Allianz Hurling League 2016

[blueandwhite1]

Possible 15 based on lads who have been given a run to date:

If Picky is not available (confirmed?) then Joe Phelan could come in at corner back with Delaney on the half back line and Foyle moving forward. That would leave almost no experienced subs to come in......

Definitely a big ask considering where this team must be mentally and the lack of players available. One thing for certain, they won't be taking it for granted.

Rowland
Delaney
Maher
Healy
Mullaney
Foyle
Bergin
Purcell
Stapleton
Dwyer
Maher
Reddin
Lennon
Dunphy
Scully

[County Man]

Big game saturday afternoon. A must win.

Reading on Leinster Express that on saturday we will be missing 12 of the 19 that played against Offaly last June.

Guys available to play will be hurting after Kerry.

Can we overcome Westmeath? I believe it will be close but something tells me with the sheer desire of our guys and the backing of team management that we will prevail.

Great that its a double header with the minors against Offaly.

The friends of Laois hurling should come out in force.

[Unlaoised]

Nice little double header alright hoping to head over to it!

[oneflewoverthecuckoonest]

tomorrow is going to be a sorry day for laois hurling as we are going to be beaten twice in tullamore. it will be a big bump in the road as Che Guevara would say.
Westmeath gave us loads of trouble last May, they are confident, on a roll and have a full squad. we are missing half of our team from 2015, and what has replaced that core are, as of now, inferior.

the 6/4 about Westmeath is an insult, they are firm favourites to win.

[SpeculativeEffort]

Team that faced Westmeath last year in c'ship:
E Rowland; J Delaney, C Healy, B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, J Campion; Z Keenan, D Palmer;
C Dwyer, P Purcell, W Hyland; B Conroy, T Fitzgerald, R King. Subs: S Maher for Conroy (44),
P Whelan for Purcell (52), PJ Scully for Fitzgerald (58), D Peacock for King (63 inj).

Those who survived from that team to play v Kerry last weekend:
E Rowland; C Healy, M Whelan, C Dwyer, P Purcell, W Hyland; R King. Subs: S Maher, PJ Scully

Take Matthew (injured) + Hyland and King (suspended) out of that and we are left with 4 starters and 2 used subs from the same fixture last year.

This shows the task in front of them tomorrow. I really hope we can pull out a performance.

Are Campion, Palmer and Ben Conroy injured?

[steven seagal]

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.

[Unlaoised]

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.

Thats a pity Joe is a good lad...

[Helix]

Thank christ we got over the line today. Another year at 1B hurling. Never mind the begrudges saying we should be relegated. Sometimes we need to be selfish and worry about our own hurling in the county. Good for the younger members of the panel to be playing 1B hurling next year. Hopefully championship will be a little more promising!

[burdizzo]

Actually, the importance of this win cannot be overstated. Going into the championship on a loss would be a serious downer, but a win will give them a bit of a fillip. Hopefully some of the injuries will be cleared up, and they can prepare will a full squad. Well done to them all.

[merman]

Hard not have sympathy for Westmeath; we all know the system with regards promotion/relegation is unfair but they came into the game on a high and we at a very low ebb; the better team won and quite comfortably really.

I thought Cha and Purcell were immense! Scully, Mullaney, D Maher and Lennon were also very good while it was good to see Foyle in the forwards and looking like the threat we all know he is.

Today doesn't erase the results and performances over the last 2 months but perhaps it draws a line under it and we can move on.
Well done to all involved!

[blueandwhite1]

Thought Westmeath were very good in first half. They were sharp, hungry and smart. Which means we had to play really well to win this.

Was delighted to see that we had another gear and played very well in the second half. Cha's point where he was double marked was unreal, class act. I was particularly delighted that the younger guys showed so well - Mullaney, Bergin, Purcell, Lennon and Mark Kavanagh when he came on all show signs of a bright future.

Cahir, Darren Maher, Neil Foyle and Cha showed great character throughout.

If only we didn't have to play the two man full forward line. It gives the opposition easy possession on the puck outs and puts our backs under fierce pressure.

[Don Draper]

tomorrow is going to be a sorry day for laois hurling as we are going to be beaten twice in tullamore. it will be a big bump in the road as Che Guevara would say.
Westmeath gave us loads of trouble last May, they are confident, on a roll and have a full squad. we are missing half of our team from 2015, and what has replaced that core are, as of now, inferior.

the 6/4 about Westmeath is an insult, they are firm favourites to win.

The internet never forgets.

[Don Draper]

Well done Cheddar and players. A tough league put down, but into Championship on a high at least. Training aimed to peak for quarter final, some new leaders have stood up and hopefully a full bill of health to come. Today was gut check time and we had it in spades in the wind up.

Off back to the Clubs for a bit now. Thanks lads. Thanks Cheddar. Hope you enjoy a few pints tonight.

[SpeculativeEffort]

Well done to all the Laois panel. Showed the whole group was up for it after first score of 2nd half. Great to hear that roar go up. Paddy Purcell played the sweeper role to perfection, covering the full back line winning countless balls and carrying them to midfield. Serious engine. Westmeath reminded of Offaly in cship last year. Were completely confused by the sweeper and ended up playing long hopeful balls towards Murtagh.
Cha was superb as was Healy and Maher had a v good second half. Scully turned over a number of balls too and Foyle made a nuisance of himself in full forward to nullify the dominance of Tommy Doyle who lorded the 1st half.
Job done. Lots of time to prepare for quarter final and plenty of quality to come back in.

[redsetanta]

Fantastic result for all involved. It would have been a pure disaster had we lost on Saturday. Delighted to hear that Cha played so well as he has struggled with a bit of form so far this year. As already mentioned it's also great to hear that the younger players are improving all the time.
Considering the issues we have had with players not being available for whatever reason the result cannot be scoffed at. League status safe and a few weeks to work on the championship.
We still need to be alot better come summer.
What's the story with Picky's form, is it down to injury? He is nowhere near performing as good as he can.