A strong enough team on paper. Aaron Dunphy and Aaron Bergin are probably the two main scoring threats. Was very impressed with Lee Cleere last year with Clough-Ballacolla, handled himself very well at senior level considering how young he was. Few good prospects on that team, hopefully they keep up our good recent record against Offaly.
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#107
Laois / Re: Allianz Hurling League 2016
April 08, 2016, 12:34:56 PM
Ben Conroy did his knee in the Walsh Cup, has been out ever since. Dwane Palmer is out injured. Joe Campion dropped himself off the panel afaik.
#108
Laois / Re: LAOIS SENIOR FOOTBALL 2016
April 08, 2016, 12:23:26 PMQuoteI really think John Sugrue is the man to change things with in this county .I've seen him working with teams and he is superb with under age talent as well..
I'd be very wary of anointing one man a saviour. The issues we need to fix are far beyond the scope of one individual. Sugrue is an excellent coach, but we can't expect him to be the solution. We need more than that. It would be nice to get him involved, but if he is coaching South Kerry again this year then we can rule that out. We have two full-time football coaching officers in the county, I'd be more inclined to ask questions of them before I'd ask a volunteer to come in and sort things out.
#109
Laois / Re: LAOIS SENIOR FOOTBALL 2016
April 06, 2016, 03:56:37 PM
The players are provided with food after every game, Bosco Ramsbottom was even in Enniskillen to feed them after the game with Fermanagh, so if a player wanted to eat at a petrol station after the game, I'd imagine that's down to the player. The food was there.
The issue of video analysis was brought up earlier as well. All of Laois' games are recorded, as well as statistics being kept. There is a stats team that is at all of Laois' games, usually consisting of around four lads, from Stradbally, who have been doing it for the last four or five years (McNulty put them in place and they have remained under TOF and Lillis). What is done with the information they collect, I don't know. From the outside looking in, I'd be tempted to say 'not a lot.'
The Centre of Excellence probably is a bit of a drain on resources, but it didn't cost Laois a penny to buy the land, so we're not paying off loans for it or anything like that. The same goes for the work on the terrace, the money for that came from outside the county. Money is an issue though, particularly if you want to be ambitious. We are one of only five counties to compete in the top two Divisions in the leagues, as well as the two championships. The others are Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kerry (who only came up from the Christy Ring this year). Compared to all of those, our population is way smaller, and we bring in significantly less in sponsorship as well, so it's a huge job to come up with the money we need. Outside of sponsorship money, we'd be relying on money from fundraisers and from clubs, and most clubs are hard pressed enough as it is. We probably need to start a supporters club or something to that effect, get more business involved and work it that way. The problem we have is, with no one going to games, we are not an attractive option for a sponsor. There's little profile to be gained from sponsoring us, unfortunately.
In the absence of money, you'd need a well organised and dynamic county board to find solutions to the problems. The lack of change on the CB is a worry, in that any organisation that receives no fresh impetus is bound to struggle. The problem is that there was no one outside of the current CB members nominated for a position at last year's convention, so there appears to be no appetite out there to change things up. As a county we probably need it to happen, because it's not a good scenario to find ourselves in. Lads left in jobs for five years with no pressure to work hard in order to keep it, or improve things, is a recipe for disaster. I was told last year that there are some CB members who don't even attend games in O'Moore Park. I don't know if that's true, but it's worrying if it is.
As for the football, I hate to say it but I think this year is a right off already. I wouldn't be confident about beating Wicklow, we are sitting ducks for that game after all the giving out we did last year over not getting to play Dublin in O'Moore Park. That game is like an All-Ireland for Wicklow and if we can't build up a bit of morale between now and then, we could find ourselves in a dogfight we're not prepared for. I know Wicklow are poor and have had a bad league, but I can't see them not being up for the game, and their U-21s gave us a right rattle. If we do win, I'd worry what Dublin would do to us. We seem intent on leaving 30-40 yards of space in front of our full-back line, and Dublin will annihilate us if we do that. Either way, if we lose to Wicklow, or beat them and lose to Dublin, I can see a wave of lads heading to the US this summer. The body language of the players before, during and after games isn't good, and if they were offered a few months and few pound to go Stateside for the summer, I can see a few of them jumping at the chance (and I wouldn't blame them).
The issue of video analysis was brought up earlier as well. All of Laois' games are recorded, as well as statistics being kept. There is a stats team that is at all of Laois' games, usually consisting of around four lads, from Stradbally, who have been doing it for the last four or five years (McNulty put them in place and they have remained under TOF and Lillis). What is done with the information they collect, I don't know. From the outside looking in, I'd be tempted to say 'not a lot.'
The Centre of Excellence probably is a bit of a drain on resources, but it didn't cost Laois a penny to buy the land, so we're not paying off loans for it or anything like that. The same goes for the work on the terrace, the money for that came from outside the county. Money is an issue though, particularly if you want to be ambitious. We are one of only five counties to compete in the top two Divisions in the leagues, as well as the two championships. The others are Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kerry (who only came up from the Christy Ring this year). Compared to all of those, our population is way smaller, and we bring in significantly less in sponsorship as well, so it's a huge job to come up with the money we need. Outside of sponsorship money, we'd be relying on money from fundraisers and from clubs, and most clubs are hard pressed enough as it is. We probably need to start a supporters club or something to that effect, get more business involved and work it that way. The problem we have is, with no one going to games, we are not an attractive option for a sponsor. There's little profile to be gained from sponsoring us, unfortunately.
In the absence of money, you'd need a well organised and dynamic county board to find solutions to the problems. The lack of change on the CB is a worry, in that any organisation that receives no fresh impetus is bound to struggle. The problem is that there was no one outside of the current CB members nominated for a position at last year's convention, so there appears to be no appetite out there to change things up. As a county we probably need it to happen, because it's not a good scenario to find ourselves in. Lads left in jobs for five years with no pressure to work hard in order to keep it, or improve things, is a recipe for disaster. I was told last year that there are some CB members who don't even attend games in O'Moore Park. I don't know if that's true, but it's worrying if it is.
As for the football, I hate to say it but I think this year is a right off already. I wouldn't be confident about beating Wicklow, we are sitting ducks for that game after all the giving out we did last year over not getting to play Dublin in O'Moore Park. That game is like an All-Ireland for Wicklow and if we can't build up a bit of morale between now and then, we could find ourselves in a dogfight we're not prepared for. I know Wicklow are poor and have had a bad league, but I can't see them not being up for the game, and their U-21s gave us a right rattle. If we do win, I'd worry what Dublin would do to us. We seem intent on leaving 30-40 yards of space in front of our full-back line, and Dublin will annihilate us if we do that. Either way, if we lose to Wicklow, or beat them and lose to Dublin, I can see a wave of lads heading to the US this summer. The body language of the players before, during and after games isn't good, and if they were offered a few months and few pound to go Stateside for the summer, I can see a few of them jumping at the chance (and I wouldn't blame them).
#110
Laois / Re: Laois Under 21 football team 2016
March 20, 2016, 10:46:13 PM
Coming out of Parnell Park yesterday, I felt like Dublin were playing a different game to the rest of us. They are so far ahead in terms of strength, conditioning, tactical work, fitness, skills, tackling, work rate etc, that it was a sobering drive home. Both the minor and U-21 teams played basically the same. As the players progress it's easy to move between grades or be promoted up, you already know what to do. 'Player Pathway' is something of buzz phrase at the moment and Dublin have the theory down to a tee. The players are geared towards a specific brand of football, with a strong emphasis on physical conditioning. Either you do the work or get out of the way, because there'll be someone to take your place. There is obviously success along the way which helps to keep players focused and motivated. Having the playing numbers and finances to do that is crucial as well, obviously.
I'm not saying we are neglecting our underage coaching, but we are light years away from competing for a provincial title, if Saturday is anything to go by. We give our players what you could call a 'general' coaching education. They have the skills of the game, but we struggle with anything specific. We don't defend well, we don't track runs, we don't have a clear plan in attack, we don't pressurize the ball until it's too late, we don't have a plan for kickouts. We have been left behind. It was disheartening to see. When we were successful all those years ago games were a bit more off the cuff, so you could get away with it, but the game has changed a lot in the last ten years and we haven't caught up, and don't appear likely to do so any time soon either.
One thing we have to seriously look at is hiring a full-time S&C coach. Plenty of money gets spent in hiring lads to work with different panels in both codes, and at the different grades. Surely instead of paying a variety of coaches, this money could be funneled into hiring someone on a full-time basis that could then be charged with overseeing a programme for the development squads as well as the county teams, and there is a clear vision for the progress of our county players. There are plenty of S&C courses out there as well which will have students looking for work experience, and they could be brought in at various times of the year to work under your main S&C coach to implement the plan. I'm sure there would be more to it that this to get it off the ground, but we'd be naive not to be looking at it.
We spent about around €650k on county teams last year, and with most managers not getting a penny, that is €650k on hired-in coaches, meals, buses, gear, mileage etc. Surely there is scope in that figure to hire someone full-time?
I fully agree with everyone that we struggle because of our lack of resources. We undoubtedly do. Look at the sponsorship deals other county's get compared to us. But limited resources should also mean you make a concerted effort to make the most of what you have. I don't think we are doing that.
I'm not saying we are neglecting our underage coaching, but we are light years away from competing for a provincial title, if Saturday is anything to go by. We give our players what you could call a 'general' coaching education. They have the skills of the game, but we struggle with anything specific. We don't defend well, we don't track runs, we don't have a clear plan in attack, we don't pressurize the ball until it's too late, we don't have a plan for kickouts. We have been left behind. It was disheartening to see. When we were successful all those years ago games were a bit more off the cuff, so you could get away with it, but the game has changed a lot in the last ten years and we haven't caught up, and don't appear likely to do so any time soon either.
One thing we have to seriously look at is hiring a full-time S&C coach. Plenty of money gets spent in hiring lads to work with different panels in both codes, and at the different grades. Surely instead of paying a variety of coaches, this money could be funneled into hiring someone on a full-time basis that could then be charged with overseeing a programme for the development squads as well as the county teams, and there is a clear vision for the progress of our county players. There are plenty of S&C courses out there as well which will have students looking for work experience, and they could be brought in at various times of the year to work under your main S&C coach to implement the plan. I'm sure there would be more to it that this to get it off the ground, but we'd be naive not to be looking at it.
We spent about around €650k on county teams last year, and with most managers not getting a penny, that is €650k on hired-in coaches, meals, buses, gear, mileage etc. Surely there is scope in that figure to hire someone full-time?
I fully agree with everyone that we struggle because of our lack of resources. We undoubtedly do. Look at the sponsorship deals other county's get compared to us. But limited resources should also mean you make a concerted effort to make the most of what you have. I don't think we are doing that.
#111
Laois / Re: LAOIS SENIOR FOOTBALL 2016
January 31, 2016, 08:15:37 PM
OTF, team was as follows
Brody, Kehoe, Timmons, Seale, Strong, Cotter, Dillon, O'Loughlin, Meaney, Jamie Farrell, Nigel Murphy, Alan Farrell, Kingston, O'Carroll, Cahillane. Lillis came in for Seale after about 20 minutes. Trevor Collins, Paul Kingston, Danny O'Reilly and Gary Walsh all came in at half time, and Damien O'Connor came in near the end.
Brody, Kehoe, Timmons, Seale, Strong, Cotter, Dillon, O'Loughlin, Meaney, Jamie Farrell, Nigel Murphy, Alan Farrell, Kingston, O'Carroll, Cahillane. Lillis came in for Seale after about 20 minutes. Trevor Collins, Paul Kingston, Danny O'Reilly and Gary Walsh all came in at half time, and Damien O'Connor came in near the end.
#112
Laois / Re: LAOIS SENIOR FOOTBALL 2016
January 31, 2016, 08:10:48 PM
That first half was a shambles, as bad as anything we've produced in recent years. The reports coming out of the camp in the build up to the game weren't positive but I still didn't expect anything as bad as that. Fitness levels are nowhere near good enough, and the team selection was a bit bizarre IMO. To start three lads in the half forward line with no experience at this level was asking for trouble, and we got plenty of it.
We couldn't track runs at all and their defenders bombed forward at will. I reckon they got around four points from play from their starting six backs, and their first goal came from No 5 running free at the Laois full-back line. Seeing John O'Loughlin at full-forward wasn't a sign of a team that knew what they wanted to do. Lads were moved around all over the place in the hope something would happen. We only really played well once Galway had the game well and truly wrapped up.
Armagh are up next and they are without the Crossmaglen lads so now is as good a time as any to face them. Whether we are fit enough or organised enough to take advantage of that remains to be seen. On the evidence of this we are not, but in recent years we have lurched from disastrous performances to impressive ones in a short space of time, so hopefully we can do that again. I remember a few years ago we got played off the park by Mayo in an opening league game before beating Donegal, in Donegal, the following week. We have to hope we can do that again, but it's a big ask.
We couldn't track runs at all and their defenders bombed forward at will. I reckon they got around four points from play from their starting six backs, and their first goal came from No 5 running free at the Laois full-back line. Seeing John O'Loughlin at full-forward wasn't a sign of a team that knew what they wanted to do. Lads were moved around all over the place in the hope something would happen. We only really played well once Galway had the game well and truly wrapped up.
Armagh are up next and they are without the Crossmaglen lads so now is as good a time as any to face them. Whether we are fit enough or organised enough to take advantage of that remains to be seen. On the evidence of this we are not, but in recent years we have lurched from disastrous performances to impressive ones in a short space of time, so hopefully we can do that again. I remember a few years ago we got played off the park by Mayo in an opening league game before beating Donegal, in Donegal, the following week. We have to hope we can do that again, but it's a big ask.
#113
Laois / Re: LAOIS SENIOR FOOTBALL 2016
January 20, 2016, 05:30:11 PM
Donoher has been togged out for all the games but hasn't featured yet. All luck seems to have deserted him in the last few years in terms of injuries so hopefully he'll be back for the league. I think he's the kind of player that Lillis will like so I'd imagine he'll get his chance when he's fit.
#114
Laois / Re: LAOIS SENIOR FOOTBALL 2016
January 20, 2016, 04:48:51 PM
Tony, greetings from north of the Bridge of No Return.
Lillis' suitability to centre-back won't really come into, in my opinion. He will start if he's fit, and most likely at centre-back, because that's the position he captained Portlaoise to a county championship in. The team I listed is a team I expect to start based on Mick Lillis' record as intercounty manager of our minor and U-21 teams, rather than a team I would pick myself. Also, if you believe he hasn't the pace for centre-back then I'm not sure why you would be inclined to put him on the wing, where pace is arguably more important, given most wing-backs nowadays will be expected to be up and down the field for 70 minutes. But maybe things have changed since I came over here with Dennis Rodman, I don't get to see many matches, Kim Jong Un did his Erasmus year in UCG so he only lets us watch Galway matches.
On the subject of Kingston, I have seen him running off the ball. I have eyes too. All his running off the ball is solely to gain possession of said ball. In terms of tackling and tracking runs, he doesn't run with the same conviction. It is particularly obvious any time he loses possession, after which he invariably throws his hands in the air in disappointment or complains to a referee or linesman. He does this repeatedly. In such circumstances he rarely tries to win the ball back or get back and help out in defence.
Even if he did run around like a Kenyan, to me, it is still pointless to play him at centre-forward. I'm sure you were in Navan last Sunday week, when he was moved out of centre-forward with barely ten minutes gone. When he did go in full-forward, he scored an outrageous point at one stage, when he won the ball about 30/35 yards out, held off a few defenders and pointed from 20 yards out. That's the key to success for Laois, getting the ball to Kingston close to goal. At full-forward with the right supply he should score three or four points from play per game before he even steps up to a free, and attract enough attention to free up space for the likes of Cahillane et al. Having him out the field is a misuse of his strengths IMO.
I agree with Unlaoised that his distribution is excellent, but I'd still sooner see him full-forward where he can do more damage. I'm not sold on the matter of long-range point shooting though, as good as Kingston is, you don't want him shooting from 40 yards out. You don't really want anyone shooting from distance. The majority of points are scored from within 30 yards or so of the goal, and that's where I'd want my best scoring forward to be operating out of.
Anyway, off to praise our fearless leader. Pyongyang Abú.
Lillis' suitability to centre-back won't really come into, in my opinion. He will start if he's fit, and most likely at centre-back, because that's the position he captained Portlaoise to a county championship in. The team I listed is a team I expect to start based on Mick Lillis' record as intercounty manager of our minor and U-21 teams, rather than a team I would pick myself. Also, if you believe he hasn't the pace for centre-back then I'm not sure why you would be inclined to put him on the wing, where pace is arguably more important, given most wing-backs nowadays will be expected to be up and down the field for 70 minutes. But maybe things have changed since I came over here with Dennis Rodman, I don't get to see many matches, Kim Jong Un did his Erasmus year in UCG so he only lets us watch Galway matches.
On the subject of Kingston, I have seen him running off the ball. I have eyes too. All his running off the ball is solely to gain possession of said ball. In terms of tackling and tracking runs, he doesn't run with the same conviction. It is particularly obvious any time he loses possession, after which he invariably throws his hands in the air in disappointment or complains to a referee or linesman. He does this repeatedly. In such circumstances he rarely tries to win the ball back or get back and help out in defence.
Even if he did run around like a Kenyan, to me, it is still pointless to play him at centre-forward. I'm sure you were in Navan last Sunday week, when he was moved out of centre-forward with barely ten minutes gone. When he did go in full-forward, he scored an outrageous point at one stage, when he won the ball about 30/35 yards out, held off a few defenders and pointed from 20 yards out. That's the key to success for Laois, getting the ball to Kingston close to goal. At full-forward with the right supply he should score three or four points from play per game before he even steps up to a free, and attract enough attention to free up space for the likes of Cahillane et al. Having him out the field is a misuse of his strengths IMO.
I agree with Unlaoised that his distribution is excellent, but I'd still sooner see him full-forward where he can do more damage. I'm not sold on the matter of long-range point shooting though, as good as Kingston is, you don't want him shooting from 40 yards out. You don't really want anyone shooting from distance. The majority of points are scored from within 30 yards or so of the goal, and that's where I'd want my best scoring forward to be operating out of.
Anyway, off to praise our fearless leader. Pyongyang Abú.
#115
Laois / Re: LAOIS SENIOR FOOTBALL 2016
January 20, 2016, 11:57:41 AM
There was a comment earlier about Paul Cahillane not starting, I think we can rule that out! Cahillane will start, nothing surer, because he is one of the best forwards in the county, and also because I can't see any scenario, barring injury, where Mick Lillis won't pick him.
Lillis has managed the county minors and U-21s before and both stints were notable for the amount of Portlaoise players he accommodated in those teams. It will be the same at senior level, as I don't see him changing his tune on that. Of the teams picked here already, none of them had Kieran Lillis in them - do any of ye really think he will or should be left out? I'd imagine we will see a team close to this starting (possibly with positional switches), if not against Galway, then at some stage in the league.
Brody
Seale
Timmons
Cotter
Strong
Lillis
Dillon
O'Loughlin
Quigley
Begley
O'Carroll
Donoher
Walsh
Kingston
Cahillane
Portlaoise players are more attuned to the type of game Lillis wants to play and I can see him falling back on them where possible. In the O'Byrne Cup he appeared to be converting Dillon into a wing back, which might suit him, and he will be given a run there in the league I would imagine, and Kieran Lillis, once fit, will surely be centre-back.
Munnelly has been a phenomenal player for Laois but I can't see him starting this year, although I'd be happily proved wrong on that. If he comes in, it will probably be in place of Gary Walsh or Donoher. Kingston should be at full-forward because he hasn't the work rate required for further out the field, and it's in our interests to keep our best scoring forward close to goal. Also, I think himself and Cahillane could be potent if left to work off each other within 30 yards of goal. We don't need Kingston getting on the ball around the middle of the field.
Lillis has managed the county minors and U-21s before and both stints were notable for the amount of Portlaoise players he accommodated in those teams. It will be the same at senior level, as I don't see him changing his tune on that. Of the teams picked here already, none of them had Kieran Lillis in them - do any of ye really think he will or should be left out? I'd imagine we will see a team close to this starting (possibly with positional switches), if not against Galway, then at some stage in the league.
Brody
Seale
Timmons
Cotter
Strong
Lillis
Dillon
O'Loughlin
Quigley
Begley
O'Carroll
Donoher
Walsh
Kingston
Cahillane
Portlaoise players are more attuned to the type of game Lillis wants to play and I can see him falling back on them where possible. In the O'Byrne Cup he appeared to be converting Dillon into a wing back, which might suit him, and he will be given a run there in the league I would imagine, and Kieran Lillis, once fit, will surely be centre-back.
Munnelly has been a phenomenal player for Laois but I can't see him starting this year, although I'd be happily proved wrong on that. If he comes in, it will probably be in place of Gary Walsh or Donoher. Kingston should be at full-forward because he hasn't the work rate required for further out the field, and it's in our interests to keep our best scoring forward close to goal. Also, I think himself and Cahillane could be potent if left to work off each other within 30 yards of goal. We don't need Kingston getting on the ball around the middle of the field.