From rocky years to All-Ireland cheers: Laois Ladies return to Croker for All-Ireland final

Behind all All-Ireland final teams in Gaelic Games are unsung volunteers who keep the county and club show all year at clubs across the age groups.

Leading the way for Laois LGFA in 2025 is Chairperson Martina Phelan. As a player and now Chairperson, it's fair to say Martina has given blood, sweat, tears and lots more for Laois LGFA, including as a player.

“Playing in Croke Park is special. I was unlucky I never got to win an All-Ireland. Being a Chairperson is exhausting, but it is a very good exhaustion,” she told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Martina is delighted to have reached the final after 'three really rocky years'.

“It is absolutely great to be back in an All-Ireland Final. They are a super bunch of girls. For myself as Chairperson and for us as an executive, it is a massive honour to have the team in Croke Park,” she said.

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She was present for the 2022 All-Ireland win as Maor Uisce and County Treasurer, but saw the county relegated last year.

“We could have been playing senior football this year, but now we are in All-Ireland Final. If we do get to senior level, it will be a massive boost to the county. We need to be up playing senior football,” she said.

She traces the success back to last winter.

“We met back in November with the girls and the management team. They said that day that the focus was to win an All-Ireland Final. The players have put in a massive commitment. They have sacrificed holidays, weddings, they have given their whole life to LGFA,” she said.

Martina, who played in Croke Park seven times, wants the fans in GAA HQ on August 3 for the footballers and on August 10 for the Laois camogie in their final.

“We want the Laois supporters to get to Croke Park on the bank holiday weekend to support the girls because they need it. We need everyone on the same page. There is nowhere like Croke Park,” she said.

READ ALSO: Laois boss wants fans on ‘bandwagon’ for All-Ireland Final tussle with Tyrone

That message is being echoed by Laois Camogie joint-manager Pat Collier, who said his panel have adjusted their own schedule to ensure they’re in the stands on Sunday.

“It’s great to see the footballers in the All-Ireland on Sunday and we gave the girls Sunday off. We normally train on Sunday, but we’re training Saturday night instead so all of our girls can support them. We’ll support them and it’s hugely important that the people of Laois get behind both these teams.

“Like, when was the last time a county had two teams in an All-Ireland final, football and hurling? That’s the mix we have in Laois, so we should be very proud of them. I just hope the Laois people get off their backsides and support these two teams and hopefully there’ll be two wins,” Collier said.

The Laois Ladies will take on Tyrone from 1.45pm on Sunday, August 3, in Croke Park as they go in search of a second All-Ireland Intermediate title in four years. The Laois Camogie team will also be in Croke Park on Sunday, August 10, when they take on Armagh in the Premier Junior All-Ireland final from 1pm. 

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