Bumper day for Portlaoise as Dublin fans Laois-bound for royal Meath GAA battle

Portlaoise is set to enjoy a big influx of GAA fans from Dublin and Meath with confirmation that Laois Hire O'Moore Park will host a Leinster semi-final between the old foes of Gaelic football.

Following years of poor crowds at big Leinster Senior Gaelic Football Championship games in Croke Park, the GAA decided to relocate the semi-finals out of the capital for 2025.

The fixture, confirmed by Leinster GAA, will see Dublin play Meath in Portlaoise on Sunday, April 27 in Laois Hire O'Moore Park with throw-in at 4 pm.

The Dubs have been regular visitors to Portlaoise in recent years since they departed the protection of Croke Park in 2016 after 10 years playing all their Leinster Games in the capital.

They were due to play Laois in Portlaoise in 2016 which was the first year out of the capital in a decade. Despite Laois getting a home draw, the game was played in Kilkenny to the annoyance of many Laois fans. MORE BELOW PIC.

Dublin fans in town for Leinster clash with Wicklow in 2019.

Dublin played in Portlaoise in 2017 which ended up being quite a controversial encounter. With a Garda helicopter flying overhead to help with traffic, Dublin forward Diarmuid Connolly was suspended for 12 weeks after pushing a linesman. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Diarmuid Connolly of Dublin argues with linesman Ciarán Branagan during the 2017 Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between Dublin and Carlow at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

Dublin's last outing in Portlaoise was in 2023 when they comprehensively saw off Laois in the Leinster Championship before winning Sam Maguire that year.

Meath last played a championship game in Portlaoise in 2019 when they defeated Clare in a GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 4 match.

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The counties share one of the biggest rivalries in recent years. Most famously, Meath came out winners in 1991 after four replays in the Leinster Championship. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Vinny Murphy of Dublin in action against Meath players, from left, Kevin Foley, Liam Harnan, Robbie O'Malley and John McDermott during the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship Preliminary Round replay match between Dublin and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile

The rivalry has waned in recent years with Dublin's dominance and Meath's struggles. The Royals were beaten on a scoreline of 3-19 to 0-12 in the 2024 quarter-final in Croke Park. They'll be hoping for a better showing and revenge in Portlaoise.

Louth, who beat Laois in Leinster, face Kildare in the other semi-final in Tullamore.