Details of the weekends events to mark the 50-Year Junior All-Ireland Anniversary
This year marks the Golden Jubilee of Laois being crowned All-Ireland junior football champions and now 50 years later to the day, CLG Laois are pleased to confirm the winning Laois team and management will be honoured this Saturday evening at 7.30pm at a special event to be held in the offices of CLG Laois at the LOETB Centre of Excellence.
Following on from the event on Saturday evening, we very much look forward to also welcoming the team then on Sunday October 1st to Laois Hire O’Moore Park where they will be introduced in honour of their achievements during the County Senior football Semi-finals.
The Story of 1973….by Pat Delaney & Steven Miller
The journey for Laois began in O’Moore Park in beating Kilkenny. Next stop was Newbridge where the Royal County, Meath provided the opposition in the Provincial final. A good second half display saw Laois claim the Leinster Provincial Crown on a scoreline of Laois 1-09 Meath 0-09.
Laois then headed to Goldsmith Country, Longford to face the Connacht champions Sligo. This was a stern test but the O’Moore County stepped up another gear and emerged victorious on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-5.
Laois were now in a first All-Ireland football decider, next a trip to London and the grounds were in New Eltham, hundreds of Laois emigrants greeted them on arrival when they came out on the pitch on Sunday September 30th. Laois led by 0-10 to 0-5 at half time, before holding off a London rally in the second half and managing to survive despite scoring only two points from there to the final whistle Laois 0-12 London 1-08.
In all Eamon ‘Atch’ Whelan from Portlaoise would finish with 0-3, as would Denis Booth. Courtwood’s Ned Flynn and Andy Fennell hit 0-2 apiece while Mick Dooley (Portlaoise) and Brian Nerney (O’Dempsey’s) scored one point each.
Speaking about the weekends activities to mark the occasion, Chairperson of Laois GAA, PJ Kell said: “CLG Laois look forward to welcoming the team to the LOETB Centre of Excellence and Laois Hire O’Moore Park this weekend. We would like to formally acknowledge the achievement of the team and look forward in greeting these great players who served the O’Moore County. Sadly a number of members have since passed away and we look forward to welcoming the families who will be attending to represent these players and are delighted with the opportunity to host the event and honour all involved”
The Laois team and panel was: Seamus Whelan (The Heath); Paddy Lawlor (Emo), Eddie Harte (Graiguecullen), Danny Luttrell (Courtwood); Tim Clancy (Timahoe), Jim Miller (Annanough), Paddy Dunne (Courtwood); Brian Nerney (O’Dempsey’s), Eamon Whelan – Captain (Portlaoise); Ned Flynn (Courtwood), Seamus Fleming (St Joseph’s), Mick Dooley (Portlaoise); Danny Doogue (Graiguecullen), Andy Fennell (Graiguecullen), Denis Booth (The Heath). Subs: Tom Dowling (Emo), Brian Fenlon (Emo), Pat Miller (Annanough), Noel Behan (O’Dempsey’s), Jim Mangan (Portarlington), Noel Behan (O’Dempsey’s), Mattie Bergin (The Heath), Larry O’Loughlin (Rosenallis), Terry McCague (Portarlington).
Trainer of the team was Danny Delaney from Stradbally, who was only 31 at the time and chairman of his club and vice-chair of Laois GAA.
By Laois PRO Fri 29th Sep
