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I was in at the match and it's not often we see such a result. Laois are a big physical team with the fullback being a particular specimen, but they are great hurlers with their speed and first touch being very good. The fourth goal (I think) was a super example with corner forward skinning his man and then a long hand pass out where the full forward flicked it up and buried it without taking it in the hand. The backs are strong and all good hurlers and the use of the ball was brilliant. Heads up ball to hand or into space for forwards to run onto. I don't know how good Offaly are but that's a great boost for these Laois lads

With regards to Michael Duignan at the healm in Offaly, He took an holistic approach to everything, especially at underage level, He got Shane Lowry on board, and he and a group of very rich people apparently covered ALL ASPECTS regarding finances ( between 1.5 to 2 million) that took pressure off fundraising and allowed Offaly to get EVERYTHING that was needed, in terms of physio's Doctors and Gym costs, travel, hotels etc. It breaks my heart to admit that Offaly are almost always one or two steps ahead of us, especially when it comes to professionalism at inter county level.

I have never been someone who accepts that Offaly produce more Talent than Laois, but Offaly players are less parochial than Laois when it comes to Club before County. As some of you know, I now live in the UK but I was brought up in the Hurling heartland of Laois ( West and south west Laois) But I have a football question that I hope someone could help me with. Portarlington are Currently by far the best Club Team in the County, please tell me why very few seem to be involved with the County at both underage and Senior level?

With regards to Michael Duignan at the healm in Offaly, He took an holistic approach to everything, especially at underage level, He got Shane Lowry on board, and he and a group of very rich people apparently covered ALL ASPECTS regarding finances ( between 1.5 to 2 million) that took pressure off fundraising and allowed Offaly to get EVERYTHING that was needed, in terms of physio's Doctors and Gym costs, travel, hotels etc. It breaks my heart to admit that Offaly are almost always one or two steps ahead of us, especially when it comes to professionalism at inter county level.

I have never been someone who accepts that Offaly produce more Talent than Laois, but Offaly players are less parochial than Laois when it comes to Club before County. As some of you know, I now live in the UK but I was brought up in the Hurling heartland of Laois ( West and south west Laois) But I have a football question that I hope someone could help me with. Portarlington are Currently by far the best Club Team in the County, please tell me why very few seem to be involved with the County at both underage and Senior level?

I'd suggest that the reason is that 4 or 5 of their better players ended up in oz travelling. Young Murphy was meant to go off this year but eventually didn't(was in last year) I think two of their best backs (Bennett and Mohan)suffered cruciate injuries. I hear that all are back or will be back this year so hopefully we'll see them in with the Co in the not to distant future

Kilcavan v Barcelona in the Leinster junior quarter final. Now there is a novel fixture.

I do notice Ballinagar are also in the quarter final, but they are the intermediate champions in Offaly.
Seems unfair that they are in the junior in Leinster, anyone know why that is?
 
Intermediate is third tier in Offaly. They have senior, senior B and then intermediate so our third tier is junior a

If I'm wrong , that I'll be delighted to be!

I don't like the man. That definitely clouds my judgement.

Lazy in the sense that once he became available was there any form of a search at all?

So who would you get . He's an experienced intercounty manager who was relatively successful in his last post at a level above where we are at the moment. There was an invitation for applications for the job and I don't think that too many broke down the door of the county board offices. If he wins the Joe MC and consolidates our league position then he's a success. Is he a step above Willie Maher?? I think so and there wasn't a huge clamour to get him out. We're second tier at the moment so I think his appointment is excellent

We were very poor Saturday evening but Leitrim probably wanted it a bit more. You saw the reaction at the end they treated it like an all Against the wind I think our keeper struggled a bit and kept kicking the short ones to the wettest place on the pitch where lads were struggling to hold their feet. A good few turnovers came from that.that kick has to be on the chest. We looked a bit exposed when Leitrim just lorried the ball in long and they probably left a few goals behind them. A poor result but hopefully not too costly

Well there you go. Great answer

Good win on Sunday. Sometimes you just have to grind out a win and I heard only last night that we have never beaten Tipp in semple before. The performance was not good but signs of a well drilled team was that we got a result. Dempsey is a good corner back really aggressive and sticky.two half backs were ok but not really driving forward,but maybe that's what they're told to do Timmons good in tackle and really thundered into the last 15 mins. Midfield hadn't their best day out. Just looke a bit off the pace. Lillis made a noticeable difference when he came in with a bit of cuteness and calmness on the ball. I thought our half forward line all did well considering he workload they had as midfielders struggled. The two outside lads ran themselves in to the ground Swaine in particular was popping up everywhere in the first half and Dunne appears to be growing into his role and is always available for an out ball and used it well (bar one disaster which could have gotten Fitzpatrick killed)
Evan was very good.and Barry is probably playing a role not suited to him as he's popping up on the full back line defending rather than close to goal. Our subs did well with O Flynn really catching the eye. I think he had a hand in the last three scores. Overall it's a more positive result than negative. Great Laois crowd down there too which is great to see and I happened to be talking to a player since and he said that the players noticed it too

Good to see a decent crowd out. The team looked like there was a structure to them and knew their roles. I thought the first half was a difficult watch to be honest with a lot of basic errors but to be expected for the first serious day out. Second half I was impressed by the way they handled being pegged back to one point. A comfortable win to be honest. Great start to the campaign

Let's face it, it's not a good look. I was surprised that he was open to the idea in the first place. Surely he saw the backlash coming against his party? Against himself? Against Stormont?

Sure it's just two hours up the road. If it was a player who was studying in Galway he'd be expected to go training every night too. Finish work at 5, in coe for 7:15 training at 7:30 back in car for 9 and back to Belfast for 11:30ish. Now obviously that's a very rough and optimistic timing but it's doable whilst maintaining his job.

A Senior InterCounty manager arriving to training 15 minutes before training & leaving again immediately afterwards.
Jaysus.

OK would arrive at 6:30 for training at 7:30 till 9 and in the car at 10 be OK for you. The manager puts systems in place for a team. He'll have s+C and verious other coaches in place believe it or not he probably won't be putting out or collecting the balls and cones. I'm sure he'll spend a lot of time on the phone and doing meetings online with all his various coaches and selectors. Managers plan and others implement the plan.

Let's face it, it's not a good look. I was surprised that he was open to the idea in the first place. Surely he saw the backlash coming against his party? Against himself? Against Stormont?

Sure it's just two hours up the road. If it was a player who was studying in Galway he'd be expected to go training every night too. Finish work at 5, in coe for 7:15 training at 7:30 back in car for 9 and back to Belfast for 11:30ish. Now obviously that's a very rough and optimistic timing but it's doable whilst maintaining his job.

Actually I was talking to a lad in work about tyrrell
He went to Courtwood on a full transfer and is playing with camross as an isolated player

Saw Donie back in action last night. Makes you wonder what he could have achieved cos he was about quarter fit and couldn't be marked. Sold 3 dummy solos for the goal with a fella hanging off of him. That said Park were shocking. I'd say they are certs to go down now

And I must add that for a small club, Courtwood are getting some return from a very small squad. Sean O Flynn was immense today

I think to be fair with regard to players names they just copy the list sent in by club secretaries and the fact that both the Co Board and LT did it twice suggests that the problem is at the Graigues end. Probably a copy and paste job

Ó Dempseys surprised me again. I thought emo would be comfortable yesterday against them but they were well the better team they had a better spread of scores with young Costello more or less carrying Emo hopes along with Kirwan. A lot of the O Ds young lads I wouldn't recognise but they really give everything so a well deserved win for them
Joseph's just scraped by... kept hanging in there and finished that bit stronger. Ballyroan will be disappointed but had a few chances and didn't take them. They'll still be in the quarters and maybe the defeat will stand to them