League places still very much up grabs after O’Byrne Cup exit 

LAOIS senior football manager Justin McNulty saw his side lose for the second weekend in a row as Carlow’s late rally saw them past Laois in Rathvilly on Saturday.

Speaking after the game, McNulty admitted there would be some hurt in the Laois dressing room, as it is never easy to be beaten by your neighbours. However, he said there were plenty of positives to take despite the defeat.

“It’s not going to be a happy Laois dressing room after coming down here and being defeated by their neighbours in a derby game. It’s nothing we’re ever satisfied with, but there are many positives from the performance. Lots of fellas put their hands up and showed their ability to play at this level, and they’re putting their hands in the ring to be in contention for a place on the team or in the squad, so there are lots of positives,” he said.

McNulty felt his side had many encouraging elements despite the defeat, but said costly lapses ultimately proved decisive as Carlow capitalised at crucial moments.

“We were probably the masters of our own downfall in terms of not controlling possession as well as we could have done. We worked scores very effectively, we pressurised the kick-outs very effectively, and we won the kick-out battle for long phases of the game. I’m just not sure what the final figures were. But for long phases of the game, we were in control in terms of kick-outs.

“However, we allowed them to get in on our goal on too many occasions, and they scored goals at big times and big moments in the game. All in all, I think it was a positive exercise, and well done to Carlow, they were deserving winners,” McNulty said.

McNulty and his management team were not hanging around in Rathvilly, as they had to get back to the Laois GAA Centre of Excellence for another batch of players due to face Cavan in a challenge match at 6.30pm. With two weeks left until the league starts, McNulty said he is not fully sure of his starting 15 for the opening game against Limerick.

“There are places up for grabs on the panel and places up for grabs on the team, and we’re not there yet. We’re not close to deciding what our starting team is going to be, and that’s why these games are so important.

“That’s why the game today was so valuable, because fellas have definitely put their hands up in terms of demanding a starting place, and we expect more of that this evening,” he said.

McNulty also highlighted a number of individual positives to emerge from the game, singling out Ciaran Burke’s condition and work rate, while expressing optimism that others, including Simon Fingleton, will continue to progress in the coming weeks. Burke was making his return in a Laois jersey, while Fingleton has not played for Laois since injuring his shoulder against Louth in Newbridge in April 2025.

“It’s brilliant to see Ciaran moving so well, and he’s obviously done a lot of work; you can see the condition he’s in. He’s playing good ball, but he has improvement to make. He needs to be more of a dominant figure in the middle of the field, given the physicality and athleticism he has, and he needs to show that in his performance. So yes, that’s a positive. There are guys coming good as well. Simon Fingleton is hopefully going to come good over the next number of weeks, and that’s another positive,” he said.

Despite the encouraging signs, McNulty acknowledged that defensive frailties remain a significant concern, warning that the team must tighten up at the back if they are to compete in Division 3.

“But at the same time, there are major issues we’ve got to address in terms of our leakiness at the back, and we can’t allow that to continue. Otherwise, we’re not going to be competitive in this league going forward,” McNulty concluded.