Written by: Laois PR Team
After a very positive start with a home win over Longford in the opening round, the Laois Senior Footballers seek a second win in a row when they travel to Chadwick’s Wexford Park to take on Wexford this Saturday at 6pm in the Allianz Football League: Division 4: Round 2 Fixture.
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 (link below).
Tickets can be purchased online here: https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/23CH0302.
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 Wexford:
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. Aaron Cooney (St Joseph’s)
17. Ciaran Burke (Crettyard)
18. Brian Daly (St Joseph’s)
19. Mikie Dempsey (St Joseph’s)
20. Simon Fingleton (Park-Ratheniska)
21. Paul Kingston (Arles-Killeen)
22. Liam Knowles (Stradbally)
23. Cormac Murphy (St Joseph’s)
24. Rioghan Murphy (Portarlington)
25. Sean O’Flynn (Courtwood)
26. Danny O’Reilly (Graiguecullen)
It is the same starting 15 that started against Longford.
There are 3 changes to the bench: Aaron Cooney (GK) (St.Joseph’s), Simon Fingleton
(Park Ratheniska) and Paul Kingston (Arles Killeen) return to the bench in place of Conor
Brown (GK) (Portlaoise), Eoin Lowry (Killeshin) and Fionn Holland (O’Dempsey’s).
2024 Allianz Football League Division 4 Round 1 Recap: Laois vs Longford in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday 27th January.
Final Score:
Laois: 1 – 12 (15)
Longford: 2 – 7 (13)
Scorers: Killian Roche (0-5), Damon Larkin (1-2), Evan O’Carroll (0-3), Mark Barry (0-2).
Goalkeeper Killian Roche (Killeshin) displayed a new attacking role, in which he scored a total of 5 points (including an outstanding 3 points from play) This performance resulted in Killian being named as the goalkeeper on GAA.ie’s Allianz Leagues Team Of The Week.
Killian recieved a separate nomination for Player Of The Week. Also, Killian featured in goal and scored 0-2 (two 45’s) for UCD in their Sigerson Cup quarter final win over University of Galway on Wednesday.
The other notable performance against Longford was from midfielder Damon Larkin (Portlaoise) who provided great pace in attack and scored 1-2. This was also Damon’s first ever national football league goal for Laois.
The following players impressed on their league debuts against Longford:
Ben Dempsey (Portlaoise)
Conor Heffernan (Killeshin)
Niall Dunne (Courtwood)
Shaun Fitzpatrick (Ballyroan Abbey)
Plus Mikey Dempsey (St.Joseph’s) who made his league debut off the bench.
Wexford: Round 1 Recap.
Wexford also had a positive start to their league campaign in the opening round, with a 5 point win away versus London. Wexford got the win despite the fact that they were down to 14 men for 10 minutes in the 2nd half, after Darragh Lyons recieved a black card.
Final Score:
Wexford: 1 – 13 (16)
London: 1 – 8 (11).
The standout players in that game for Wexford were: Eoghan Nolan (who scored 1-1) and Kevin O’Grady (who scored 3 points)
Previous meetings of Laois vs Wexford:
Both sides are very familiar opponents as Wexford travelled to Laois Hire O’Moore Park twice in 2023. First in the 2023 Allianz League Division 4 Round 2 fixture and second in the opening round of the 2023 Leinster Senior Football Championship. Laois defeated Wexford in both fixtures.
2023 Allianz Football League Division 4 Round 2 on February 5th.
Final Score:
Laois: 1 – 18 (21)
Wexford: 1 – 13 (16).
The standout players that day were:
Laois: Evan O’Carroll scored a total of 1 – 4 (of which 1-2 came from play).
Wexford: Mark Rossiter scored a total of 10 points (consisting of 8 free’s and two 45’s).
2023 Leinster Senior Football Championship Round 1 on April 9th. Final Score:
Laois: 2 – 17 (23)
Wexford: 2 – 13 (19).
Mark Barry produced one of his greatest performances for Laois that day with an impressive tally of 2-4 (of which 2-1 came from play), these scores ultimately determined the Laois win. Also brilliant was Evan O’Carroll who scored 6 points (3 points from play). Wexford proved a formidable opponent courtesy of performances from both Ben Brosnan who scored a total 1-7 (consisting of 1 penalty goal and 5 frees) and Robbie Brooks who scored 1-1 from play.
This weekend’s clash is set to be equally as exciting. Especially with both sides seeking to claim their 2nd league win in a row.
By Laois PRO Fri 2nd Feb
