Rosenallis AFC at Johnsgrove
Rosenallis AFC gives the Slieve Bloom side of Laois a football home, with Johnsgrove as its base and a growing senior, youth and girls pathway.
Rosenallis identity
Rosenallis AFC is the local football club for Rosenallis, County Laois. The club sits close to the Slieve Bloom Mountains, with its home games based at Johnsgrove.
The club name is tied to Laois community football, Combined Counties competition and a pathway that includes adult football, underage football, over 35 football and girls football activity.
Johnsgrove and The Grove
Johnsgrove is the club’s football ground in Rosenallis. Local cup celebrations also use The Grove name, giving families and visiting teams another phrase they may hear around the club.
The ground is near the village, with football map details placing Rosenallis AFC at 53.131033, -7.394016. For any visit, confirm the pitch, gate and arrival time with the team contact before travelling.
Johnsgrove, Rosenallis, County Laois.
Village football setting
Rosenallis is a north Laois village with Slieve Bloom and Glenbarrow country close by. That setting gives the club a rural catchment where football can serve players from the village and nearby townlands.
The River Barrow rises in the wider Rosenallis parish area, and the local landscape helps explain why a settled home ground matters: it gives a spread out community a single football meeting point.
Combined Counties club football
Rosenallis AFC competes in the Combined Counties football environment, which connects Laois clubs with teams from nearby counties.
Recent seasons have brought Rosenallis into league and cup meetings with clubs such as Stradbally, Clonaslee, Mountmellick, Ballymahon, Temple Villa and Killavilla United.
2026 Division 1 Cup win
Rosenallis won the 2026 CCFL Division 1 Cup with a 2 to 1 final victory over Killavilla United in Ferbane.
Jack Friel headed Rosenallis in front, and Charlie Friel added the second goal late in the game. Killavilla pulled one back in stoppage time, but Rosenallis held out to bring the cup home.
Senior cup resilience
The 2026 cup win followed several seasons of pushing close. Rosenallis reached the 2023 Division 1 Cup final after a strong semi final win over Ballymahon, then went out of the 2024 semi final only after penalties against Temple Villa.
The club also reached the 2018 Combined Counties Cup final against Birr Town, where the game was decided on penalties after a draw. Those runs show a senior group able to stay competitive across different cup routes.
Recent senior rhythm
Rosenallis have been part of lively Laois football weekends, including a 2024 Division 1 Cup win over Clonaslee United and league games against Portlaoise, Stradbally and Mountmellick.
Those games show a club with regular local derby tests as well as wider Midlands travel. For players and families, that means the season can include home days at Johnsgrove, nearby Laois trips and cup days away from the village.
Underage pathway
Rosenallis has produced notable underage football as well as adult cup activity. The under 12 boys reached the last 32 in Ireland in the SFAI national cup in 2018.
That campaign included a dramatic national cup win over Corduff after a 3 to 3 draw and a penalty shootout. Johnsgrove has also hosted SFAI national cup football, showing how the ground supports young players in games beyond local competition.
Rosenallis Rockets and girls football
Rosenallis AFC has also worked to grow girls and women’s football through the Rosenallis Rockets identity.
The Rockets work matters because girls football needs visible routes close to home. It gives families another way to see Rosenallis as a football club for the whole community, not only adult men’s teams.
Over 35 tradition
Rosenallis won the PMB Construction over 35 title in 2017 after a final day result against Nenagh Celtic. The team had carried an unbeaten run into the closing stage of the season.
Over 35 football helps keep former players, volunteers and families connected with the club. It also shows that Rosenallis football is not limited to one age group or one squad.
Volunteer backbone
Rosenallis football depends on local people who organise teams, maintain contact routes, prepare the ground and keep players connected across age groups.
Darren McEvoy is one of the names strongly associated with the club’s local football story, including senior memories around a Division 1 league title and long service to Rosenallis AFC.
Selected milestones
Rosenallis has a useful spread of adult, underage, girls and veteran football milestones. The table keeps those together for families who want to understand the club’s football depth.
| Milestone | Season | Football context |
|---|---|---|
| Village football pathway | Ongoing | Johnsgrove gives Rosenallis a settled local football home. |
| CCFL Division 1 Cup winners | 2026 | 2 to 1 final win over Killavilla United in Ferbane. |
| Division 1 Cup finalists | 2023 | Senior side reached another cup final before the later 2026 win. |
| Combined Counties Cup finalists | 2018 | Final against Birr Town decided on penalties after a draw. |
| SFAI national cup last 32 | 2018 | Under 12 boys advanced after a penalty shootout win over Corduff. |
| Rosenallis Rockets | 2018 | Girls football initiative gave Rosenallis a clearer female pathway. |
| PMB Construction over 35 champions | 2017 | Veteran side sealed the title after a final day game against Nenagh Celtic. |
Joining, helping and first contact
New players should include the player age, school year, previous football and whether the enquiry is for boys, girls, adult or over 35 football.
Adults can help through coaching, supervision, pitch care, fundraising, communication, transport and match organisation. Families should confirm the correct training group and venue before attending Johnsgrove.