Four will become two in the Laois GAA SFC as all roads lead to O’Moore Park on Sunday

The stage is set for a massive day of club football in Laois on Sunday, September 28, as the Laois Hire O’Moore Park hosts the two semi-finals of the Laois Senior Football Championship.

Defending champions Portarlington, 2023 champions St Joseph’s, rising force Courtwood, and seasoned challengers Graiguecullen are all aiming to take a step closer to the Jack Delaney Cup.

Portarlington v Graiguecullen (2.15pm)

The first semi-final of the day pits reigning champions Portarlington against Graiguecullen – and it’s déjà vu for both clubs.

Graiguecullen defeated Portarlington in Round 2 of this year’s championship, just as they did in 2024, only for Portarlington to regroup and defeat them in the semi-final on their way to lifting the title.

Graigue booked their place in the last four this year with a derby win over Killeshin, while Portarlington came through the back door in emphatic style, hammering Arles-Killeen 2-24 to 1-7 in the quarter-final.

Manager Pat Roe has a near full-strength squad again, with all their travelling players now back on home soil. Jake Foster, the latest to return, announced himself in style with 1-6 in that quarter-final win.

Graiguecullen will need to repeat their earlier championship heroics and find a way to blunt Portarlington’s powerful attack if they are to reach the final for the first time since 2020.

Courtwood v St Joseph’s (4pm)

The second semi-final sees one of the stories of the championship so far, Courtwood’s stunning upset of Portlaoise, tested against the 2023 champions, St Joseph’s.

Courtwood were outstanding against the county’s most decorated club, combining pace, energy and clinical finishing to claim a famous nine-point win. With a host of sharpshooters capable of scoring from range, they will believe they can cause more problems this weekend.

St Joseph’s, meanwhile, were pushed all the way by Ballyroan-Abbey in their quarter-final. Despite controlling much of the game, lapses in concentration let their opponents back into it, and they eventually squeezed through on a 2-16 to 2-14 scoreline.

The Kellyville side will look to tighten things up defensively and lean on the experience of recent seasons as they bid to reach another County Final. Courtwood are looking to get through to their first ever SFC County Final.

With four clubs chasing two places in the decider, Sunday promises to deliver high drama in O’Moore Park as the race for the Jack Delaney Cup heats up. You can follow all the action on the Leinster Express/Laois Live's live blog.

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