SPORT REVIEW OF THE YEAR - January sees the foundations laid for successful 2018

The sporting year began earlier than normal in 2018, as the Laois senior footballer and hurlers had their O'Byrne and Walsh Cups begin days into the new year was rung in.

With the footballers losing to Westmeath and hurlers getting hammered by Kilkenny, all eyes turned to the start of the leagues, which would be at the end of the month rather than in February.

The footballers were given a boost with the return of Donie Kingston, but they didn't need him as they beat Limerick relatively comfortably in the opening round.

The hurlers also played Limerick on the same weekend but despite an admirable effort, they came up short in the Gaelic Grounds. The Laois ladies also lost their opening league game, against Cavan.

The Laois GAA Strategic Plan was also launched in January with some radical proposals, including the formation of a new GAA club in the town.

Elsewhere, Billy O'Loughlin was finally ratified as the new Laois U-20 football manager after a significant delay in finding a candidate, while well-known Mountrath man Jimmy Lalor- Fitzpatrick, a regular steward in O'Moore Park, passed away.

Another untimely death in January saw St Joseph's GAA footballer Liam Kealy drowned in Cork while on a night out with friends. In Basketball, Scoil Chríost Rí won the All-Ireland U-16 'A' title.