Preview: Laois vs Carlow (Allianz Football League Division 4 Round 3) 

After 2 wins from 2 in the league previously, the Laois Senior Footballers seek a 3rd win a row when they take on Carlow at home on Saturday February 17th at 6pm in Laois Hire O’Moore Park for the Allianz Football League Division 4 Round 3 Fixture.

Carlow are in the same position as Laois. Carlow won their first 2 league games too and are also seeking a 3rd win in a row on Saturday. Plus with both sides being neighbor’s and rival counties, this makes for a highly anticipated clash with both Laois and Carlow currently in great form.

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/24OM1702

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

Manager Justin McNulty has named his side to face Carlow.  

It is the same starting 15 that started against Wexford last time out in Round 2.

There are 3 changes to bench from the Wexford game:

Conor Brown replaces Aaron Cooney in the sub goalkeeper position. Kieran Lillis replaces Liam Knowles and Eoin Lowry replaces Cormac Murphy.

Kieran Lillis makes his return to the bench for the first time this 2024 season after recovering from injury.

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. Brian Byrne (Graiguecullen)
8. Conor Heffernan (Killeshin)
9. Damon Larkin (Portlaoise)
10. Kevin Swayne (Portlaoise)
11. Niall Dunne (Courtwood)
12. Shaun Fitzpatrick (Ballyroan-Abbey)
13. Mark Barry (O’Dempsey’s)
14. Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard)
15. Niall Corbet (Clonaslee-St Manman’s)

Subs: 16. Conor Brown, 17. Ciaran Burke, 18. Brian Daly, 19. Mikie Dempsey, 20.
Simon Fingleton, 21. Paul Kingston, 22. Kieran Lillis, 23. Eoin Lowry, 24. Rioghan Murphy, 25. Sean O’Flynn, 26. Daniel O’Reilly.

Laois Round 2 Recap: Wexford vs Laois in Wexford Park on Saturday January 3rd.

Wexford: 0 – 12

Laois: 1 – 19.

Scorers: Shaun Fitzpatrick 1-2, Killian Roche 0-5 (frees), Evan O’Carroll 0-4 (1 free),
Damon Larkin 0-2, Brian Byrne, Kevin Swayne, Niall Dunne, Mark Barry, Ben
Dempsey and Simon Fingleton (0-1 each)

After making a great Senior league debut for Laois in Round 1 versus Longford,
Shaun Fitzpatrick followed this up with an even greater performance on his second start in the league for Laois against Wexford in Round 2. Shaun Fitzpatrick displayed serious work rate, he was everywhere on the pitch and scored 1-2 from play.

Goalkeeper Killian Roche continued to be in top form again after starting the league campaign with an outstanding Round 1 performance versus Longford. Against Wexford in Round 2, Roche was flawless in free taking duties and score 5 points from frees. He also scored these frees at significant stages in the game.

Evan O’Carroll also had a great game scoring a total of 4 points, of which 3 came from play.

The following players impressed on their senior league debuts against Wexford: 

Simon Fingleton (Park Ratheniska)
Rioghan Murphy (Portarlington)

Both players came in off the bench to mark their league debuts and both were excellent. Simon Fingleton also got his first ever league score with a brilliant point from play.

Carlow: Their 2024 league journey so far.  

Round 1: Tipperary vs Carlow on Saturday  January 27th.

Final score:

Tipperary: 1 – 14
Carlow: 3 – 10

Round 2: Carlow vs Waterford on Saturday February 3rd.

Final score: 

Carlow: 1 – 17
Waterford: 0 – 9

Carlow Round 2 Recap:  

On the night that Carlow made it 2 wins from 2 in the league, the standout players in the 11-point win over Waterford were: Colm Hulton who scored 4 points from play, Captain Darragh Foley who also scored a total of 4 points (with 2 from play) and Jamie Clarke, who scored the only goal of the game.

Carlow were unlucky not to have scored further goals with efforts on target by Eric Molloy and Ross Dunphy saved by the Waterford goalkeeper, Paudie Hunt.

Captain Darragh Foley’s total league score so far from the previous 2 rounds (versus both Tipperary and Waterford) is 1-8 (with 1-3 scored from play).

Previous meeting between Laois and Carlow

2023 Allianz Football League Division 4 Round 3 on February 19th in Dr Cullen Park, Carlow.

Final score:  

Carlow: 2 – 8
Laois: 1 – 17

This was a particularly resilient performance and win for Laois, after Carlow were very challenging opponents.

Carlow were on top in the first half and also took a 5 point lead in the early stages of the 2nd half. However, Laois did not give up and went on the score the next 8 points in the game to get the win in the end.

For Laois, Paul Kingston’s stunning performance was the most vital for the win. Kingston was outstanding and undoubtedly man of the match that day with a total score of 1-10 (of which 1-3 came from play).

Despite the defeat for Carlow, Darragh Foley 0-5 (1 from play), Colm Hulton and Eric Molloy (1 goal each from play) were all excellent and made the game an exciting affair after providing such a tough battle for Laois.