Down v Laois Preview

A win or draw will 100 percent secure Laois’ Division 3 status for 2027: when they travel to Pairc Esler, Newry to face Down at 2pm tomorrow March 22nd in Round 7 of the NFL Division 3 campaign. The final round for 2026.

If Laois lose, other results have to go their way along with scoring difference. If Laois lose, Sligo have to beat Clare and Limerick have to beat Fermanagh, combined with Limerick swinging a 25 point difference.

Down have already been promoted to Division 2 and qualified for a Division 3 final versus the winner of Wexford v Westmeath.

Division 3 Table

Pos	Team	P	+/-	Pts
1	Down	6	+32	12
2	Westmeath	6	+22	8
3	Wexford	6	+16	8
4	Clare	6	+5	6
5	Laois	6	-3	5
6	Sligo	6	-14	4
7	Limerick	6	-28	3
8	Fermanagh	6	-30	2

Ticket Information

Supporters can purchase tickets online here:

Buy Laois v Down Tickets Online

Follow live match updates and scores on the official CLG Laois X (formerly Twitter) account: @CLGLaois and our official Facebook page.

Laois Team News

Laois team named to face Down

Key Player Stats – Laois (Courtesy of Eoin Culliton: @LeixGaelicStats on Twitter)

Evan O’Carroll is now level with Mick Turley in 14 NFL goals, second only to Noel Delaney’s 19 goals.

Evan O’Carroll becomes the 10th Laois footballer to score 21+ goals for Laois seniors (all comps).

He’s also on 221 league points, just two behind Donie Kingston for second spot in NFL scoring.

Last weekend, Evan O’Carroll became the 13th Laois footballer to score goals in three NFL games in a row.

Of those, two went on to score in a fourth game (Bill Delaney and Mick Turley).

Round 6 Recap:

Laois: 1.14

Fermanagh: 2.13

Standout Laois Performances:

Evan O’Carroll was the focal point of the Laois attack, finishing with an outstanding 1-6 and proving a constant danger throughout. He reacted sharply up front and found the back of the net. His ability to take on defenders and create scoring opportunities made him central to everything positive Laois produced, particularly during the second-half surge where he contributed key scores as Laois played well and fought hard with 14 men.

Simon Fingleton was hugely influential from the back line, driving Laois forward with powerful ball carries and providing the spark for their attacking play. He repeatedly broke through opposition lines, drew crucial frees in scoring positions, and helped turn defence into attack at speed. His physicality and composure were vital, especially with Laois down to 14 men, as he kept them competitive for the majority of the game.