It is a massive afternoon/evening in the Laois U-20 football championship as the semi finals are down for decision.
Annanough and Stradbally are the venues as the two teams who will make the final are decided.
The young footballers of Ballyroan-Abbey and Portlaoise have developed an intense rivalry at underage level over the past number of years and they clash first at 4pm.
For the most part, Ballyroan-Abbey have had the upper hand, winning the corresponding minor final three years ago by 2-9 to 0-6, the corresponding U-15 final in 2018 and the U-14 decider in 2017, albeit Portlaoise win the Feile final between the sides earlier that year.
For good measure, Ballyroan-Abbey also beat Portlaoise in the U-20 final two years ago and in last year’s semi-final. In what is a fine crop of players, they are going for a three-in-a-row at this grade.
The Town are enduring something of a famine at this grade, without success since 2013 – and that has been their only title in the past 16 seasons, something that is hard to fathom when you consider they won nine out of 11 from 1997 to 2007.
The second semi-final sees another good Laois GAA rival play out – the meeting of Graiguecullen and St Joseph’s in Stradbally at 6pm.
Indeed it’s interesting that all four of this year’s U-20 semi-finalists are club teams with no parish or amalgamated sides making the last four.
Graigue, who were minor champions in 2021, topped their group but their form was mixed – with a good win over champions Ballyroan-Abbey followed with a loss away to Stradbally Parish Gaels. They then got a walkover from Crettyard-Spink, a result that allowed them top their group.
For St Joseph’s this game represents a great chance for them to get to another county final.
Their famous senior triumph is a standout but they also won this year’s U-15 ‘A’ championship and were narrowly beaten in the minor final.
Alan Hartnett and Pauric Ramsbottom will be live from both venues and you can follow all of the action below:
SEE ALSO – Check out all the previous episodes of the LaoisToday QuizCast here
