Laois-Offaly GAA rivalry takes centre-stage in Portlaoise double-header

Laois GAA fans will finally get to see the footballers and hurlers get their league campaigns underway after last weekend's false start.

The Laois footballers were unable to play Leitrim in Ballinamore after Storm Éowyn left Ballinamore in the dark so the game had to be postponed and will now be played on Saturday, February 8. The hurlers were meant to take on Westmeath in the opening round but a post-Storm Éowyn freeze meant that the pitch in TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar was unplayable. 

Both of Offaly's teams come into the weekend unbeaten with the footballers having seven points to spare over Sligo while the hurlers had to settle for a point against Carlow in Tullamore.

Laois will have a point to prove on Sunday as Offaly recorded significant victories over them in 2024. Justin McNulty's footballers were knocked out of the Leinster Football Championship by Offaly while the Laois hurlers had to watch on as Offaly climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand of Croke Park to lift the Joe McDonagh Cup and seal their place in the Leinster Hurling Championship for 2025.

Tommy Fitzgerald has named his team to face the Offaly hurlers with the same starting 15 that was due to play Westmeath last weekend. Eight players that have been named to start on Sunday also started in the loss to Offaly in Croke Park while Padraig Delaney, Liam O'Connell and Paddy Purcell (starters in Croke Park) are on the subs bench. Willie Dunphy and John Lennon came on in that final and will start from the bench again. Donnchadh Hartnett, who came on for Liam O'Connell in June, is set to start at corner-back.

The double-header of games will throw-in at 2pm with the hurlers facing off first before the footballers' game throws-in at 4pm in Laois Hire O'Moore Park.