All-Ireland Senior Champions 2001: Successful Laois Ladies to be Commemorated this Weekend in Croke Park

This Sunday, August 2, the historic 2001 Laois Senior Ladies team will be honoured at Croke Park during the 2026 TG4 All-Ireland Football Finals, as the county celebrates the 25th anniversary of its unforgettable All-Ireland triumph.

All-Ireland Champions! Laois Ladies celebrate their win. Image credit: SportsFile

On September 30 2001, 19-year-old captain Angela Casey lifted Laois’ first – and to-date, only – Senior All-Ireland Championship Title. It was a landmark moment in the county’s sporting history, ending decades of heartbreak on the biggest stage.

Laois Ladies Captain, Angela Casey, lifts the Brendan Martin Cup. Image credit: SportsFile

In a thrilling and hard-fought final, Laois defeated Mayo by the narrowest of margins, 2-14 to 1-16. A late free from Mary Kirwan proved decisive as Laois denied Mayo a historic three-in-a-row and etched their own names into the record books.

The victory was made even sweeter given Laois’ previous misfortune in All-Ireland finals. Having lost their previous seven deciders to the likes of Waterford, Kerry and Monaghan, the breakthrough success was richly deserved and celebrated by supporters across the county.

The 2001 Laois Ladies Team. Image Credit: SportsFile

A record crowd of over 21,000 spectators packed into Croke Park to witness the memorable occasion. Goals from Kathleen O’Reilly and Mary Kirwan, who converted a crucial penalty, helped Laois finally bring the Brendan Martin Cup home after years of near misses.

A star-studded team, the championship-winning squad was packed with outstanding talent, including Claire Casey, Theresa Swayne, Sue Ramsbottom, Mary Kehoe, Aileen O’Loughlin, Angela Casey, Tracey Lawlor and the late Lulu Carroll, in whose honour the Laois Senior Ladies Championship trophy is now named. Mary Casey, another key member of the panel, was unfortunately ruled out of the final through injury. Mayo also boasted an exceptional team, featuring legendary forward Cora Staunton and current Mayo Ladies manager Diane O’Hora.

President Mary McAleese meets Linda Brennan, Kathleen O’Reilly and the Laois mascot ahead of the final. Image credit: SportsFile

Twenty-five years on from that unforgettable afternoon, the 2001 champions will return to Croke Park to be recognised for their remarkable achievement and the lasting legacy they created for ladies football in Laois.

The final inspirational words before throw in. Image credit: SportsFile

Read a snippet from the Leinster Express to relive the memories:

‘Laois were playing very well at this stage and Mayo were glad to keep in touch with another O’Hora point but then came the game’s first goal – a real defence splitting move.

Great defensive play from Laois was played out to Mary Kirwan who won the race for possession, fed Tracey Lawlor in the corner behind her and she found Kathleen O’Reilly on the run, supporting the attack and what a super finish from the Crettyard girl.

Now Laois looked comfortable, six minutes to the break and 1-8 to 0-6 in front. But Mayo showed their worth as champions, Staunton striking three times, twice from frees before Emma Mullin soloed at the Laois goal, handpassed across the square and Claire Egan palmed the ball to the Laois net. A Christina Heffeman point gave Mayo an undeserved two point cushion at the break, 1-10 to 1-8.’

And the final seconds..

‘Laois kicked two wides in the dying stages of the game, in hunt for the winning score. And all their pressure paid off when Mayo cracked, Cora Staunton picking up the kick out inside the ’21. Referee Martin Duffy awarded the free, a composed Mary Kirwan made it count.

Laois All-Ireland champions 2001.

The game overall, apart from the excitement and conclusion, was played at a terrific pace. The movement of the ball from defence from both teams was top class. Players thundered in to each other, there were two crunch tackles in which the cringe factor was high and Claire Casey had to receive 13 stitches in her forehead from one such clash.’

The Laois team that day was: Theresa Swayne; Patricia Fogarty, Anna Connolly, Margaret Phelan-Mulhall; Angela Casey, Claire Casey, Grainne Dunne; Linda Brennan (0-01), Kathleen O’Reilly (1-01); Sue Ramsbottom (0-04), Tracey Lawlor, Aileen O’Loughlin; Mary Kehoe (0-01), Lulu Carroll, Mary Kirwan (1-07, 0-06 frees, 1-00 pen). Subs: Grace Weston, Ciara O’Loughlin, Gemma O’Connor.

Mary Kirwan kicks Laois’ winning score to clinch the Brendan Martin Cup. Image credit: SportsFile.