Portlaoise are in a great place both now and for the future – O’Grady

PORTLAOISE are Laois LGFA Senior county champions for the fourth time in six years after they had eight points to spare over St Conleth’s in Saturday’s decider.

The Town were under new management in 2025, with father-and-son duo Kevin and Ryan O’Grady taking charge of the side. Kevin spoke afterwards about how special it felt to guide this group to glory.

“It's fantastic, it's tremendous to say we managed them to it. All the work with these girls has been done over the last 10-15 years in the club. We're lucky enough to be involved since the start of this year. I have to say they've been a tremendous group to be involved with,” he said.

“Anything we've asked of them, we've got. They have great passion and great love for their club, which is always a great sign in the team. Once you have that, you can do anything.

“You can really work with them when they're willing to do the work that you ask them to do. It makes our job as managers an awful lot easier,” Kevin O’Grady said.

The game was level at half-time, and Kevin admitted that the girls drew motivation from last year’s final, when they were in a similar position, but came up short.

“We kind of reminded them at half-time of the difference 30 minutes can make. They were in a very similar position last year. From the point of view of inspiration, they just called on that themselves. They realised they were on the other end of that last year, so they know how it feels. I think that drove them on.

“That performance in the second half, the football they played and the way they controlled the game, that's been in them all year. We were just waiting for it to happen. They've been improving every time we've taken to the field.

“We had 100% confidence that it was going to come out of them at some stage. Just delighted that it was probably the most important time of the season,” he said.

Portlaoise had standout performances all over the pitch, with Kevin singling out captain Aisling Kehoe and the club’s inter-county representatives for particular praise.

“Aisling was bitterly disappointed to be taken off in the semi-final. We just needed to get legs in. She's been brilliant for us all year as a captain. I think she scored 1-2 in the first half, which is phenomenal. She kept us in the game when we may have been under a little bit of pressure.

“Fiona, again, Grainne. These are all inter-county players and experienced county players. There's nothing that we're showing them here that is making a difference. They know it. Ellen, phenomenal. D Phelan at full-back, I don't know if there is a better full-back in the province. She just controls that area quietly and efficiently. She always seems to be in control,” Kevin said.

He also highlighted the young talent emerging through the club, saying Portlaoise are in a great place both now and for the future.

“All over the field, we have a lot of young girls coming through there as well. I think we introduced five girls to senior football this year. They didn't look out of place at any stage. There were another five that we could have brought in. That's one thing, we have a good bit of depth in the squad. It was great to see the U/16s winning today. The minors are still going well in their championship. Juniors were very unlucky in their county final. There are lots of very, very positive things happening all over the club,” Kevin O’Grady said.

Ryan, Kevin’s son, said it was extra special to share the experience alongside his father.

“Some long drives home during the year when things weren't going well. It's deadly to be able to manage with Kev because he trained me from when I was four until I was 20. Now we're training together. A lot of people say when he talks, it's like talking to me. We say the same stuff over and over again. It's something that we'll remember for a long, long time. We'll celebrate tonight as well,” Ryan said.

Kevin O’Grady is already turning his attention to the next challenge, a Leinster Club Championship showdown on 26 October, where Portlaoise are set to face Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes, assuming they come through their clash with Longford Slashers.

“Kilmacud Crokes on the 26th of October in Dublin, up to the hometown. Looking forward to it. Seriously good team. I would have watched both Dublin semi-finals and the finals. We're going in there with more than a fighting chance. We're going in there to try and advance this team and bring them to the next level with regard to Leinster. Who knows where it's going to end? We don't feel like finishing any time soon anyway,” Kevin ended.