Preview: Laois vs Offaly (Allianz Football League Division 3)
Written by Laois PR Team
The Laois senior footballers will play their 1st competitive game under the new set of gaelic football rules, this Sunday (February 2nd at 4pm), when they face Offaly at home in the opening game of the 2025 Division 3 campaign.
The new rules are explained in detail here, in our previous article: https://laoisgaa.ie/preview-new-rules-explained-for-leitrim-vs-laois-allianz-football-league-division-3-round-1/
Tickets can be purchased both online and in person using the following options below.
Tickets can be purchased online here: (Please note: a child ticket for persons under 16 will cost 5 euros as this game is part of a Double Header with the hurling Division 1B League : https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/buy/25OM0202
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 the following side to face Offaly:
Permutations in Div 3: the teams who finish in the top 2 on the table, gain promotion to the 2026 Division 2 campaign and will contest the 2025 Div.3 final for a chance for silverware. Teams who finish in places 3, 4, 5 will be safe from relegation and remain in Div 3 for 2026. Teams who finish 6th and 7th will be relegated to Division 4 in 2026.
Most previous league meeting between Laois & Offaly:
In O’Connor Park in 2019, Laois footballers defeat Offaly in the NFL: Div.3.
March 16th
Offaly: 0-15
Laois: 2-12
Laois had finally defeated rivals Offaly in a football league fixture held in O’Connor Park, Tullamore for the first time since 1940.
Laois had the wind behind their backs in the 1st half and they took an early lead of 0-2 to 0-0 after both Evan O’Carroll and Kieran Lillis scores. O’Carroll scored from play, after the hard work rate, brilliant run and pass from Eoin Lowry. Kieran Lillis with a wonderful point from play, from 40 metres.
Offaly had a goal chance excellently saved by Graham Brody from Offaly corner forward Bernard Allen who caused Laois’ defence alot of problems throughout. Anton O’Sullivan was accurate from play for Offaly, scoring 2 points in a row, both from play. Laois responded positively however, with 2 points in a row from Donie Kingston and Ross Munnelly, as the contest remained finely balanced.
Offaly drew level half way through through the 1st half after 2 brilliant points from Bernard
Allen and Peter Cunningham. Cummingham won a mountain of ball all day. Allen then put Offaly 2 points ahead with 2 more points in a row, before Niall Darby stretched this lead out to 3 points just coming up to half time. HT Score: 0-8 to 0-5.
Ross Munnelly (Laois) and Ruari McNamee (Offaly) traded points. Moments later, Evan O’Carroll pointed a Laois free and both sides could not be separated by more than 1 point until 43 minutes in. A superb kick from play landed between the posts for a Ruairi McNamee point, increasing the Offaly lead by 3.
The introduction of Laois sub Conor Boyle made a big impact. Evan O’Carroll and Kieran Lillis both pointed for Laois. 47 minutes gone.
Paul Kingston had sent a beautiful pass to Evan O’Carroll, who hit the back of the net for Laois’ 1st goal as Laois took the lead 1-9 to 0-10 on the 50th minute.
Ruairi McNamee responds with a well worked score for Offaly to make it a 1 point game. Benny Carroll won a kickout and scored a point from play for Laois from way out in midfield. Paul Cahillane replaces Ross Munnelly for Laois.
Conor Boyle directly set up with a lovely long ball, into Cahillane’s hands for Paul
Cahillane’s goal and Laois’s 2nd goal. Laois were 6 ahead after a Colm Begley point.
Bernard Allen finished the game strongly with 3 great points from play in a row, followed by Ruairi McNamee pointing again for Offaly. Laois are 2 ahead with 6 minutes left. However, Laois held out for the win by 3 points after a Paul Cahillane mark seals the win.
Laois: Graham Brody; Stephen Attride, Mark Timmons, Gareth Dillon; Trevor Collins,
Colm Begley (0-01), Marty Scully; John O’Loughlin, Kieran Lillis (0-02); Eoin Lowry (001), Donie Kingston (0-01), Benny Carroll (0-01); Ross Munnelly (0-02), Evan O’Carroll (1-03, 0-01 free, 0-1 mark), Colm Murphy.
Laois Subs: Conor Boyle for Murphy (43), Paul Cahillane (1-01) for Munnelly and
Robbie Pigott for Scully (both 55), Kevin Meaney for O’Loughlin (injured – 64), Paul Kingston for Lowry (66)
Offaly: Paddy Dunican (0-01f); Declan Hogan, Eoin Rigney, David Dempsey; Cian
Donoghue, Johnny Moloney, Paul McConway; Eoin Carroll, Cathal Mangan (0-01); Shane Horan, Peter Cunningham (0-01), Niall Darby (0-01); Bernard Allen (0-06. 0-01f, 0-01 mark), Anton Sullivan (0-01), Ruairi McNamee (0-02).
Offaly Subs: Niall McNamee (0-01) for Carroll (56)
Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)
Offaly: played their 1st competitive game under new rules and joint management Mikey Harte & Declan Kelly. With their comprehensive win over Sligo last Sunday January 26th in Round 1 of 2025 Div.3.
NFL Div 3 Rd 1: O’Connor Park Tullamore
Offaly: 1-17
Sligo: 0-13
Keith O’Neill (Offaly) man of the match with 1 of best performances. Scoring a total 0-6 (5 of which came excellently from play) alongside his accurate kicking for scores, his play off the ball was equally as impressive as he got out in front of Sligo defenders and got by them with pace to set up opportunities for his teammates.
Goalkeeper Paddy Dunican was in top form, letting no goals in with some vital saves and contributory nicely to the scoreboard when he got 2 points from play as he ran up the field.
Both Dunican and O’Neill were named on gaa.ie’s football team of the week as a result.
Offaly: Keith O’Neill 0-6 (1f), Dylan Hyland 0-4 (2f), Ruari McNamee 1-1, Paddy Dunican 0-2, Rory Egan, Cathal Flynn, Nigel Dunne and Shane Tierney 0-1 each.
Sligo: Patrick O’Connor 0-5 (2f), Niall Murphy 0-3 (1tp), Alan McLoughlin (1f) and Alan Reilly 0-2 each, Cian Lally 0-1.
By Laois PRO Sat 1st Feb
