ballyadams who played Portarlington in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 2 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieClonaghadoo who played Killeen in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 6 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieKnock who played Clonaslee in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 3 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieClonaslee who played Knock in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 3 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieClonaghadoo who played Killeen in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 5 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieKilleen who played Clonaghadoo in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 5 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieAction from the Girls Division 1 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieAction from the Division 8 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieAction from the Division 2 Girls final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieSupporting St. Paul’s in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 1 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieSt. Paul’s who played Ballyroan in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 1 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieBallyroan who played St. Paul’s in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 1 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieScoil Bhride, Portlaoise who played Gaelscoil Portlaoise in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 5 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieSacred Heart who played Stradbally in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 3 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieStradbally who played Sacred Heart in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 3 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieGaelscoil Portlaoise who played Scoil Bhride, Portlaoise in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 5 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieMayo who played Barrowhouse in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 7 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieBarrowhouse who played Mayo in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 7 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieEducate Together who played Sacred Heart in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 8 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieSacred Heart who played Educate Together in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 8 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieSupporting Mayo at the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football finals. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieEdudate Together celebrate after winning the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 8 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieClough who played Derrylamogue in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 4 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieDerrylamogue who played Clough in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 4 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieRaheen who played Rosenallis in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 7 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieRosenallis who played Raheen in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 7 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieDerrylamogue captain Christine Wren is presented with the trophy by Laois footballer Padraig McMahon at the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football finals. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieDerrylamogue celebrate at the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football finals. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieAction from the Boys Division 1 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieAction from the Girls Division 3 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieAction from the Girls Division 4 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieThe Heath who played Emo in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 1 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieEmo who played The Heath in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 1 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieRatheniska who played Emo in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 2 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieEmo who played Ratheniska in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 2 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieSupporting Ratheniska in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 2 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieEmo girls celebrate after winning their final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieRatheniska celebrate after winning the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 2 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieKillanure who played The Swan in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 8 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieBallyadams who played The Rock in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 4 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieThe Rock who played Ballyadams in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 4 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieThe Swan who played Killanure in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 8 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieKillanure girls celebrate after winning their final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieGtaiguecullen B who played Ballyadams B in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 9 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieThe Rock who played Castlecuffe in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 6 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieCastlecuffe who played The Rock in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 6 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieBallyadams B who played Graiguecullen B in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 9 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.iePortarlington who played Ballyadams in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Girls Division 2 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ieKilleen who played Clonaghadoo in the Allianz Laois Cumann na mBunscol football Division 6 final. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie