Laois senior football team revealed ahead of Division 3 clash against Limerick

The Laois senior football team for Saturday’s Division 3 opener against Limerick has been named.

Killian Roche retains his place in goal, as do Portlaoise’s Ben Dempsey at corner-back and Trevor Collins at full-back. There is a first league start for Annanough’s Jake Darcy, while Laois’ half-back line has some familiar faces in Paddy O’Sullivan, captain Brian Byrne and Kevin Swayne.

A new-look midfield is set to start on Saturday evening, with Courtwood’s Rob Tyrell partnering Crettyard’s Ciaran Burke. Another league debutant features at half-forward, as 2025 Laois GAA Intermediate Player of the Year Cian Nolan has been handed his first taste of National Football League action. Another award winner from 2025 lines out alongside him in Laois Inter-County Footballer of the Year Ronan Coffey, who also lifted the Jack Delaney Cup as Portarlington captain. Killeshin’s Conor Heffernan completes the half-forward line.

Laois’ full-forward line includes another player set to make his league debut, with Portarlington’s Darragh Galvin named at full-forward. His clubmate Rioghan Murphy starts at left corner-forward, while Laois GAA supporters will be delighted to see Crettyard’s Evan O’Carroll return to the starting fifteen. O’Carroll missed the entire 2025 inter-county season after suffering an ACL injury while playing for Leinster at the end of 2024.

The Laois substitutes’ bench contains a mix of youth and experience, with Portlaoise duo Ben O’Connor and Darren Brennan still eligible for the U20 grade. There is also a welcome return for Paul Kingston after the Arles-Killeen forward took a year away from the panel in 2025. Kingston’s clubmate Colin Dunne could be in line to make his league debut, as could Kilcavan’s Cian Ryle.

LAOIS: Killian Roche (Killeshin); Ben Dempsey (Portlaoise), Trevor Collins (Graiguecullen), Jake Darcy (Annanough); Paddy O’Sullivan (Portarlington), Brian Byrne (Captain) (Graiguecullen), Kevin Swayne (Portlaoise); Rob Tyrell (Courtwood), Ciaran Burke (Crettyard); Cian Nolan (Park-Ratheniska), Ronan Coffey (Portarlington), Conor Heffernan (Killeshin); Rioghan Murphy (Portarlington), Darragh Galvin (Portarlington), Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard).

Subs: Matthew Byron (Courtwood), Darren Brennan (Portlaoise), Niall Corbet (Clonaslee St Manman’s), Mikie Dempsey (St Joseph’s), Colin Dunne (Arles-Killeen), Paul Kingston (Arles-Killeen), Jack Lacey (St Joseph’s), Cathal Lee (Clonaslee St Manman’s), Alex Mohan (Portarlington), Ben O’Connor (Portlaoise), Cian Ryle (Kilcavan).

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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.