Laois Junior Football Championships Explained

The Laois Junior Football Championships are the lower-tier Laois Club Football Championships.

The Junior A and Junior B Championships use group phases then down to eight-four-two and the Junior C Championship operates similarly to the Senior Championship and Intermediate Championship by going for a straight knockout.^[1]

Portlaoise are the title holders (2022), having defeated Barrowhouse in the final.

Laois Junior Football Championship

Laois Junior Football Championship
Trophy:	Shaw Cup
First:	1906
Firstwin:	Durrow
Sponsors:	Sparrow Insurances
Irish:	Craobh Peil Sóisir Laoise
Current:	Spink
Currentordinal:	3
Super:	rd
Most:	Portlaoise
Mostordinal:	8

The Laois Junior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by lower-tier Laois GAA clubs.

Portlaoise are the title holders (2022) defeating Barrowhouse in the Final.^{[2] [3]}

Honours

The trophy presented to the winners is the Shaw Cup.

The winners of the Laois Junior Championship qualify to represent their county in the Leinster Junior Club Football Championship. The winners can, in turn, go on to play in the All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship. They often do well outside the county, with the likes of Rosenallis (2016) and Park–Ratheniska (2006) among the clubs from Laois to win at least one Leinster Championship after winning the Laois Junior Football Championship.^{[4] [5]} The winners enter the All-Ireland at the quarter-final stage, unless drawn against the British champions in the quarter-finals.^[6]

History

The Laois Junior A Football Championship was first held in 1906, with Durrow the victors.^[7]

In the mid-1990s, Rosenallis won the Junior Championship and then went on to win the Intermediate Championship back-to-back.^[8]

Laois full-back Martin Dempsey played in the 2004 final, at centre-forward.^[9]

In 2016, Rosenallis won a dual championship — junior football and intermediate hurling.^{[10] [11]}

Laois players Tom Kelly (2003 All Star and 2005 International Rules Series Player of the Series) and Noel Garvan (who also won a Leinster Senior Football Championship in 2003) were involved in the 2017 final.^[12]

List of finals

Year	Winner	Opponent
1906	Durrow^[13]
1907	Ballyroan^[14]
1908	Portlaoise^[15]
1909	Ballybrittas^[16]
1910	Durrow^[17]
1911	Portlaoise^[18]
1912^[19]	No competition
1913	Ratheniska^[20]
1914	The Heath^[21]
1915	Ballybrittas^[22]
1916^[23]	No competition
1917^[24]	No competition
1918	Borris-in-Ossory^[25]
1919	Portarlington^[26]
1920	Wolfhill^[27]
1921	Mountmellick^[28]
1922	Greenroad, Portlaoise^[29]
1923^[30]	No competition
1924^[31]	No competition
1925^[32]	No competition
1926	The Hollow^[33]
1927	Barrowhouse^[34]
1928	Loughteague^[35]
1929	Mountmellick^[36]
1930	The Heath^[37]
1931	Portarlington^[38]
1932	Abbeyleix^[39]
1933	Ballylinan^[40]
1934	Clonad^[41]
1935	Portlaoise^[42]
1936	Graiguecullen^[43]
1937	Ballylinan^[44]
1938	Jamestown^[45]
1939	St Fintan's, Mountrath^[46]
1940	Clonad^[47]
1941	Mountmellick^[48]	Ballyfin
1942	Park^[49]	Old Pound
1943	Park^[50]
1944	Spink^[51]	Ballybrittas
1945	Ballyadams^[52]
1946	Barrowhouse^[53]
1947	Kilminchy^[54]
1948	Jamestown^[55]	Mountmellick
1949	The Heath^[56]
1950	St Fintan's Hospital^[57]
1951	O'Dempseys^[58]
1952	Fairymount^[59]	Jamestown
1953	Jamestown^[60]
1954	Portarlington^[61]	Spink
1955	Graiguecullen^[62]	Portlaoise
1956	Ballylinan^[63]
1957	Killeshin^[64]	Mountmellick
1958	Stradbally^[65]	St Fintan's Hospital
1959	St Fintan's Hospital^[66]	Kilcavan
1960	Kilcavan^[67]	Timahoe
1961	Crettyard^[68]	Ballylinan
1962	Emo^[69]	Portlaoise
1963	Ballyroan^[70]	Portarlington
1964	St Fintan's Hospital^[71]	Kilcavan
1965	Arles^[72]	Portlaoise
1966	Mountmellick^[73]	Kilcavan
1967	St Joseph's^[74]	Portlaoise
1968	Portarlington^[75]	Courtwood
1969	Killeshin^[76]	Rathdowney
1970	Courtwood^[77]	Abbeyleix
1971	Ballylinan^[78]	Kilcavan
1972	Mountmellick^[79]	Ballinakill
1973	Portlaoise^[80]	Abbeyleix
1974	Barrowhouse^[81]	Abbeyleix
1975	Graiguecullen^[82]	Durrow
1976	St Joseph's^[83]	Park
1977^[84]	Portlaoise 0-10	St Manman's 1-4
1978	St Manman's^[85]	The Rock
1979	The Rock^[86]	Ballinakill
1980	Camross^[87]	Ballyfin
1981	Killeshin^[88]	St Fintan's, Mountrath
1982	Durrow^[89]	St Joseph's
1983	Portarlington^[90]	Portlaoise
1984	Stradbally^[91]	St Fintan's, Mountrath
1985	The Heath^[92]	St Joseph's
1986	Courtwood^[93]	Ballyroan
1987	Spink^[94]	Portlaoise
1988	Portlaoise^[95]	Rosenallis
1989	The Harps^[96]	Ballyroan
1990	The Heath^[97]	Rosenallis
1991	Arles–Kilcruise^[98]	Rosenallis
1992	Portlaoise^[99]	St Manman's
1993	Kilcavan^[100]	St Joseph's
1994	Rosenallis^[101]	St Manman's
1995	Ballyfin^[102]	Ballyroan
1996	Arles–Kilcruise^[103]	St Manman's
1997	St Manman's^[104]	St Fintan's, Mountrath
1998	Ballyroan^[105]	Portlaoise
1999	Portlaoise^[106]	Graiguecullen
2000	The Harps^[107]	Abbeyleix
2001	Abbeyleix^[108]	Stradbally
2002	Portlaoise^[109]	Stradbally
2003	Stradbally^[110]	The Heath
2004^[111]	Kilcavan 1-11	St Joseph's 1-8
2005	Portlaoise^[112]	Park–Ratheniska
2006	Park–Ratheniska^[113]	Barrowhouse
2007	Ballinakill^[114]	St Joseph's
2008	Killeshin^[115]	The Heath
2009	The Heath^[116]	Ballyfin
2010	Ballyfin^[117]	Spink
2011	Spink^[118] 1-10	Graiguecullen 2-04
2012	Graiguecullen^[119]
2013	Kilcavan^[120]
2014	Courtwood^[121]
2015	Barrowhouse^[122]
2016	Rosenallis^[123] ^[124] ^[125] ^[126]
2017
2018
2019
2020	Park–Ratheniska^[127]
2021
2022^[128] ^[129]	Portlaoise 1-11	Barrowhouse 0-8

Laois Junior B Football Championship
Trophy:	Chris Lalor Cup
First:	1972
Sponsors:	Sparrow Insurances
Irish:	Craobh Peil Sóisir B Laoise
Current:	Graiguecullen
Currentordinal:	2
Super:	nd
Most:	Stradbally
Mostordinal:	3

Laois Junior B Football Championship

The Laois Junior B Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by fourth grade Laois GAA clubs.

The trophy presented to the winners is the Chris Lalor Cup.

The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the completion of the 2020 Laois Junior B Football Championship until the second half of 2021.^[130] The semi-finals were played in October 2020.^[131] The final was played in August 2021.^[132]

List of finals

Year	Winner	Opponent
1972	Park	Ballyroan
1973	Mountmellick	Slieve Bloom
1974	Rathdowney	Durrow
1975	St Fintan's Hospital	The Heath
1976	Timahoe	Mountmellick
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983	Stradbally	Rosenallis
1984	Kilcavan	Courtwood
1985	Graiguecullen
1986^[133]	Spink 1-9	Rosenallis 1-8
1987	Rosenallis
1988	The Heath	Arles–Kilcruise
1989	Timahoe	St Fintan's, Colt
1990		Ballylinan
1991	Ballyfin	Crettyard
1992	O'Dempsey's	The Heath
1993	Crettyard	Camross
1994	Castletown	Emo
1995	Arles–Kilcruise	St Fintan's, Mountrath
1996	St Fintan's, Mountrath	Ballylinan
1997	The Heath	Abbeyleix
1998	St Fintan's, Colt	Crettyard
1999	Abbeyleix	Stradbally
2000	Stradbally	Rathdowney
2001	Crettyard	Camross
2002	Portlaoise	Arles–Killeen
2003	Stradbally	Spink
2004^[134]	Spink 1-8	Castletown 1-7
2005	Camross 3-14	Emo 2-5
2006	Mountmellick	O'Dempsey's
2007	Ballylinan	O'Dempsey's
2008	The Rock	St Fintan's, Colt
2009	O'Dempsey's	St Fintan's, Colt
2010	Portlaoise	St Manman's
2011	Graiguecullen 1-9	St Fintan's, Colt 1-7
2012
2013
2014	Graiguecullen
2015
2016
2017	Errill
2018
2019	Errill
2020^[135] ^[136]	Spink	Graiguecullen
2021
2022	Camross 3-9	Errill 0-8

Laois Junior C Football Championship
First:	1998
Sponsors:	Sparrow Insurances
Irish:	Craobh Peil Sóisir C Laoise
Current:	O'Dempseys
Currentordinal:	1
Super:	st
Most:	Portlaoise
Mostordinal:	3

Laois Junior C Football Championship

The Laois Junior C Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by fifth grade Laois GAA clubs. Rathdowney are the title holders (2022) defeating Courtwood in the Final.^{[137] [138]}

An actor participated in the 2020 Junior C Championship.^[139]

List of finals

Year	Winner	Opponent	Captain
1998	Rathdowney	Errill
1999	Clough–Ballacolla	Borris-in-Ossory	Pat Whelan
2000	Errill	Borris-in-Ossory
2001	The Harps	Kilcotton	Kevin Shortall
2002	Rosenallis	O'Dempsey's
2003	Portlaoise	Arles–Kilcruise	Liam Browne
2004	Trumera	The Harps	John O'Connor
2005	Arles–Kilcruise	Shanahoe
2006	Courtwood	The Heath	Stephen Wilson
2007	St Manman's	Ballyfin	Martin Fallon
2008	Portlaoise	Ballyfin	Paul Cotter
2009	Portlaoise	Shamrocks	Gary McCormack
2010	The Heath	Shamrocks	John Browne
2011	O'Dempsey's 0-14	Portlaoise 0-13	Pat Behan
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016	Errill
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021^[140]	Ballyfin 0-11	Park–Ratheniska 0-9
2022^[141] ^[142]	Rathdowney 5-12	Courtwood 0-10

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2021 Laois Club Football Championship Draw Details. Midlands 103. 9 July 2021. 10 November 2022.
2. Web site: Laois JFC Champions 2022. 10 October 2022. 10 November 2022.
3. Web site: In Pictures: Portlaoise celebrate Junior 'A' football success following victory over Barrowhouse. Laois Today. 10 October 2022. 10 November 2022. Alan. Hartnett.
4. News: Jackson in bloom for Rose'. 22 November 2016. Irish Independent. 21 November 2016.
5. Web site: Ronan's goals drive Rosenallis into the Leinster final. Laois Nationalist. 10 November 2016. 10 November 2022. Gerry. Buckley.
6. Web site: Success, failure, tragedy, joy ... Rosenallis has seen it all: A small Laois community was pulled together by a memorable dual success in Intermediate Hurling and Junior Football. Irish Examiner. 1 January 2017. 10 November 2022. Jackie. Cahill. The club's campaign lasted until Saturday, December 3, when the footballers lost out to Edinburgh's Dunedin Connolly’s in an All-Ireland quarter-final. They travelled over by sea on the Friday evening from Belfast and enjoyed a coach ride to the hotel..
7. Web site: Junior A Football 1906.
8. Web site: Rosenallis have it too easy on their 21st birthday. Laois Nationalist. 4 November 2016. 10 November 2022. Pat. Delaney.
9. Web site: Moment in Time: Kilcavan get the better of St Joseph's in 2004 junior final. 30 September 2017. 10 November 2022. Steven. Miller.
10. Web site: Rosenallis are in full bloom. 16 November 2017. 10 November 2022. John. Harrington.
11. Web site: Success, failure, tragedy, joy ... Rosenallis has seen it all: A small Laois community was pulled together by a memorable dual success in Intermediate Hurling and Junior Football. Irish Examiner. 1 January 2017. 10 November 2022. Jackie. Cahill.
12. Web site: Moment in Time: Kilcavan get the better of St Joseph's in 2004 junior final. 30 September 2017. 10 November 2022. Steven. Miller.
13. Web site: Junior A Football 1906.
14. Web site: Junior A Football 1907.
15. Web site: Junior A Football 1908.
16. Web site: Junior A Football 1909.
17. Web site: Junior A Football 1910.
18. Web site: Junior A Football 1911.
19. Web site: Junior A Football 1912.
20. Web site: Junior A Football 1913.
21. Web site: Junior A Football 1914.
22. Web site: Junior A Football 1915.
23. Web site: Junior A Football 1916.
24. Web site: Junior A Football 1917.
25. Web site: Junior A Football 1918.
26. Web site: Junior A Football 1919.
27. Web site: Junior A Football 1920.
28. Web site: Junior A Football 1921.
29. Web site: Junior A Football 1922.
30. Web site: Junior A Football 1923. 18 December 2019 .
31. Web site: Junior A Football 1924. 18 December 2019 .
32. Web site: Junior A Football 1925. 18 December 2019 .
33. Web site: Junior A Football 1926. 18 December 2019 .
34. Web site: Junior A Football 1927. 18 December 2019 .
35. Web site: Junior A Football 1928. 18 December 2019 .
36. Web site: Junior A Football 1929. 18 December 2019 .
37. Web site: Junior A Football 1930. 18 December 2019 .
38. Web site: Junior A Football 1931. 18 December 2019 .
39. Web site: Junior A Football 1932. 18 December 2019 .
40. Web site: Junior A Football 1933. 18 December 2019 .
41. Web site: Junior A Football 1934. 18 December 2019 .
42. Web site: Junior A Football 1935. 18 December 2019 .
43. Web site: Junior A Football 1936. 18 December 2019 .
44. Web site: Junior A Football 1937. 18 December 2019 .
45. Web site: Junior A Football 1938. 18 December 2019 .
46. Web site: Junior A Football 1939. 18 December 2019 .
47. Web site: Junior A Football 1940. 18 December 2019 .
48. Web site: Junior A Football 1941. 18 December 2019 .
49. Web site: Junior A Football 1942. 18 December 2019 .
50. Web site: Junior A Football 1943. 18 December 2019 .
51. Web site: Junior A Football 1944. 18 December 2019 .
52. Web site: Junior A Football 1945. 18 December 2019 .
53. Web site: Junior A Football 1946. 18 December 2019 .
54. Web site: Junior A Football 1947. 18 December 2019 .
55. Web site: Junior A Football 1948. 18 December 2019 .
56. Web site: Junior A Football 1949. 18 December 2019 .
57. Web site: Junior A Football 1950. 18 December 2019 .
58. Web site: Junior A Football 1951. 18 December 2019 .
59. Web site: Junior A Football 1952. 18 December 2019 .
60. Web site: Junior A Football 1953. 18 December 2019 .
61. Web site: Junior A Football 1954. 18 December 2019 .
62. Web site: Junior A Football 1955. 18 December 2019 .
63. Web site: Junior A Football 1956. 18 December 2019 .
64. Web site: Junior A Football 1957. 18 December 2019 .
65. Web site: Junior A Football 1958. 18 December 2019 .
66. Web site: Junior A Football 1959. 18 December 2019 .
67. Web site: Junior A Football 1960. 18 December 2019 .
68. Web site: Junior A Football 1961. 18 December 2019 .
69. Web site: Junior A Football 1962. 18 December 2019 .
70. Web site: Junior A Football 1963. 18 December 2019 .
71. Web site: Junior A Football 1964. 18 December 2019 .
72. Web site: Junior A Football 1965. 18 December 2019 .
73. Web site: Junior A Football 1966. 18 December 2019 .
74. Web site: Junior A Football 1967. 18 December 2019 .
75. Web site: Junior A Football 1968. 18 December 2019 .
76. Web site: Junior A Football 1969. 18 December 2019 .
77. Web site: Junior A Football 1970. 18 December 2019 .
78. Web site: Junior A Football 1971. 18 December 2019 .
79. Web site: Junior A Football 1972. 18 December 2019 .
80. Web site: Junior A Football 1973. 18 December 2019 .
81. Web site: Junior A Football 1974. 18 December 2019 .
82. Web site: Junior A Football 1975. 18 December 2019 .
83. Web site: Junior A Football 1976. 18 December 2019 .
84. Web site: 1977 – Laois Junior Football Final. 9 October 2022. 10 November 2022.
85. Web site: Junior A Football 1978. 18 December 2019 .
86. Web site: Junior A Football 1979. 18 December 2019 .
87. Web site: Junior A Football 1980. 18 December 2019 .
88. Web site: Junior A Football 1981. 18 December 2019 .
89. Web site: Junior A Football 1982. 18 December 2019 .
90. Web site: Junior A Football 1983. 18 December 2019 .
91. Web site: Junior A Football 1984. 18 December 2019 .
92. Web site: Junior A Football 1985. 18 December 2019 .
93. Web site: Junior A Football 1986. 18 December 2019 .
94. Web site: Junior A Football 1987. 18 December 2019 .
95. Web site: Junior A Football 1988. 18 December 2019 .
96. Web site: Junior A Football 1989. 18 December 2019 .
97. Web site: Junior A Football 1990. 18 December 2019 .
98. Web site: Junior A Football 1991. 18 December 2019 .
99. Web site: Junior A Football 1992. 18 December 2019 .
100. Web site: Junior A Football 1993. 18 December 2019 .
101. Web site: Rosenallis have it too easy on their 21st birthday. Laois Nationalist. 4 November 2016. 10 November 2022. Pat. Delaney. Twenty-one years ago Rosenallis joined the elite of Laois GAA when they became one of the rare few clubs fielding senior teams in both codes; they had won junior and intermediate football titles back to back..
102. Web site: Junior A Football 1995. 18 December 2019 .
103. Web site: Junior A Football 1996. 18 December 2019 .
104. Web site: Junior A Football 1997. 18 December 2019 .
105. Web site: Junior A Football 1998. 18 December 2019 .
106. Web site: Junior A Football 1999. 18 December 2019 .
107. Web site: Junior A Football 2000. 18 December 2019 .
108. Web site: Junior A Football 2001. 18 December 2019 .
109. Web site: Junior A Football 2002. 18 December 2019 .
110. Web site: Junior A Football 2003. 18 December 2019 .
111. Web site: Moment in Time: Kilcavan get the better of St Joseph's in 2004 junior final. 30 September 2017. 10 November 2022. Steven. Miller. Kilcavan won on this occasion on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-8 and were captained by corner-back David McEvoy..
112. Web site: Junior A Football 2005. 18 December 2019 .
113. Web site: Junior A Football. 18 December 2019 .
114. Web site: Junior A Football 2007. 18 December 2019 .
115. Web site: Junior A Football 2008. 18 December 2019 .
116. Web site: Junior A Football 2009. 18 December 2019 .
117. Web site: Junior A Football 2010. 18 December 2019 .
118. Web site: Junior A Football 2011. 18 December 2019 .
119. Web site: Junior A Football 2012. 18 December 2019 .
120. Web site: Junior A Football 2013. 18 December 2019 .
121. Web site: Junior A Football 2014. 18 December 2019 .
122. Web site: GAA – Battling Barrowhouse run out of steam. Laois Nationalist. 12 November 2015. 10 November 2022. John. Foley.
123. Web site: Rosenallis are in full bloom. 16 November 2017. 10 November 2022. John. Harrington.
124. News: Jackson in bloom for Rose'. 22 November 2016. Irish Independent. 21 November 2016.
125. Web site: Rosenallis hang on in dramatic finish. Laois Nationalist. 28 October 2016. 10 November 2022. Fergal. Lynch.
126. Web site: Success, failure, tragedy, joy ... Rosenallis has seen it all: A small Laois community was pulled together by a memorable dual success in Intermediate Hurling and Junior Football. Irish Examiner. 1 January 2017. 10 November 2022. Jackie. Cahill. In 2016, the hurlers and footballers of Rosenallis, and there was a fair crossover between the two codes, won their respective county championships — junior football and intermediate hurling..
127. Web site: Park–Ratheniska dominate 2021 LaoisToday intermediate club football Team of the Year. 27 December 2021. 10 November 2022. Having only won the delayed 2020 Junior 'A' final in June, they took the intermediate grade by storm....
128. Web site: Laois JFC Champions 2022. 10 October 2022. 10 November 2022.
129. Web site: In Pictures: Portlaoise celebrate Junior 'A' football success following victory over Barrowhouse. Laois Today. 10 October 2022. 10 November 2022. Alan. Hartnett.
130. Web site: Delayed 2020 Laois GAA championships to resume in three weeks. Laois Nationalist. 13 July 2021. 10 November 2022. Denis J.. Croke.
131. Web site: Spink and Graiguecullen set to contest JFC 'B' final following wins. Laois Today. 3 October 2020. 10 November 2022. Simon. Hartnett.
132. Web site: In Pictures: All smiles as Spink celebrate claiming 2020 Junior 'B' football glory. Laois Today. 9 August 2021. 10 November 2022. Simon. Hartnett.
133. Web site: County Final Memory: Significant triumph for Spink in 1986. Laois Today. 3 July 2022. 10 November 2022. Steven. Miller.
134. Web site: County Final Memory: Spink claim Junior 'B' football glory in 2004. Laois Today. 3 August 2021. 10 November 2022. Simon. Hartnett.
135. Web site: Spink and Graiguecullen set to contest JFC 'B' final following wins. Laois Today. 3 October 2020. 10 November 2022. Simon. Hartnett.
136. Web site: In Pictures: All smiles as Spink celebrate claiming 2020 Junior 'B' football glory. Laois Today. 9 August 2021. 10 November 2022. Simon. Hartnett.
137. Web site: Rathdowney and Courtwood to contest Junior 'C' football decider following semi final wins. 30 August 2022. 10 November 2022.
138. Web site: Five star Rathdowney produce magical second half to claim Junior C football glory. 7 September 2022. 10 November 2022.
139. Web site: A 72-year-old keeper, an actor and a last minute goal – the magic of Junior C. Laois Today. 2 September 2020. 10 November 2020.
140. Web site: Ballyfin finish strong to see off Park-Ratheniska and claim Junior 'C' football honours. 14 September 2021. 10 November 2022.
141. Web site: Rathdowney and Courtwood to contest Junior 'C' football decider following semi final wins. 30 August 2022. 10 November 2022.
142. Web site: Five star Rathdowney produce magical second half to claim Junior C football glory. 7 September 2022. 10 November 2022.