Laois aim to fell Big Apple in Portlaoise GAA Tailteann Cup match

Laois have been drawn to play New York in what is set to be a historic Tailteann Cup Preliminary Quarter Final in Portlaoise.

Laois Hire O'Hire O'Moore Park will be the venue for the knock-out tie next weekend J 8/9.

Laois learned their opponents after the draw was made last Sunday evening after the Group stages of the 2024 edition of the competition were finalised.

New York are the only team not to contest the group stages of the Tailteann Cup this year.

The US county last played when losing 2-06 to 2-21 by Mayo in the first round of the Connacht Championship in April.

Their biggest win in recent years came in Gaelic Park New York in the 2023 Championship when they shocked Leitrim to advance to the Connacht semi-final. Carlow subsequently defeated New York in the preliminary quarter-final last year.

If Laois overcome the team from the Big Apple they'll be on the road again with a quarter-final against one of the Tailteann Cup group winners.

Apart from Fermanagh, the other table toppers are Down, Sligo and Kildare.

The other preliminary quarter-finals are: Leitrim v Wicklow, Limerick V Tipperary, Aontroim V Londain.

Laois made it to the knock-out stages after finishing second to Fermanagh in the competition's group stages. The O'Moore men finished second despite losing to the Ulster county in the final group game in Longford. 

Laois coach Justin McNulty will also surely have sent a message of thanks to his former Armagh teamate Oisíin McConville who led Wicklow to a late late show win that removed Carlow from the equation.