After a one year hiatus, the GAA’s pre-season football and hurling competitions are due to return in 2026.
In the first weekend of January, the Laois footballers are hurlers will both commence action.
The Laois footballers have been drawn at home to Dublin in Round 1 of the O’Byrne Cup on Saturday, January 3.
The winners of that game will progress to the O’Byrne Cup Semi Finals, while the defeated team will compete in the O’Byrne Shield Semi Finals.
If Laois win, they would be away to the winners of Kildare or Wexford in the semi final of the Cup.
While if they lose, they will also be away in the Shield – with those games scheduled for January 10.
The final of both competitions is set for the following weekend with Justin McNulty’s side set to begin their National League Division 3 campaign on the weekend of January 24.
Meanwhile, Tommy Fitzgerald’s Laois hurlers begin their Walsh Cup campaign a day later on Sunday, January 4.
They will be at home to Wexford who have Laois Coaching and Games Manager Shane Keegan amongst their management team.
If Laois win, they will be at home to the winners of Dublin and Carlow on January 8 in the Walsh Cup quarter final.
Should they lose, they enter the Walsh Shield at the quarter final stage where they are set to be at home to the loser of the aforementioned tie on the same date.
The final of both competitions is set for the weekend of January 17/18.
While Laois are set to begin their National Hurling League Division 2 campaign on the weekend of January 31.
2026 O’Byrne Cup/Shield
O’Byrne Cup
Round 1 – Saturday, January 3
- Laois v Dublin
- Wexford v Kildare
- Carlow v Offaly
- Wicklow v Meath
- Longford v Westmeath
- Louth Bye
Quarter-Final – Wednesday, January 7
- (3) Winners CW/OY v Winners WW/MH (4)
- (5) Winners LD/WH v Louth
Semi-Finals – Saturday, January 10
- (2) Winners WX/KE v Winners LS/Dublin (1)
- Winners 8. v Winners 7.
Final – Saturday, January 17
O’Byrne Shield
Quarter-Final – Wednesday, January 7
- (3) Loser CW/OY v Losers WX/KE (2)
Semi-Finals – Saturday, January 10
- Winners 12 v Losers Laois/Dublin (1)
- (4) Losers WH/MH v Losers LD/WH (5)
Final – Friday, January 16
2026 Walsh Cup/Shield
Walsh Cup
Round 1 – Sunday, January 4
- Kildare v Galway
- Offaly v Antrim
- Westmeath v Kilkenny
- Laois v Wexford
- Carlow v Dublin
Quarter-Final – Thursday, January 8
- Winners LS/WX v Winners CW/DB
Semi-Finals – Sunday, January 11
- Winners 6 v Winners Westmeath/Kilkenny
- Winners Kildare/Galway v Winners Offaly/Antrim
Final – Sunday January 18
Walsh Shield
Quarter-Final – Thursday, January 8
- Loser LS/WX v Losers CW/DB
Semi-Finals – Sunday, January 11
- Winners 10 v Losers Westmeath/Kilkenny
- Losers Kildare/Galway v Losers Offaly/Antrim
Final – Sunday, January 18
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