You all asked for it – so we have obliged with the first hurling rankings update of the 2025 season. With the club leagues now almost at a conclusion, we have compiled a list of the top 25 hurling teams in Laois. A number of factors come into play with these rankings – league form, last year’s championship form, and whether a club are at full strength or not. But also, most crucially, teams have been severely punished for giving walkovers.  Two have dropped massively and another two have been kicked out altogether.  Steven Miller and Alan Hartnett are up for this one.

You all asked for it – so we have obliged with the second rankings of the 2025 season. With the club leagues now in ticking towards their conclusion and championship action just over a month away, we have compiled a list of the top 30 football teams in Laois. A number of factors come into play with these rankings – league form, last year’s championship form, and whether a club are at full strength or not. Steven Miller and Alan Hartnett are up for this one – and remember, rankings can fall as well as rise.

It was a huge weekend for the Laois senior hurlers and they delivered with a big win over Westmeath.  Steven Miller was in O'Moore Park for the Joe McDonagh Cup game and he joins Alan Hartnett to reflect on it.  The pair also chat about the Feile finals which took place on Saturday evening.  And look ahead to the U-20 hurlers who face Kildare on Wednesday.

You all asked for it - so we have obliged with the first rankings of the 2025 season.  With the club leagues now in full swing and championship action just a few months away, we have compiled a list of the top 30 football teams in Laois.  A number of factors come into play with these rankings – league form, last year’s championship form, and whether a club are at full strength or not. Steven Miller and Alan Hartnett are up for this one – and remember, rankings can fall as well as rise.

Antrim 'virus', minor Leinster league final, Kelly Cup and more by LaoisToday

It was a very busy weekend on the GAA front and the latest Laois Football Podcast is here to look back at it all.  Up first, Steven Miller is joined by Alan Hartnett to reflect on the senior footballers' win over Antrim.  They look at what that means and we also hear from manager Justin McNulty.  It was a big weekend for Ladies too with the senior team drawing against Limerick and the minors defeating Wexford.  While we also have a Kelly Cup update ahead of the start of the local leagues.

Mark Comerford and Steven Miller chat about the Laois GAA club championship draws which took place on Thursday evening. Among the topics for discussion are the new senior hurling format. Will the flaws in the system come to the fore? And what will the knock-on effect in the lower grades be? On the football side of things, what, if any, are the standout senior football ties? How evenly-balanced is the intermediate grade? And talk about a Junior 'A' Group of Death!! This episode is available to listen to free of charge but if you would like to listen to our all our episodes, you can subscribe for €6.99 per month or €69.99 annually.

The meeting of the Laois and Kildare footballers is always one of the most anticipated fixtures in this part of the world.  Be it championship, league or O'Byrne Cup, it's a game that has thrown up some great moments over the years.  While Kildare have had the upper hand for most of the past 20 years, Laois have come out on top in the last two meetings - in last year's Tailteann Cup quarter-final in Tullamore and in the 2022 O'Byrne Cup semi-final, after penalties, in Carlow.  This Saturday they meet in the redeveloped St Conleth's Park in Newbridge, a 7pm throw-in under the lights that wouldn't have been the worst choice for RTE's live game.  Kildare, under new manager Brian Flanagan, have won their first three games and are top of the table. Laois, though they lost to Offaly in their first outing, are in third place having won their last two, including an impressive win over Sligo last Sunday.  To look ahead to the game, we have a special preview podcast, recorded live in the Joe Mallon Motors showrooms in Naas.  Joining us for the chat are former Kildare footballer Johnny Doyle, as well as three-time All Ireland final referee Maurice Deegan, who is currently a member of the Football Review Committee that have introduced the new changes to the game.  LaoisToday's Steven Miller and Alan Hartnett chat to the two lads about the rules, what they like and don't like, the form of both team, the new St Conleth's Park and some of Johnny's memories from playing Laois.  LaoisToday are proud brand ambassadors for Joe Mallon Motors and this episode was recorded in their showrooms on the Sallins Road in Naas. You can check out the Joe Mallon Motors website here.  Thanks to Anthony Mallon and Oisin Morris in Joe Mallon Motors and our videographer Paul Dargan for their support.

LaoisToday was on stage at the National Ploughing Championships this year as we recorded a live podcast at the Briggs Equipment stand to mark the official launch of the new Laois GAA jersey. Briggs Equipment is the parent company of Laois Hire, who are the Laois GAA sponsors, and Laois footballers Ben Dempsey and Conor Heffernan as well as Laois hurler Fiachra C-Fennell were on hand for the occasion. In front of a large attendance, LaoisToday's Steven Miller presented a live show, where he first chatted to Gary Clements, the MD of Briggs Equipment and to PJ Kelly, Laois GAA chairman. He was then joined on stage by the three players, who modelled the new jersey and took part in a Q&A with Steven. The lads chatted about the 2024 season, some of their favourite moments in a Laois jersey and the advice they would give to young players, many of whom were in the audience. They then finished up with a short quiz, where Steven tested the lads on their knowledge of Laois GAA clubs.

The LaoisToday QuizCast made its Electric Picnic debut at the Ah, Hear tent in Mindfield on Friday.  It pitted three of the four contestants who battled it out in the Square Bar last year against each other.  Defending champion Brian Hogan returned with Murt Norton and Colin Delaney also taking to the stage.  With Jack Scully unavailable, we ran a wildcard round last week which Sean Hennessy came through.  The show got underway at 2.40pm and it was a packed tent with a massive crowd.  This was a straight final that began with 'Home and Away', involved Golden Goose and also had a new segment - 'Higher or Lower'.  After the three rounds, all contestants were still in touching distance of each other with Sean Hennessy in the lead.  But the final round is called 'The List' and there were 12 points on offer. Reigning champion Brian Hogan won the first two lists to regain the advantage.  The third list was shared between himself and Hennessy meaning it all came down to the final question.  The topic was RTE Sports Personalities and Hogan's ability to name them was the difference.