PREVIEW: Laois senior footballers take on Limerick in Division 3 opener in Portlaoise

This weekend sees the return of the Allianz Football League, with the Laois senior footballers facing Limerick in the opening game of their Division 3 campaign.

Laois come into the league having lost to an experimental Dublin side in the O'Byrne Cup before suffering defeat to Carlow in the O'Byrne Shield semi-finals. Justin McNulty's side will be hoping to improve on their sixth-place finish in the league last year. Laois probably should have had more than the six points they finished with, but they let leads slip against Clare and Fermanagh, to name just two.

The panel for the league was named during the week, and it saw 20 players included who were not part of McNulty's panel in 2025. However, he is also without a couple of big names. O’Dempsey’s Mark Barry is a notable absentee, with the forward travelling for the year, and his loss will be keenly felt. Portlaoise’s Damon Larkin and Ballylinan’s Seamus Lacey are also missing from the panel, two players who have been key starters for Laois over the past couple of seasons.

Laois face a Limerick side that enjoyed a similar campaign in 2025 to McNulty’s first year in charge with Laois in 2024. The Treaty County were promoted from Division 4 as champions and went on to reach the Tailteann Cup final, where they lost out by just two points to Kildare at Croke Park. Their key men include James Naughton and Danny Neville, along with goalkeeper Josh Ryan, who was outstanding from placed balls last year and chipped in with a number of two-point frees.

Saturday’s game in Portlaoise could go a long way towards shaping Laois’ campaign. A defeat would place significant pressure on them ahead of a trip to fellow promoted side Wexford the following weekend. Conversely, a victory could see Laois looking up the table in 2026 and potentially putting themselves in contention for promotion, a scenario that would likely result in a place in the Sam Maguire rather than the Tailteann Cup.

READ ALSO: Laois senior football panel named ahead of Division 3 opener against Limerick in Portlaoise

DIVISION 3 FIXTURE LIST

Saturday January 24

Laois v Limerick in Laois Hire O'Moore Park at 6pm

Saturday January 31

Wexford v Laois in Wexford Park at 6pm

Saturday February 14

Laois v Sligo in Laois Hire O'Moore Park at 6pm

Sunday February 22

Clare v Laois in Cusack Park, Ennis at 2pm

Saturday February 28

Laois v Westmeath in Laois Hire O'Moore Park at 6pm

Saturday March 14

Fermanagh v Laois in Brewster Park, Enniskillen at 6pm

Sunday March 22

Down v Laois in Páirc Esler, Newry at 2pm

Laois v Limerick will throw-in at 6pm on Saturday evening in Laois Hire O’Moore Park Portlaoise. The Leinster Express/Laois Live will be providing a free live blog from the game.