Portlaoise GAA
Portlaoise GAA is a hurling and Gaelic football club in Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland.
| Portlaoise | |||||||||||||
| County: | Laois | ||||||||||||
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| Nickname: | The Town | ||||||||||||
| Colours: | White and Green | ||||||||||||
| Grounds: | Pairc Ui Fhaolain and Rathleague | ||||||||||||
| Coordinates: | 53°01′30″N 7°15′49″W | ||||||||||||
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| Senior Club Championships | |||||||||||||
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History
The original club grounds off the Abbeyleix road in the town of Portlaoise were called Pairc Ui Fhaolain, after a former stalwart Bill Phelan. The club's present grounds are located outside the town at Rathleague.
The club colours are white with a green hoop.
Portlaoise have won 11 Laois Senior Hurling Championship titles and a record 34 Laois Senior Football Championship titles. They are also the most successful club football team in Leinster having won the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship title on seven occasions.
In 1983, Portlaoise recorded a memorable win in the final of the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship . In 2005 they reached the final again where they were narrowly defeated by Ballina Stephenites.
Numerous famous players have played for them with Conor Boyle, Cahir Healy, and Paul Cahillane among the current county stars.
In 2015, Portlaoise sealed their 9th Laois Senior Football Championship in a row after a 2-13 to 0-7 replay win over Emo at O'Moore Park.
In 2017, they won the Jack Delaney Cup back after beating Ballylinan in the final.
In 2018, they retained the Jack Delaney Cup following a successful campaign, beating O'Dempsey's in the final on a scoreline of 2-16 to 1-13.
Their current football manager is Malachy McNulty.
Achievements
- All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship Winners (1) 1982-83
- Leinster Senior Club Football Championship: Winners (7) 1971, 1976, 1982, 1985, 1987, 2004, 2009
- Laois Senior Football Championship: Winners (35) 1889, 1889, 1907, 1918, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Laois Senior Hurling Championship: Winners (11) 1928, 1943, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2004
- Laois All-County Football League Div. 1: 1978, 1996, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014
- Laois All-County Football League Div. 2: (2) 2011, 2016
- Laois All-County Football League Div. 3: (3) 1999, 2002, 2014
- Laois All-County Football League Div. 4: (2) 2010, 2011
- Laois Junior Hurling Championship: (4) 1965, 1987, 1993, 2013
Notable players
County Final Panel 2018
1. Graham Brody 2. Colin Finn 3. David Seale 4. Gary Saunders 5. Chris Finn 6. Cahir Healy 7. David Holland 8. Ciarán McEvoy 9. Kieran Lillis 10. Gareth Dillon 11. Conor Boyle 12. Benny Carroll 13. Ricky Maher 14. Paul Cahillane 15. Craig Rogers
Juvenile Teams
Portlaoise has an excellent record at Féile na nGael (Hurling) and Féile Péil na nÓg (football) recording wins in Féile na nGael in 1980, 1981, 1993, and 2009, and wins in Féile na nÓg in 1983, 1992, and 2009. In 2009 Portlaoise recorded a rare double, winning the Féile Péil na nÓg in Kildare, Division 3, and the Féile na nGael at home in Laois/Offaly, Division 2.
In 2010, the u-12 players won both the hurling and football league and championship, after a highly successful year.
In 2009, the u-12a footballers won the football Championship, while the u-12a hurlers won the league. In 2012, the u-14s recorded a division 2 Feile title after defeating St.Johns of Antrim in Croke Park
Rathleague Pitch
The club began development in 2009 for a new GAA centre, which was completed in 2011. The pitch in Rathleague, near Bloomfield Cross, contains many pitches, juvenile and senior, including an all-weather senior pitch.