‘We’re not going down to make up numbers’- Laois Camogie’s Pat Collier ahead of trip to Kerry

The Laois Camogie team are set to get their Centra Camogie League Division 2 campaign underway this weekend with a tough trip down to Kerry in the opening game.

Joint-managers Pat Collier and Robert Jones guided Laois to the Division 3 title in 2025 when they defeated Roscommon in Kinnegad. Collier feels that when they took over the team in 2024, Laois weren’t playing at the level that they should have been. Laois were also crowned All-Ireland champions in 2025.

“We always felt, Rob and I, when we took this job, that Laois were maybe playing below themselves a bit, to get players involved and that, but look, over the last two years, it's been marvellous. It's been a great journey for the two years, two All-Ireland finals, and to finally get over the line last August was great. As a manager, there's no day like being a manager on the line at inter-county level. We're up where we feel we should be now. We have a tough league; we only started back two weeks ago. We didn't change much from the last two years. We’ve got Kerry away on February 14. I’m looking forward to the league,” Collier said.

Laois have proven themselves at intermediate level in the Leinster Championship under the guidance of Collier and Jones, having reached the provincial final in 2024 and 2025. In recent years, Laois club teams have also been crowned Leinster Intermediate champions. The Camross native believes that there isn’t much between a handful of teams in the division.

“I'd be confident enough that the girls, I certainly feel, are good enough. We have very good club intermediate teams in Laois. St Brigid’s and O’Moore’s have been in Leinster finals and All-Ireland semi-finals in the last few years, and obviously Camross last year. So the step up for me is not a problem. Obviously, there are a few strong teams; Derry down from senior will be strong, Kerry and Antrim, for me, they're the best three teams in it. After that, the other, I think there are eight in it; there are two groups of four in the Championship now, in the All-Ireland series. The other five teams, there wouldn't be that much between us. I know people have said we're probably the bottom of the barrel in them eight, but I wouldn't think that,” Collier added.

Camross had a great year in 2025 as they were crowned Laois, Leinster and All-Ireland champions. Collier admitted that Laois only joined back up two weeks ago and that the Camross girls came back into training buzzing.

“We stuck to our guns the same as last year. Brigid’s were in an All-Ireland semi-final, I think around the 1st or 2nd of December. Camross played their final on the 14th, but we sort of set our stall, Rob and I, when we decided to go back, that we would do the same as the last two years, and we would start at the end of January, and that's exactly what we did. The Camross girls got six weeks, and they’re all back and buzzing. You need a break, I'm not one for this, you know, mad training, four or five nights a week, I don't believe in it. I believe recovery is hugely important and you need to be fresh for your matches. That's the way we prepare our teams, and it's worked so far anyway,” Collier said.

Collier says that, naturally, Laois’ aim is to stay up in the division, as Armagh, the side that beat Laois in the Division 3 final in 2024, came up and went straight back down in 2025.

“Our big aim in the league is to stay up. Armagh came up last year and went straight back down. We need to stay up, but we also need to be playing these stronger teams. Our goal in the league is to avoid that relegation final at all costs. It won't be easy now, but we're taking every game as it comes, and we're going out to win every game; that's always been our mantra. I don't like losing, no manager likes losing, and the girls certainly don't like losing; they are a group of winners. We'll be giving the league a good crack, and obviously, we need to stay up,” he said.

Laois probably have the toughest opening round fixture that they could have hoped for, with Kerry having reached the All-Ireland Intermediate final in 2025. Collier concluded by saying that Laois aren’t going down to make up numbers, they’ll be going down to win. 

“They were All-Ireland finalists in Intermediate last year. They were unlucky; Offaly took their goal chance, and Kerry had a couple and didn't take them. I’ve watched that game a couple of times. They're a hugely physical team. They have young Danielle O'Leary, I think she's back from the football there. She’s a class player, and she's back with them this year in the middle of the field. That's going to be a tough one away, and then the following Saturday, we play Derry. We're really starting in the cauldron and maybe not that much done, but our girls are fit enough to look after themselves. They're a young bunch. I think the average age is only 21. We're not going down to Kerry to make up numbers; we're going down to win,” Collier said.

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Centra Division 2A National Camogie League Fixtures

February 14

Kerry v Laois in Kerry venue

February 21/22

Laois v Derry in Laois venue

February 28/ March 1

Meath v Laois in Meath venue

March 7/8

Carlow v Laois in Carlow venue

March 21/22

Laois v Westmeath in Laois venue