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With the various Junior football grades getting underway two weeks ago, the top grades begin this week. 

The Laois Shopping Centre SFC and IFC competitions begin from Wednesday and will continue for the next three months. 

Before it all begins, we have ranked the top 30 football clubs in Laois. 

A number of factors come into play with these rankings – league form, last year’s championship form, and whether a club are at full strength or not.

Steven Miller and Alan Hartnett are up for this one - and remember, rankings can fall as well as rise.

We had a star-studded line up of guests in the Square Bar in Portlaoise as we recorded a Friday night episode of our LaoisToday Football Podcast.
Former Laois footballers Fergal Byron, Chris Conway and Gareth Dillon were among our guests as well as recent Laois U-20 managers Eddie Kinsella and Billy O'Loughlin and Midlands 103 commentator Pat O'Sullivan.
We look ahead to the Laois v Down Tailteann Cup final as well as a great trip down memory lane with Fergal Byron recalling the unforgettable training sessions under Mick O'Dwyer in 2003.
We also ask our guests to make a prediction ahead of the Laois football championship - and we finish by making up two teams to contest our quiz.

In the latest episode of the LaoisToday LoveLaois Podcast, we hear from Stephen Dowling, owner of Dunmasc Genetics.
Stephen will be representing Laois at the National Enterprise Awards next week and is a client of the Laois Local Enterprise Office.
He explains what his business is, how he's exporting across the world and the challenges he faces.

After several years of progress, 2024 has seen the Laois Ladies return to the turbulent times that have blighted them in the past. 

2023 saw them reach the Division 2 league final, losing out to Armagh, but the championship was difficult and Laois ended up in a relegation playoff where they defeated Cavan. 

But this year has been difficult. Laois were relegated from Division 2 without winning a match. 

And in the time since that, their joint management team of Billy Kiernan and Tom Devereux have stepped down. 

But Ballyfin man Stephen Duff has stepped up and will attempt to steady the ship for the remainder of the year. 

Speaking on the Talking Sport Podcast, he acknowledges it will be a difficult task in the short-term. 

Laois begin their Leinster campaign away to Meath on Sunday and with games against Dublin and Kildare to come, it won't get any easier. 

But in a wide ranging chat, manager Duff is insistent that the narrative must change if the county is to progress. 

While recognising that the seniors are the flagship team, Duff says it is incumbent on everyone involved in the Ladies game to put their shoulder to the wheel.

Our latest LoveLaois Podcast is here and this one is certainly made for the political anoraks among us.

Steven Miller, Alan Hartnett and Mark Comerford are up for this one where the first question is all about the Taoiseach.

Steven poses the question of if Leo Varadkar will be remembered as a good one or not.

Stick on the politics train, the lads also remember the late Tom Mulhall who sadly passed away this week.

They all spoke about the incident at the Stradbally St Patrick's Day parade.

And somehow - they end up talking about Fr Ted!

It has been a couple of months since we last heard from Laois GAA's Head of Games Development Shane Keegan. 

The Rathdowney native joins Alan Hartnett for this special episode of the Talking Sport Podcast to update us on all things in the coaching world. 

Laois GAA have three coaching workshops in the coming weeks and the first of them is with Shane Smith.

This, costing €10, takes place this Saturday, March 16, in the Centre of Excellence from 10am to 12.30pm and is aimed at hurling and football coaches from U-7 to U-11. 

On Saturday March 23, Laois Games Development Coach Martin O'Connell is running a Strength and Conditioning workshop in the Centre of Excellence. 

This, costing €5, takes place from 11.30am to 1.30pm and is aimed at those coaching hurling and football at U-15 and U-17 level. 

Martin O'Connell will be back on Saturday March 30 for an Athletic Development workshop in the same location. 

This will be aimed at U-11 and U-13 coaches for football and hurling and also costs €5. 

On the Podcast, Shane also explains how plans are in place for the Cul Camps this summer and that Laois GAA will be recruiting coaches with a closing date of April 12. 

While he also provides an update on the various Laois academy squads and how almost every primary school in Laois is receiving weekly GAA coaching. 

Go Games will be getting underway shortly and Keegan has some new rules in mind to make it a better experience for all. 

You can check it out below: