16 clubs represented as the Laois GAA Award winners for the 2025 season have been announced

The Laois GAA award winners for the 2025 season have been announced this morning – with 19 handed out.

The only two awards that have not been announced here are the U-20 football and hurling winners as those competitions are not yet completed.

A total of 16 GAA clubs are represented among the winners with a fine spread across the county.

The award winners were chosen by a combination of the media and Laois GAA officials.

Representatives from LaoisToday, Leinster Express, Laois Nationalist, Midlands 103, Clubber and Laois GAA met recently where consensus was reached about the winners.

Once again, Laois Ladies and Laois Camogie both chose their own winners and either have held or will hold their own awards night.

The Laois GAA awards night will take place in the Midlands Park Hotel on November 28.

Check out the winners below:

Senior Footballer – Paddy O’Sullivan (Portarlington)

A most worthy winner having been Portarlington’s star man right throughout the championship. Stationed at wing-back, he was arguably Port’s most attacking threat, hitting 1-4 against Graiguecullen the first day and 0-3 when they played them again.

he scored 0-3 against Rosenallis, 0-3 in the drawn final against Courtwood and 0-2 in the replay.

A constant, energetic, presence, this is his second time to win Footballer of the Year, having also claimed this award in 2022.

Senior ‘B’ Footballer – Paul Lawlor (Emo)

Playing with the Emo senior footballers since the year 2000, Lawlor was hugely influential in both the regular senior championship and in the Senior ‘B’, which Emo won on a penalty shootout against Stradbally.

Lawlor had an epic game in the final, scoring 1-3 from full-forward before going back into goals for the shootout where he saved two penalties and scored one.

Intermediate Footballer – Cian Nolan (Park-Ratheniska)

Park-Ratheniska endured a disappointing season in 2024 on their return to the intermediate ranks when they were beaten in the semi-final.

But they were hugely impressive this year, beating Arles-Kilcruise, Mountmellick, Ballylinan and Arles-Kilcruise again to claim glory. At the very centre of their efforts was Cian Nolan who was outstanding right throughout their campaign, who scored 0-4, 1-4, 2-6 and 1-2 in his four outings.

Pacy, direct and a real eye for goal, he had a fine season.

Intermediate ‘B’ Footballer – Oran Darcy (Annanough)

Annanough had good wins over Portlaoise in the opening round and against Timahoe in the Intermediate ‘B’ semi-final and Oran Darcy, in his debut season, made a big impact.

He got his season off to a good start by scoring 0-9 against Portlaoise and followed it up with a good showing when they lost narrowly to Kilcavan. He got a crucial goal and a 1-3 tally in the vital win over Timahoe.

Junior Football – Padraig McMahon (Ballyroan-Abbey)

Another great Laois servant, McMahon dropped back to Junior ‘A’ team in Ballyroan-Abbey this year and helped them to a league and championship double.

Always good for a goal, and a consistent scorer in the full-forward line, he scored three brilliant vital points from play in the final win over Barrowhouse.

He has now county medals at senior (2006), intermediate (2008) and Junior ‘A’ (2025).

Minor Footballer – Cian O’Sullivan (Crettyard-Spink)

Crettyard-Spink denied Portlaoise a two in a row of Minor A football championships in October and Cian O’Sullivan was integral to this.

Still eligible for this grade in 2026, the classy full forward proved a threat all season and saved his best performance for the final itself.

Intercounty Footballer – Ronan Coffey (Portarlington)

It feels like an eternity ago now, but the Laois footballers enjoyed a decent 2025 campaign.

Justin McNulty’s charges maintained their position in Division 3 and get out of their group in the Tailteann Cup.

Ronan Coffey, in his first year at this level, was excellent. He finished the season as Laois’s second highest scorer after Mark Barry and cemented his spot on the starting 15.

Senior Hurler – Stephen Bergin (Clough-Ballacolla)

Clough-Ballacolla claimed their fifth Laois SHC title in six years after they defeated Camross in the decider.

They lost their main man Stephen Maher to a knee injury this year and Stephen Bergin stepped into his shoes.

He was flawless on frees and chipped in with plenty of scores from play also.

Senior ‘B’ Hurler – Ciaran Comerford (The Harps)

2025 saw the Laois SHC increase to ten teams and the introduction of a ‘B’ competition for those who didn’t reach the quarter finals.

The Harps went on to become champions of that after they beat Abbeyleix and Ciaran Comerford was their main man in that competition plus the SHC proper.

Premier Intermediate Hurler – David Connolly (Ballyfin)

Ballyfin will play at senior level in their own right in 2026 after they clinched Premier IHC glory this season.

David Connolly’s move to centre back midway through the competition was crucial for the team. He was man of the match in the final and seemed to appear everywhere.

Intermediate Hurler – Fionn Holland (Clonad)

A member of the Laois football panel in 2025, Fionn Holland is one of the best dual players in the county.

He led Clonad to glory with a string of fine performances from half forward where he appeared head and shoulders above everyone else at times.

Junior Hurler – John ‘A’ Delaney (Clough-Ballacolla)

Clough-Ballacolla will have three teams in the top three grades of club hurling in 2026.

And that is because their third string claimed Junior A glory this year, hammering Portlaoise in the final. Former Laois star John A Delaney is still playing here where he stars in defence and is a worthy winner.

Minor Hurler – Tom Og Phelan (Castletown)

Castletown’s struggles at senior level have not been replicated at juvenile level where they have just won their second Minor A title in a row.

After playing a crucial role last year, Tom Og Phelan was excellent again. The talented forward wracked up huge scores and will be a massive player for his club in the years to come.

Intercounty Hurler – David Dooley (Rosenallis)

The Laois hurlers enjoyed a decent 2025 but ultimately a frustrating one as they came up short in the Joe McDonagh Cup final against Kildare.

But captain David Dooley shone all year and is a worthy winner. He led from midfield where his workrate is an example to everyone else.

Referee of the year – Colin Bailey (Mountrath)

Mountrath’s Colin Bailey has been selected as the Referee of the Year for 2025.

One of the younger refs, he has officiated at the top level in both hurling and football. He has the potential to go on the inter-county circuit in years to come.

Laois Handball – Kevin Brennan (Clough-Ballacolla)

Kevin Brennan was recently crowned All-Ireland champion in the Men’s Golden Masters B 40×20 category.

He won the 2025 All-Ireland title with a decisive victory over Joseph Boyle of Antrim. Brennan has also secured multiple provincial titles, including the Golden Masters B 60×30 Doubles with Ray Fogarty and the Wallball (1-Wall) Leinster title.

Laois Hall of Fame – Pat Delaney (Rathdowney-Errill)

The latest person to be inducted into the Laois Hall of Fame is Rathdowney-Errill’s Pat Delaney.

He is the legendary Laois hurling kitman who was also a former All Ireland final referee.

The Rathdowney-Errill and St Brigid’s camogie clubman extraordinaire is a most worthy recipient of this award.

Laois Scor and Rounders – Noel Stapleton (Borris-Kilcotton) and Aoife Flynn (The Heath)

The final two awards go to Aoife Flynn of The Heath for Rounders and Borris-Kilcotton’s Noel Stapleton for Scor.

Stapleton has been the head of Scor for the last few years and will step down from the role at the end of this year.

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