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gaa · Sunday 5 July 2026 · Various 
Laois Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
At Laois · Laois, Co. Laois
At Laois · Laois, Co. Laois
The Laois Senior Football Championship is one of the oldest and most fiercely contested club competitions in Leinster, running since 1888. The semi-final stage is where the championship sharpens into something serious - four clubs who have earned their way through the group and quarter-final rounds, and only two spots left in the county final. 2026 carries extra weight: it is the final year of the 16-team senior championship format before restructuring in 2027, which gives every game a slightly elegiac charge. If you follow club football, or simply want to see Laois GAA at its most competitive, this is the fixture to catch.
The confirmed semi-final pairings pit Courtwood against Stradbally, with Ballyroan-Abbey in the opposite tie. Courtwood won the ACFL Division 1 title and arrive with momentum. Stradbally, one of Laois football’s historic clubs with 17 senior titles to their name, are never to be written off. Ballyroan-Abbey have built steadily and are a genuine threat to whoever they face. The atmosphere at a county semi-final is markedly different from inter-county days - it is local, loud, and personal, with parishes turning out in force. Expect tense football, genuine passion on the terraces, and an afternoon where every decision from the referee gets a full airing.
Venue is to be confirmed closer to the date - semi-finals of this competition are held either at Laois Hire O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, the county’s main ground with a capacity of around 22,000, or at club venues. Check Laois GAA’s website or local outlets (Laois Today, Leinster Express) for confirmed fixture details.
Portlaoise sits on the M7 motorway, roughly 90 km from Dublin - just over an hour by car on a clear run. The N7/M7 is the main route from the capital; from the west, the M8 connects through the midlands. There is parking at and around O’Moore Park if that is the venue; for club grounds, parking is typically on adjacent fields or roadside.
By rail, Portlaoise is on the Dublin Heuston to Limerick/Tralee line, with regular trains from Heuston taking around 75 minutes. Bus Éireann runs express coaches on the Dublin - Cork/Limerick corridors with stops in Portlaoise. The town centre is a short walk from the station.
A championship semi-final makes for a fine reason to spend a few hours in the county town. There is more to see in Portlaoise and across Co. Laois.
Heading to Laois? Laois has plenty more to see. Browse the area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.