Four Laois teams are gearing up to head for Connacht this Saturday to represent the county in the annual Féile Peile na nÓg competition.
Na Fianna Og and O’Dempsey’s will compete with the football section with Portlaoise and Ballyfin in the Ladies football part.
Na Fianna Og, comprised of players from Barrowhouse, Arles-Kilcruise and Arles-Killeen, will head to Roscommon.
After losing their first game to Ballyfin in the Laois Feile, Na Fianna Og left themselves with an uphill battle to qualify from the group as they needed to win their remaining two games.
However, they overcame this setback with wins over Portarlington and Portlaoise as they topped their group.
This earned them a semi final contest against Ballyroan-Abbey who proved unable to stop the force of Na Fianna Og who proceeded into the final with a victory by three points.
The final was a tense affair which saw both teams take the lead at different stages but it was again Na Fianna Og who prevailed as they won the game 4-6 to 4-4 against Mountmellick Parish Gaels.
Na Fianna Og will now represent Laois in the Feile in Roscommon where they will play Colmcille’s (Meath), Cratloe (Clare) and Naomh Mairtín (Louth).
Similarly to the Laois Féile two wins from three games will guarantee progression to the knockouts as they will be looking to build on their successes from the Laois Feile.
A momentous effort has been put in from the players and community to fund the trip away, a table quiz, 5k run and sponsorship cards have proven a great success.
NA FIANNA OG: Conor Brennan , Cormac Kerrigan, William Cassidy, Jim Wall, Cailan O’Shaughnessey, Hugh Wall,Daniel McDonald, Senan Mulqueen, Orran Langton, Finn Kelleher (Captain), Will McGrath , Tiarnan O’Donoghue, Aaron Mackey, Cathal Harris, Cormac Fenlon, Gordon Fennell, Eoghan Harris, Tommy Keating, Cillian Hughes, Liam Moran, Thomas Foye, Rian Murphy and David Baldwin.
O’Dempsey’s will follow Na Fianna to Roscommon after their triumphant showing to win the Laois Feile ‘B’ competition.
Similar to Na Fianna Og, O’Dempsey’s got off to a slow start in their Laois Feile as they lost out to 2-5 to 1-5 to Graiguecullen.
However, they found their feet as they bounced back against The Harps.
They shot into a huge lead early on, kicking 1-5 in the opening 10 minutes as they ran out winners at a scoreline of 1-9 to 0-1.
They continued their winning form as they defeated The Heath 3-7 to 1-4 on a sun drenched afternoon.
These results earned them a semi final face off against St Paul’s and after a nervy start they eventually settled into the game winning on a scoreline of 1-9 to 0-4.
Killeshin were their final opponents and they dominated the game from start to finish.
Ethan Neilon had found his kicking boots and scored 2-9, with Ryan Slevin, Will Craig, Killian McLernon, Ewan Behan and Darragh Doris working tirelessly throughout
O’Dempsey’s will face Na Piarsaigh (Limerick), Rathvilly/Rathbhile (Carlow) and Clooney Quin (Clare) on Saturday.
TEAM: Jake Moore, Ronan Maher, Jack Donoher, Billy Coleman, Darragh Doris, Killian McLernon, Alex Hughes, Mikey O’Hanlon, Will Craig, Ewan Behan, Ryan Slevin (Captain), Martin Slevin, Noah Mooney, Ethan Neilon, Nathan Heavey, Mason Maher, Oliver Hughes, Luke O’Connor, Conan Costello, Jack Morton, Finn Mclernon, Dara Donoher, Jayden O’Leary, Oscar Suda, Eoghan Treacy, Cian Stanley, Jack Noons, Lucas Gutierrez
Portlaoise have also earned themselves a spot at the ladies football Feile in Mayo this weekend.
They achieved this after defeating Park-Ratheniska in the Laois final by 4-8 to 0-4.
They will face Blessington (Wicklow), Clonmel Commercials (Tipperary) and Ballinderry (Tipperary).
Ballyfin will follow them as they will also compete in the Feile competition in Mayo.
Extra time was required in their Laois final but they eventually defeated Graiguecullen by 1-5 to 0-3.
Their opponents will be Emmet Carn an Bhua (Cork), Na Fianna CLG (Dublin) and Cappawhite Gaa (Tipperary).
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