Laois senior football team manager Justin McNulty. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
It was an eventful campaign for the Laois senior footballers under Justin McNulty. An Allianz Football League Division Four title was followed by a decent Tailteann Cup run, culminating in a final appearance against Down.
Ultimately, Laois sampled three Croke Park matches in 2024 and progress was made. McNulty remains encouraged about Laois’ potential. “I guess, if you said at the start of pre-season last October or November, that we'd be promoted and reach the Tailteann Cup final, and have been competitive there, we'd have taken your right hand for that,” McNulty remarks.
“So, in many ways successful, but still we are annoyed, in that we don't think we did ourselves justice in the final. We didn't play to our full potential, but overall we have to be happy with what the team has achieved.”
Former Armagh star McNulty has enjoyed returning to inter-county management. McNulty was previously in charge of Laois between 2011 and 2013. “The sport has evolved immensely in every facet - performance, preparation, and the science around it,” McNulty says.
“The game itself has evolved to a place where it is hardly recognisable. Probably, it was much more positionally orientated, now it is more roles orientated in what players are expected to do on the pitch.
Former Armagh footballer Justin McNulty, pictured for AIB, who brought back the AIB Volunteer VIP competition for the second year in a row, offering lucky winners the chance to win a money can’t buy experience on the morning of the GAA All-Ireland Senior football Final, as well as tickets to the match. For exclusive content and behind the scenes action from the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championships follow @AIB_GAA on X and Instagram and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AIBGAA.
“The science is a different level, the S&C is a different level. The skills execution is also a different level. Whilst there is a rose tinted glasses approach, from those who think the sport was better in a traditional sense back in the good old days, the scoring levels are higher than they were back when I managed the last time. The skill execution in every position and the capability is phenomenal.
“It is a real honour for me to be involved at the level I'm involved with Laois. I'm very grateful to get that opportunity again from the Laois County Board.”
A solid foundation has been established by McNulty, who believes that Laois can develop further. “I think there is talent in every county,” McNulty says.
“You've good players in every county, it is getting them all playing for you and playing together. That is what it is all about. While we did achieve certain things this year, I think there is so much more left within the group.
“Ross Munnelly, who is with me, as coach, he described it in the dressing room after our defeat to Down at Croke Park, that we are only at 60 per cent of where we can go with this team, 60 per cent of our full potential. So, that is the challenge for us, to get way beyond that.”
