2018 Joe McDonagh Cup

Started by Mossy Bruce, March 20, 2018, 11:24:55 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

The PRO

Quote from: Dave like the tv channel on May 15, 2018, 12:03:33 PM
we're trying to be a dual county, when we don't have the resources. We should pick one and essentially drop the other code.
Simply not viable.

You can't tell the people of Portarlington that we're dropping football no more than you tell the people of Ballacolla that we're dropping hurling.

Dave like the tv channel

Quote from: The PRO on May 15, 2018, 02:28:21 PM
Quote from: Dave like the tv channel on May 15, 2018, 12:03:33 PM
we're trying to be a dual county, when we don't have the resources. We should pick one and essentially drop the other code.
Simply not viable.

You can't tell the people of Portarlington that we're dropping football no more than you tell the people of Ballacolla that we're dropping hurling.

Anything is possible. We're too small for two, especially given the work on the players coming through.


Mad Mentor

Quote from: Dave like the tv channel on May 16, 2018, 08:27:17 AM
Quote from: The PRO on May 15, 2018, 02:28:21 PM
Quote from: Dave like the tv channel on May 15, 2018, 12:03:33 PM
we're trying to be a dual county, when we don't have the resources. We should pick one and essentially drop the other code.
Simply not viable.

You can't tell the people of Portarlington that we're dropping football no more than you tell the people of Ballacolla that we're dropping hurling.

Anything is possible. We're too small for two, especially given the work on the players coming through.


Agreed, though when we drop the football it's going to take years to re-train the footballers to play hurling. County board will need a twenty year plan at least.

The PRO

Quote from: Dave like the tv channel on May 16, 2018, 08:27:17 AM
Quote from: The PRO on May 15, 2018, 02:28:21 PM
Quote from: Dave like the tv channel on May 15, 2018, 12:03:33 PM
we're trying to be a dual county, when we don't have the resources. We should pick one and essentially drop the other code.
Simply not viable.

You can't tell the people of Portarlington that we're dropping football no more than you tell the people of Ballacolla that we're dropping hurling.

Anything is possible. We're too small for two, especially given the work on the players coming through.
Of course we're too small. That's not in question. But you can't impose one of the codes on half the county that has no interest in it. And you definitely don't want Emo hurling. Trust me😊.

blueandwhite1

The hurling area of the county is definitely too small. The football area is big enough, especially when you consider Portlaoise.

I know it gets laughed at every time I bring it up but I actually think there is merit of having a 'best of the rest' divisional type team in Leinster competing in the Leinster championship. You would still have your county teams playing in the McDonagh or Christy Ring but a handful of the best players could play for a Leinster Barbarians type-team. It would give top hurlers from many counties such as ourselves, Westmeath, Carlow, Wicklow and even the Biffos a realistic shot at a medal. For example, rather than the futile exercise of putting the McDonagh cup champions into the All-Ireland qualifier series, you could put a team consisting of the best players from all 6 counties. Yes, I know it would have loads of problems and I'm sure many of you reading this can write a long list of reasons it wouldn't work but it is not without precedent. Players play against each other for their clubs today and then together for their counties. In rugby, the provincial system is an acknowledgement that Irish clubs would never be competitive in Europe otherwise.

redsetanta

What are the thoughts on the Antrim game? They are unbeaten so far however only a few weeks ago we beat them on their own patch albeit the league. If we could get a victory we might still be in with a faint chance of getting second spot with 2 games to go.

What is the problem at the moment where we don't seem able to compete like the early games in the league. We had a right go at both Galway and Limerick. Have we completely done away with the short passing game because I haven't seen too much of it. Forwards seem to be playing as individuals and as much as we all like Cha he's taking on shots that are at best 50/50 at times. No cohesion going forward and very little interplay between the top six.

In the backs we've been hampered by injuries however the use of some of the subs is questionable. There is a fairly extensive management team in place and we had looked like we were improving but now look leggy and somewhat confused as a team.

Can we turn things around or do we say good bye and good luck to this years championship with a view to retaining our place in Joe McDonagh for next year.

On another note was it just the county board who forced Cheddar out or did the clubs have any say in the matter?
The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. VinceLombardi

blueandwhite1

Quote from: redsetanta on May 16, 2018, 12:21:10 PM
What are the thoughts on the Antrim game? They are unbeaten so far however only a few weeks ago we beat them on their own patch albeit the league. If we could get a victory we might still be in with a faint chance of getting second spot with 2 games to go.

What is the problem at the moment where we don't seem able to compete like the early games in the league. We had a right go at both Galway and Limerick. Have we completely done away with the short passing game because I haven't seen too much of it. Forwards seem to be playing as individuals and as much as we all like Cha he's taking on shots that are at best 50/50 at times. No cohesion going forward and very little interplay between the top six.

In the backs we've been hampered by injuries however the use of some of the subs is questionable. There is a fairly extensive management team in place and we had looked like we were improving but now look leggy and somewhat confused as a team.

Can we turn things around or do we say good bye and good luck to this years championship with a view to retaining our place in Joe McDonagh for next year.

On another note was it just the county board who forced Cheddar out or did the clubs have any say in the matter?

There is complete silence from the camp since the Kerry disaster. Would wonder where we are going to get a full back line from for a start. Podge suspended and Leigh / Lee injured. Big step up for someone like Conor Phelan maybe. Antrim had us to the pin of our collars in the 2 league games.

imtommygunn

Antrim are probably missing neil mcmanus which is a huge loss. Carlow's antics have taken a big toll :(

Mossy Bruce

Quote from: redsetanta on May 16, 2018, 12:21:10 PM
What are the thoughts on the Antrim game? They are unbeaten so far however only a few weeks ago we beat them on their own patch albeit the league... What is the problem at the moment where we don't seem able to compete like the early games in the league[?]...

I was wondering the exact same thing. In theory, we should be able to handle Antrim on their home ground. Has anything significantly change in Laois' approach since that last relegation match with Antrim?
LAOIS! LAOIS! LAOIS!

Giovanni

Even our manager can't seem to answer that question!

However, if they play even close to the level they played against Westmeath, I would think Antrim will win comfortably.

burdizzo

Yes, our form has definitely dipped - nose-dived, even - and it's hard to see wins against either Antrim or Carlow. At the start of the competition, you'd have said these would be the two hardest games - and they've just got harder, as they say.
But we live in hope.

redsetanta

Is it correct that the game in Antrim is starting at 1.30pm?

Was going to drive up tomorrow but that's a very early throw in time. Must be about a 4 hour drive from Laois.
The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. VinceLombardi

Junior Ex Laoistalk

A bit of good news for Laois:


Injuries have forced Antrim into making changes for tomorrow's Joe McDonagh Cup encounter with Laois in Dunloy.
The Saffrons maintained their winning start to the inaugural second-tier championship against Carlow last weekend but the shine was taken off the 2-16 to 0-19 victory as three of their players required hospital treatment afterwards.

Michael Armstrong (broken arm), Joe Maskey (broken foot) and Neil McManus (who needed six stitches) all left Corrigan Park in an ambulance following a fiery affair which saw a total of four red cards (three for the visitors).

Armstrong and Maskey are both ruled out for the rest of the Joe McDonagh Cup campaign, however, McManus is named on the bench while Eoghan Campbell misses out because of suspension and Arron Graffin comes in for his first appearance since the league.

Antrim (Joe McDonagh Cup v Laois): Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, John Dillon, Arron Graffin; Paddy Burke, Conor McKinley, Ryan McCambridge; Eddie McCloskey, Simon McCrory; Nigel Elliott, Conor Johnston, James McNaughton; Donal McKinley, Conor Carson, Daniel McCloskey.
Subs: Chrissy O'Connell, Matthew Donnelly, Neil McAuley, Conor Boyd, Conor McCann, Neil McManus, David Kearney, Gerard Walsh, Eoin O'Neill, Ryan McNulty, Ciaran Clarke, Keelan Molloy, Conor McHugh, Tommy Burns.
Winners are not those who never fail, but those who never quit!

justinn

The Laois team in full is: Enda Rowland; Joe Phelan, Matthew Whelan, Lee Cleere; Colm Stapleton, James Ryan, Ryan Mullaney; Paddy Purcell, Cian Taylor; Cha Dwyer, Ben Conroy, Ciaran Comerford; Ross King, Neil Foyle, Willie Dunphy.

redsetanta

Laois doing very well at the moment 9 points to 6 up against the wind, Ross King is flying today. Need a win hear badly.
The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. VinceLombardi