2024 saw a huge amount of football played in Laois, but what were the best games?
We at LaoisToday have cast a watchful eye back over the last 12 months to pick out our five best games across all competitions.
This was no easy task, but we have eventually whittled it down to what we believe were the most exciting, entertaining, memorable clashes of 2024.
1 – Laois v Kildare – Tailteann Cup Quarter-Final
19 years is a long, long time, but that is how we had to wait to see Laois get the better of neighbours Kildare in the championship.
The last time Laois tasted victory over the Lilly Whites came all the way back in 2005, and given the recent form of both counties, most people expected that disappointing run to continue.
But there was something in the air in O’Connor Park, Tullamore, back in June, where, despite playing against the breeze in the first half, Laois found themselves level at the interval thanks to a well-converted penalty from Mark Barry.
Laois kicked on the second half and began to land score after score as they moved four points in front with less than quarter of an hour remaining.
Kildare finally managed their first score of the half in the 50th minute as tempers began to flare between both sets of players.
Kildare looked like they were getting the upper hand, but before they could mount a proper comeback, the rebellion was stamped out once and for all with a second Laois goal from the talismanic Evan O’Carroll.
Justin McNulty and his men had written their names in Laois football folklore, and were rewarded with a Croke Park semi-final.
Laois beat Antrim in that game before going on to the Tailteann Cup decider back in Croke Park, but the sweetest day of all was the big win over Kildare – a day that will live long in the memories of many a Laois football fan.
2 – Portarlington v Portlaoise – Laois SFC Final
Portarlington looked like a busted flush in 2023, when it seemed the club’s glory-years had come to an abrupt end with their famous three-in-a-row of Laois senior titles – but Pat Roe and his men had other ideas.
Portlaoise had been on the crest of wave since dumping out the defending champions, St Joseph’s, in spectacular fashion in the quarter-finals.
Aidan Fennelly’s brand of free-flowing, attacking football had made Portlaoise a joy to watch – but they came up against a hard-nosed Portarlington side who carried a few magical players of their own.
Portlaoise lost the 2023 final by 0-7 to 0-6 – but that was the score in favour of Portarlington after barely 20 minutes here, setting the tone for a highly entertaining day out in O’Moore Park.
A goal from the excellent Jake Foster was the difference between the sides at half time, with Port on the right side of 1-9 to 0-9 scoreline.
Portarlington were in control during the third quarter and stretched their lead to five points with the game going down the final stretch.
The result was then effectively decided in the space of five minutes, when Daragh Galvin raised a second green flag for Port before Benny Carroll was shown a black card, reducing The Town to 14 men for the remainder of the game.
That mountain was too steep for Portlaoise to climb, with Colm Murphy scoring a third goal to seal the win for Portarlington – their fourth title in five years.
3 – Stradbally Parish Gaels v Graiguecullen – Laois U-20 FC ‘A’ Final
Having been drawn together in the group stage, Graiguecullen and Stradbally Parish Gaels emerged from the knockouts as the two powerhouses of U-20 football in Laois.
Dominant semi-final victories in the midst of Storm Conall set up an exciting final, with SPG looking for retribution for their drubbing at the hands of Graigue in the group, where the border club ran out 13-point winners.
The final, however, was an entirely different affair – with a victory for Stradbally Parish Gaels made all the more impressive considering they were forced to play with 14 men for the guts of an hour.
The sides were level at half time, but barely a minute of the second half had passed when Enda Shortall was shown a second yellow card and given his marching orders.
Nevertheless, the amalgamated club got their noses in front heading into stoppage time and looked to have won the game.
There was more drama to come, however, as Graigue pulled back two late scores to send the final into extra time.
All the momentum seemed to be with Graiguecullen, but the 14 men of Stradbally Parish Gaels showed incredible resolve, scoring a goal in each half of extra time to win the U-20 crown for the first time in 19 years.
4 – Portlaoise v St Joseph’s – Laois SFC Quarter-Final
Defending champions St Joseph’s could not have been pleased when they were drawn against high-flying Portlaoise at the quarter-final stage of the Laois SFC back in September.
Portlaoise had shown signs of a return to the glory days, but this was the day that the whole county stood up and took notice.
Then-manager Aidan Fennelly had enforced his brave, all-out attack philosophy – and it paid off here in some style.
Going up against Laois’s notoriously stubborn, possession-based County champions, Portlaoise somehow managed a ferocious score of 5-15 – yes, five goals and 15 points against St Joseph’s.
This had been the 2023 senior final, a turgid affair that saw Joseph’s grind out a less-than inspiring 0-7 to 0-6 victory; but less than a year later, the battle between the two was unrecognisable.
By half time here, Portlaoise had already outscored that total all by themselves, with 1-11 on the scoreboard after just 30 minutes.
The Town added a second goal midway through the second half before putting the game to bed with a flurry of goals in the closing stages
5-15 is mighty scoreline regardless of the opposition; against Joseph’s it is practically unheard of.
5 – Arles-Killeen v Courtwood – Laois SFC Round 2 Winners
If ever there was proof that you can’t really read too much into league form, it was exemplified by Courtwood in 2024.
They were simply outstanding during a league campaign that saw them reach the Division 1 final where they were eventually beaten by reigning County Champions St Joseph’s, but only after extra time.
But Ryan van Haeften’s men could not transfer that form into the championship, where they suffered an early upset at the hands of Arles-Killeen.
Having each won in the opening round, the pair met in in the Round 2 Winners section in early August.
Arles-Killeen came armed with a plan to stay in the game for as long as possible, defending in numbers, giving up the Courtwood kickout, and remaining cautious in possession – waiting for their moment to strike.
Courtwood struggled to build a lead and pull away, and were punished with two quick goals just before half time.
A third goal midway through the second half put Arles-Killeen in a commanding position, eventually seeing out the game four points to the good.
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