What next for Justin McNulty and the Laois senior footballers?
Laois’ season is over and attention now turns to whether McNulty will remain at the helm
And just like that, the Laois senior footballers’ 2026 campaign has come to an end and, with it, the conclusion of Justin McNulty’s initial three-year term as manager.
For the second time in three years, Down ended Laois’ championship hopes under McNulty, while it was also the third defeat to the Mourne men in four seasons following their demolition of Laois in Croke Park in 2023.
If this proves to be the end of McNulty’s second spell in charge, it should be viewed as a largely positive tenure. When he returned ahead of the 2024 season, Laois were in Division 4 and in need of rebuilding. His side responded by winning all seven league games before defeating Leitrim in Croke Park to claim the Division 4 title.
Their Leinster Championship ended disappointingly with a defeat to Offaly, who recorded their first championship win over Laois since 2002, but the Tailteann Cup provided encouragement. Laois reached the final after defeating Antrim in the semi-final before losing to Down, denying them a place in the Sam Maguire Cup the following season. Overall, it represented a strong first year back for McNulty.
His first spell in charge had also delivered significant success, including promotion to Division 1 in 2011 and an All-Ireland quarter-final appearance in 2012 after qualifier victories over Carlow, Monaghan, Leitrim and Meath. His return, therefore, came with considerable expectation.
The 2025 campaign brought mixed fortunes. Back in Division 3, Laois finished sixth with three wins from seven games. In Leinster, they comfortably defeated Wexford before producing one of their best displays under McNulty in a narrow two-point defeat to eventual provincial champions Louth in Newbridge. However, the Tailteann Cup ended in disappointment as Westmeath hammered Laois 3-26 to 1-15 in Mullingar at the preliminary quarter-final stage.
Looking specifically at 2026, there was evidence of progress but also of inconsistency. Laois improved to fourth place in Division 3 with seven points, yet opportunities were missed. They drew with relegated Limerick in the opening round before suffering a heavy defeat to Wexford and never managed back-to-back victories throughout the campaign.
They defeated Sligo and later produced an outstanding nine-point win over eventual Leinster champions Westmeath, but defeats to Clare and Fermanagh, both while reduced to 14 men, proved costly. The campaign concluded with a four-point win away to Down in Newry, although promotion was already beyond reach.
Perhaps the biggest frustration was that Laois took just one point from four against the two relegated teams, Limerick and Fermanagh. Better results in those games could easily have left them looking towards Division 2 rather than simply securing their status.
The Leinster Championship then offered fresh optimism. Laois comfortably overcame an Offaly side that had just been relegated from Division 2 to set up a quarter-final meeting with neighbours Kildare. It was a game they will feel slipped away, enduring long scoring droughts before losing by five points. Victory would have earned a semi-final against Westmeath after they shocked Meath, making the missed opportunity even greater.
The Tailteann Cup again appeared to offer Laois a realistic chance of a deep run. Comfortable victories over Wicklow and London secured a quarter-final place, where familiar opponents awaited.
Down, despite losing to Offaly in Round 2A, had come through the back door after defeating Longford and entered the game with more recent competitive action. Laois, by contrast, had a three-week break and looked sluggish from the outset. They trailed 1-6 to 0-1 after just nine minutes and never recovered as Down ran out convincing winners to end another Tailteann Cup campaign. What happens next remains uncertain. McNulty insisted after the defeat that it was too soon to discuss his future, and the county board now faces an important decision. But regardless of whether he remains in charge, his three years have restored competitiveness, delivered a league title and promotion, and re-established Laois as a side capable of challenging in the Tailteann Cup.
While there is still work to do, it would be difficult to question the commitment or effort McNulty brought to the role.