Written By Laois PR Team
After 4 wins from 4 in the league previously, the Laois senior footballers seek a 5th win a row, when they host London on Saturday March 2nd at 7pm in Laois Hire O’Moore Park for the Allianz Football League Division 4 Round 5 fixture.
Laois are currently on top of the Division 4 table with 8 points, with Carlow behind them in 2nd place on 6 points. This Saturday’s opponents London, are currently in 7th place on the Division 4 table with 1 point after an exciting and well earned draw vs Tipperary in Round 3.
Tickets can be purchased both online and in person using the following options below and if you cannot attend the game, live match scores and updates will be provided via Twitter.
Tickets can be purchased online here: https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/24OM0203
Tickets can be purchased in person via selected participating SuperValu stores:
SuperValu Stradbally
Breslin’s SuperValu Rathdowney
McConville’s SuperValu Mountmellick
McLoughlin’s SuperValu Portarlington
Mulhall’s SuperValu Portlaoise
SuperValu Abbeyleix
SuperValu Parkside Portlaoise
Follow live match scores and updates on our official CLG Laois Twitter account: @CLGLaois
Radio: The match will be broadcast live on Midlands Radio 103 Sport.
Manager Justin McNulty has named the following side to face London:
Last week against Tipperary, Paul Kingston started in place of Niall Corbet and the same starting change is made for the London game.
The starting 15 also has 3 other changes to the team which started against Tipperary. Ciaran Burke, Eoin Lowry and Sean O’Flynn come in, in place of Damon Larkin, Niall Dunne and Brian Byrne who are on the bench.
There are 3 changes in the substitutes. Dylan Kavanagh replaces Padraig Kirwan, sub goalkeeper Conor Brown replaces Aaron Cooney and Rioghan Murphy replaces Niall Corbet on the bench.
The Laois team lines out as follows:
1. Killian Roche (Killeshin)
2. Ben Dempsey (Portlaoise)
3. Seamus Lacey (Ballylinan)
4. James Kelly (St Joseph’s)
5. Eoin Buggie (Stradbally)
6. Mark Timmons (Graiguecullen)
7. Sean O’Flynn (Courtwood)
8. Conor Heffernan (Killeshin)
9. Ciaran Burke (Crettyard)
10. Kevin Swayne (Portlaoise)
11. Eoin Lowry (Killeshin)
12. Shaun Fitzpatrick (Ballyroan-Abbey)
13. Mark Barry (O’Dempsey’s)
14. Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard)
15. Paul Kingston (Arles Killeen)
Subs: 16. Conor Brown, 17. Brian Byrne, 18. Brian Daly, 19. Mikie Dempsey, 20. Niall Dunne, 21. Simon Fingleton, 22. Dylan Kavanagh. 23. Damon Larkin. 24. Kieran Lillis. 25. Rioghan Murphy, 26. Daniel O’Reilly.
Laois Round 4 Recap: Tipperary vs Laois in Semple Stadium on February 25th.
Final score:
Tipperary: 1-7 (10)
Laois: 0-11 (11)
Laois scorers: Evan O’Carroll 0-4 (2 from play), Shaun Fitzpatrick 0-2, Mark Barry, Brian Byrne, Damon Larkin, Kieran Lillis and Paul Kingston (from a free) 0-1 each.
Paul Kingston started this match for the first time in the 2024 league campaign and he scored the match winning point for Laois from a free.
Substitutes that made a great impact on the game in the 2nd half to also contribute to the Laois win were: Eoin Lowry, Kieran Lillis, Sean O’Flynn, Mikey Dempsey and Simon Fingleton.
Tipperary proved a very tough opponent and missed many chances to win. Although it wasnt the best performance in the 2024 league so far for Laois, Laois deserve credit for their resilience to produce an essential late comeback that seen them overcome Tipperary and defeat them by 1 point in the end.
The standout players for Laois were: Goalkeeper Killian Roche, who’s outstanding and sensational saves, both from a Tipperary penalty and goal effort from play, were 2 vital moments that ensured Laois stayed in the game and gave them a lifeline. In defence, James Kelly, Seamus Lacey and Mark Timmons put in serious work rate to also prevent further Tipperary attacking threat. In the Laois attack, both Evan O’Carroll 0-4 (2 from play) and Shaun Fitzpatrick 0-2 from play, were excellent.
Laois vs Tipperary Round 4 Stats:
Captain Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard) kicked Laois’ 5,000 NFL point and he also joined Laois’ top 5 scorers in the competition, passing MJ Tierney with his fourth point.
Mark Barry is O’Dempseys fourth highest NFL scorer:
128 Jack Kenna (7-107)
114 Mick Turley (14-72)
80 Leo Turley (8-48)
78 Mark Barry (6-60)
Mark Timmons has faced 28 different counties in the NFL. He’s one of 15 Laois players to face 28+ different opponents. Only 3 other players – Munnelly, O’Loughlin & Begley – have played 31. None have played Kilkenny.
London: Their 2024 league journey so far:
Round 1: January 28th
London: 1-9
Wexford: 1-13
Round 2: February 4th
Leitrim: 1-8
London: 0-6
Round 3: February 18th
London: 1-8
Tipperary: 0-11
Round 4: February 25th
Longford: 3-12
London: 1-10
Laois connection to London: Former Laois and Portlaoise senior dual player Cahir Healy plays for London. He is listed to start for London against Laois in the number 6 position. The highlight for Cahir Healy this league season was also London’s biggest moment, when Healy scored the late equalizing point vs Tipperary from play.
Despite only having 1 point on the league table so far, London fought the 3 teams of Wexford, Leitrim and Tipperary right to the end of their contests, made Wexford and Leitrim have to work hard for their wins whilst holding Tipperary to a draw.
The standout performer’s for London have been: Midfielder Liam Gallagher with a total
2024 league score of 2-6 (2-1 from play). Gallagher scored 4 frees vs Wexford, 1 free vs
Leitrim, 1 goal from play vs Tipp and 1-1 from play vs Longford. Full forward Patrick Dolan has a total 2024 league score of 0-9. Dolan scored 2 points from play vs Leitrim, 1 point from play vs Tipp and 6 frees vs Longford.
Previous meeting: Laois vs London
Tailteann Cup Round 3 June 3rd 2023 Final score:
Laois: 1-17 (20)
London: 2-14 (20)
The last time the sides met, the clash was an exciting draw that saw Laois through to the knockout stages of the 2023 Tailteann Cup.
For Laois, Paul Kingston scored 0-8 (6 frees and 1 mark). Mark Timmons scored 1-1 from play. Mark Barry scored 0-3 (1 free). Niall Corbet showed great composure and scored the all important match equaliser point from play, in the late stages of the game.
For London: Enda Lynn (1-2) scored a penalty goal and 2 points from play. Henry Walsh scored 1-2 from play. Liam Gavaghan (frees), Chris Farley (2 from play) and Liam Gallagher (all from play) scored 0-3 each.
By Laois PRO Sat 2nd Mar
