PREVIEW: Laois Camogie look to bounce back against Carlow after defeat to Meath

The Laois Camogie team take on a winless Carlow side in the Centra Division 2 League at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday afternoon.

Laois come into the game with a record of one win, one draw, and one loss, having been defeated by Meath in last weekend’s Round 3 clash in Donaghmore Ashbourne GAA. That loss was the team’s first since falling to Carlow in the 2025 Leinster Intermediate Championship final.

Earlier in the campaign, Laois drew with Kerry in Killarney before securing a win over Derry in Abbeyleix, a result that saw them beat the 2023 All-Ireland Intermediate champions.

Joint-manager Pat Collier acknowledged the Meath defeat was a wake-up call but stressed that the focus now is on Carlow.

“We have Carlow next week, and Carlow are after beating us for the last 2 years. They beat us in the Leinster final last year and Carlow was the game in this group after Derry that we were pinpointing. As you see, we have 5 or 6 players missing today as well, but we'll have a good few of them back for Carlow now, and the Carlow game is the one we'll be targeting. If they're needing a gee up after that, they may take up golf,” he said.

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“Look it, the first 2 games we thought we'd probably lose, we had only 2 weeks' work done. There are a couple of girls there now, and they've only done their first few training sessions this week. As I said to the management there, no harm, you need a little wake-up call, and the Carlow game is the one we'll be gearing towards. If we win the Carlow game, we're safe from relegation, and that’s our goal in the league. If anything else happens, it's a bonus,” Collier said.

A victory on Saturday would secure Laois’ safety in Division 2 in their first year back since winning the Division 3A title against Roscommon in 2025. 

Laois v Carlow throws-in at 2pm on Saturday, March 7, in Netwatch Cullen Park. You can follow live updates from the game on the Leinster Express/ Laois Live from 1.50pm.

Locally, Saturday also sees the opening round of the Laois GAA ACFL Division 1. Three matches throw-in at 4pm with Graiguecullen hosting Portlaoise, Division 2 champions Clonaslee St Manman’s travelling to Arles-Killeen, and Ballyroan-Abbey playing Stradbally. The final game of Round One features a repeat of the 2024 ACFL Division 1 final as St Joseph’s welcome 2025 SFC finalists Courtwood to Kellyville at 6pm.