NFL Division 3 Round 6 Preview: Laois vs Fermanagh

Photo credit: Oonagh Maher

Laois take on Fermanagh tomorrow (March 14th) away in Brewster Park, Enniskillen for Round 6 of the National Football League Division 3 campaign.

A win for Laois will garuntee Division 3 safety for Laois, alongside an outside chance of possible promotion if they win again vs Down in the final round (depending on other certain results)

Fermanagh have relegation fears to fight, heading into the Laois game with 5 losses in a row.

Table Standings:

Division 3
Pos	Team	P	+/-	Pts
1	Down	5	22	10
2	Wexford	5	13	6
3	Clare	5	8	6
4	Westmeath	5	6	6
5	Laois	5	-1	5
6	Sligo	5	-4	4
7	Limerick	5	-12	3
8	Fermanagh	5	-32	0

Ticket Information

Supporters can purchase tickets online here:

Buy Laois v Fermanagh Tickets Online

Tickets are also available in person at selected SuperValu stores in Laois:

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

Laois Team News

Laois team named to face Fermanagh:

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

Laois’ win over Westmeath in Round 5 ended a run of six NFL losses in a row to the Lake County.

It’s the joint-third longest run of NFL losses that Laois have ever ended and the longest since beating Mayo in 1996 (11).

Trevor Collins became the 49th Laois footballer to reach 50 NFL apps and the 6th to do it on Feb 28th.

Collins did it in 3681 days.

Feb 28th:

1965 Noel Delaney v Louth

1988 Colm Browne & John Costello v Donegal

1999 George Doyle v Derry

2016 Brendan Quigley v Tyrone

Win over Westmeath was the first NFL game since 1986 where two double-digit NFL-goal-getting scored goals in the same game.

We had O’Carroll & Kingston.

In 1986, it was Willie Brennan and Atch Whelan (vs Monaghan).

It has only happened twice in Laois’ NFL history.

Evan O’Carroll picked up a first win against Westmeath, making them the 19th different county against whom he has done this.

It puts him level with a rake of players, in joint-20th spot.

It was only the third NFL game where Laois score 12+ points in the first half and 13+ in the second:

1986 vs Kilkenny 13/13

2024 vs Waterford 21/13

2026 vs Westmeath 12/13

Biggest win over Westmeath in the NFL since 1991.

First NFL win over Westmeath since 2010.

13th NFL goal for Evan O’Carroll. Now level with Willie Brennan, Tom Prendergast & Donie Kingston in joint third place for NFL goals.

30th NFL app for Niall Corbet.

Most ever scorers for Laois vs Westmeath in the NFL (9).

It equals the total we set against the Lake County in 1989.

Paul Kingston scored his 10th NFL goal.

Laois lead at HT for the third NFL game in a row.

It’s the first time since 2011, that we have done this outside of Div4.

Ronan Coffey scored his 2nd NFL goal.

Trevor Collins made his 50th NFL app – 3681 days after his league debut.

Kevin Swayne made his 50th L&C appearance.

Round 5 Recap: Laois v Westmeath

Final Score:

Laois: 3.16

Westmeath: 1.13

Standout Laois Performances:

Photo credit: Paul Dargan

Trevor Collins was brilliant at full back, making strong tackles and twice producing crucial interceptions to stop Westmeath attacks. His positioning on and off the ball was excellent, including a key turnover that prevented a dangerous scoring chance.

Robert Tyrrell was solid in midfield, winning important aerial duels and making a timely interception that led to an Evan O’Carroll free and a goal chance involving O’Carroll and Darragh Galvin. Tyrrell also showed great pace to chase down a Westmeath forward, forcing a shot to drop short and preventing a point.

Photo credit: Oonagh Maher

Kevin Swayne impressed at half back with excellent man-marking and defensive pressure. His vision in possession saw him pick the right pass at the right time to support attacks, including one that created a goal chance for Evan O’Carroll. Swayne also showed great physicality in taking on opponents and winning possession, and capped off his performance with a brilliant point from play, curling the ball over the bar from a tight angle after taking a pass on the run.