Gavin Cooper, Leinster Express Journalist Profile

Articles

IN PICTURES: Family Fun Day at Laois GAA club

1 week ago | leinsterexpress.ie | Gavin Cooper

TAP NEXT OR ARROWS TO SEE MORE PICTURES Families and footballers of all ages turned out in force for Portarlington GAA’s Family Fun Day at McCann Park, with sunshine, smiles and sport the order of the afternoon. From the dunk tank to the puck fada, obstacle courses to face painting, there was something for everyone at the event.
Tommy Fitzgerald proud of honest Laois display after Tipperary defeat

1 week ago | leinsterexpress.ie | Gavin Cooper

Laois senior hurling manager Tommy Fitzgerald praised the honesty and commitment of his players after they bowed out of the All-Ireland series with a 3-32 to 0-18 defeat to Tipperary in Saturday’s preliminary quarter-final in Portlaoise. While the scoreline was emphatic in Tipperary’s favour, Fitzgerald felt the context of a six-day turnaround from the Joe McDonagh Cup final made Laois’ task almost impossible.
Route to All-Ireland now clear for Laois Ladies after quarter-final and semi-final draw

1 week ago | leinsterexpress.ie | Gavin Cooper

The Laois Ladies have found out their quarter-final opponents in this year's TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship after the draw was made on Monday afternoon. Stephen Duff's Laois side have been drawn to face Wexford in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Sunday, June 29. The winner of that game will face either Clare or Monaghan in a semi-final on Sunday, July 13.
Laois LGFA club ready to drop a cow-sized twist on their next fundraiser

1 week ago | leinsterexpress.ie | Gavin Cooper

Killeshin Ladies Football Club are bringing a touch of rural fun and a whole lot of cow-based suspense to their latest fundraiser, and there’s a €400 cash prize at stake. Forget your typical raffle or cake sale. This one involves a live cow, a field full of numbered squares, and a healthy dose of luck (and maybe fibre). The idea is simple: if a bovine beauty does her business on your square, you're the lucky winner.
IN PICTURES: Laois Athletics Club shines at Leinster Track and Field Championships

1 week ago | leinsterexpress.ie | Gavin Cooper

TAP NEXT OR ARROWS TO SEE MORE PICTURES St Abban’s AC athletes enjoyed a hugely successful outing at the Leinster Junior, Senior, and Masters Track and Field Championships, which took place over two days at SETU Carlow last weekend. Following a busy Bank Holiday weekend of juvenile competition, it was the club’s older athletes who took centre stage, and they delivered in style, claiming an impressive haul of medals across a wide range of events. READ MORE BELOW PICTURE.
Tipperary too strong as Laois hurling year ends in heavy defeat

1 week ago | leinsterexpress.ie | Gavin Cooper

The Laois senior hurlers’ 2025 campaign has come to an end at the hands of Tipperary after they had 23 points to spare in Portlaoise on Saturday afternoon. Slow starts at the start of both halves proved Laois’ downfall as Tipperary began with 1-5 unanswered and scored two goals in 90 seconds within five minutes of the second-half starting.
LIVE BLOG: Laois take on Tipperary in an All-Ireland Hurling preliminary quarter-final

2 weeks ago | leinsterexpress.ie | Gavin Cooper

The winner will face Galway next weekend Follow all the action from Laois Hire O'Moore Park Portlaoise as Tommy Fitzgerald's side look to pull off a massive shock against Tipperary, six days on from losing the Joe McDonagh Cup final. The blog may take a few moments to load.
Laois lotto joy as Portlaoise soccer club winner scoops €5,300 jackpot

2 weeks ago | leinsterexpress.ie | Gavin Cooper

A local man is celebrating in style after winning the top prize in the Portlaoise AFC weekly lotto draw. Brendan Deevy was revealed as the lucky winner of the €5,300 jackpot in the club’s Week 23 draw, held on Tuesday, June 10. The popular community lotto, which supports the running of the local soccer club, hadn't been won since Patsy Dunne won the jackpot in July 2024. In addition to the jackpot, several other participants took home prizes.
Laois sports clubs share in Local Enhancement Programme funding boost

2 weeks ago | leinsterexpress.ie | Gavin Cooper

Dozens of sports clubs and community sporting organisations across Laois have received a welcome funding boost under the Local Enhancement Programme 2025, with just under €50,000 allocated to more than 30 local sporting groups. The recipients were announced on Friday morning, June 13, by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD.
Laois senior hurling team named for Tipperary clash in Portlaoise

2 weeks ago | leinsterexpress.ie | Gavin Cooper

The Laois team that will take on Tipperary in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Saturday has been named by manager Tommy Fitzgerald. Laois have only had a six day break since they lost to Kildare in the Joe McDonagh Cup final while Tipperary have been sitting idle since they finished third in the Munster Senior Championship. They had a bye in Round 5 of the championship with their last game taking place against Waterford on Sunday, May 18.