History-makers eye ultimate prize as St Joseph’s chase first senior crown

ST Joseph’s will attempt to complete a remarkable rise through the ranks when they face St Conleth’s in the LOETB Laois LGFA Senior Football Championship final at Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday.

The club will be appearing in a senior final for the first time in its history, a milestone that underlines the progress made by a group that captured the Intermediate Championship title in 2024 and has continued its upward trajectory ever since.

For captain Anna Moore, the occasion represents a proud moment for the entire parish.

“It’s a total privilege for the club and it’s just really exciting,” she said. “We’ve had loads of support over the campaign and we haven’t lost a game so far. We’re just taking it one game at a time, but it’s something really exciting for everyone in the parish to look forward to.” That unbeaten run has not come easily. St Joseph’s have emerged from one of the most competitive senior championships in recent memory, with a series of tight encounters testing the resilience of the squad before an extra-time victory over Timahoe secured their place in the decider.

Moore believes the competitiveness of the championship has highlighted the growing strength of ladies football in the county.

“The Laois Senior Championship has been really strong this year. There have been a lot of close games and all of our group games and the semi-final could have gone either way. You always need a little bit of luck and hopefully we’ll have that luck again.” Manager Mick Moore has overseen much of the club’s recent rise since becoming involved with the group following their intermediate breakthrough. Having established themselves at senior level last season, the target this year was to take the next step.

“We wanted to be competing first of all,” he explained. “Once you can compete, you give yourself a chance of winning something.

“We started well enough last year but probably didn't do ourselves justice when the pressure came on. We changed a few things this year and I think we’ve improved as a group.” Moore pointed to changes within the management team as an important factor. Liam Brophy has taken a leading role in coaching, while Daniel Nelligan's arrival has helped sharpen technical skills across the panel.

“Daniel has worked hard on the skills side of things and you can see the difference. Players are working on things they might not have focused on before and that has been a big help.

“We have a very good group of girls and whether that improvement is enough to become senior champions, I’m not sure, but we’ll certainly give it our best shot.” Standing in their way is a St Conleth’s side that has become one of the dominant forces in Laois ladies football. Saturday will be their sixth consecutive senior final appearance and they arrive with extensive experience of performing on the county’s biggest stage.

Moore knows his players will be facing a significant challenge.

“Conleth’s and Portlaoise have been among the strongest teams in the county for a number of years. Conleth’s have huge experience and a strong panel. We’re probably tighter in terms of numbers, but what we do have is a very close-knit group.” That togetherness is perhaps the defining characteristic of the St Joseph’s squad. The vast majority of the panel grew up together, attended the same schools and progressed through underage football side by side.

“We probably have 23 or 24 players on the panel and I’d say 22 of them went to Ballyadams National School,” Moore said.

“They sat together in classrooms, played Cumann na mBunscol together and have come all the way through the system together. That connection is something special.” Club officer Lorna Butler expanded on those bonds, highlighting the extraordinary number of family connections running through the squad.

The Moore family is represented by three players, while the Delaneys, Rowans, Smiths, Flemings and Crosbys all have sisters involved. Experienced figures such as Gráinne Dunne have returned to strengthen the panel, adding further depth to a group built on strong local roots.

“There’s a huge family connection throughout the team,” Butler explained. “The girls have grown up together and their families have been involved together for years. It’s a massive part of what the club is about.” That sense of belonging extends beyond the ladies team. St Joseph’s operate under a one-club model alongside the men's club, something Anna Moore believes has played a significant role in their development.

“It’s a rural club and I have to compliment the executive on the way it’s run. The men’s and ladies teams work closely together and we’re treated exactly the same. The support we get from the club is fantastic.” At a time when integration remains a significant topic across Gaelic games, St Joseph’s see themselves as an example of how that collaboration can work successfully.

“We get 100 per cent support from the men's club,” Mick Moore said. “Facilities, pitches, funding, whatever is needed, they help us with it. The girls appreciate that and it’s very much a community effort.” With strong family ties, deep community roots and a squad that has grown together over many years, St Joseph’s have already achieved something historic by reaching their first senior final.

Now they stand just one victory away from an even greater achievement.

To complete the journey, they must overcome the experience and pedigree of St Conleth’s, a team accustomed to county-final occasions and determined to regain the title they surrendered last year.

For St Joseph’s, however, the dream remains alive. After years of steady progress, Saturday presents an opportunity to write the most significant chapter in the club’s history and claim a first-ever Laois Senior Football Championship crown.