Laois begin their campaign at home to Longford on Wednesday evening in O'Moore Park at 7.30pm.
They travel to face Offaly in Round 2 a week later and then host Kildare in their final game on April 26.
LAOIS:
Liam Conroy (Portlaoise)
Ben O'Connor (Portlaoise), Tadhg Dineen (St Joseph's), Danny McGrath (Graiguecullen)
Robbie Murphy (St Joseph's), Jack Brennan (Killeshin), James Dunne (Clonaslee-St Manman's)
Eoin Johnson (St Joseph's), Niall Lalor (Kilcavan)
Darren Brennan (Portlaoise), David Donohue (Stradbally), Paddy Fitzpatrick (The Heath)
Ennae Byrne (Arles-Killeen), Fionn McEvoy-Mullally (Stradbally), Evan English (Killeshin)
SUBS:
Ben Dillon (Stradbally), Tom O'Connell (Mountmellick), Fionn O'Sullivan (Crettyard), Callum Hogg (St Joseph's), Jomilio Salvador (Graiguecullen), Dan Boland (Courtwood), Sean Kirby (The Heath), Cathal Buggie (Stradbally), Sam Lynch (St Joseph's)
EXTENDED PANEL:
James Horahan (Graiguecullen), Robbie McEvoy (Mountmellick), Cody Tucker (Graiguecullen), Conor Kearney (O'Dempsey's), Pauric Ramsbottom (Timahoe), Jack Julian (Ballylinan), Jake Byrne (Portlaoise), Ben Howe (Barrowhouse), Darragh Pendergast (Ballyfin)
Tadhg Dinneen is very highly rated. Hope he pushes on to under 20 and senior in years to come.
What I find particularly interesting about the make up of the starting minor team is the return of our traditional powers such as Portlaoise, Joseph's, Graigue and Stradbally back-boning the team. It's good to see as these clubs getting their underage development structures right. On the flip side no players from O'Dempsey's, Portarlington or Ballyroan-Abbey in the starting team or subs. Have the other clubs caught up with them in terms of underage development? or has underage standards slipped in these clubs and too much priority put on successful sides to detriment of those following after?
Quote from: Laois Rising on April 06, 2023, 04:01:38 PM
What I find particularly interesting about the make up of the starting minor team is the return of our traditional powers such as Portlaoise, Joseph's, Graigue and Stradbally back-boning the team. It's good to see as these clubs getting their underage development structures right. On the flip side no players from O'Dempsey's, Portarlington or Ballyroan-Abbey in the starting team or subs. Have the other clubs caught up with them in terms of underage development? or has underage standards slipped in these clubs and too much priority put on successful sides to detriment of those following after?
Joseph's bet Stradbally Parish Gaels in last years minor A final with a team made up of a fair few u16's u15's and even 1 if not 2 u14's
I'd fully expect Joseph's to be even better again this year and to probably play the parish Gaels again in the Minor A final which would be a repeat of the u15 A final of 2 years ago
Portlaoise have a talented bunch of u16's who won the u15A last year and you would think they would be the backbone of a team that will start as favourites for the Minor A title next year and beyond.
At u15 A this year you'd have another right good Joseph's outfit,Portarlington and Park,probably a kick of a ball between the 3 of them with O'Dempseys not too far away
I think port had 3 triallists but none of them committed. O Ds have a chap on the panel but he was injured for last night. Ballyroan just had a less successful crop this year so it's not that standards are slipping in those clubs but just that they for whatever reasons don't have lads on the team
Started very well last night but goals killed them.
Goals are killing us in all our teams both
football and hurling why can't we defend ?
Anyone at the game last night.
Kildare seemed to be on top for the whole game and were convincing winners.
I was in and they put in a very good first half turned over at 7 points all. Second half kildare dominated and won easily. Kildare ability to kick long range points killed the laois defensive structure. I think their keeper kicked 4 frees from 45 mtrs and then they got a few from play from that distance too. Once they got ahead the laois lads struggled to get the ball up the field and then when they did the support just couldn't get there quick enough. Laois probably left 4 or 5 simple points behind them too. Some fine footballers there despite the loss
That's an all time low tonight. 19 point defeat from Wexford.
Shocking. Anyone in the know, can you tell me if they were missing anyone?
Not a 19 point beating in hurling. Its football.
Seen on laois today manager was sent off for an altercation with linesman. Anyone at it see what happened?
Quote from: Jd on April 27, 2023, 01:42:52 PM
I was in and they put in a very good first half turned over at 7 points all. Second half kildare dominated and won easily. Kildare ability to kick long range points killed the laois defensive structure. I think their keeper kicked 4 frees from 45 mtrs and then they got a few from play from that distance too. Once they got ahead the laois lads struggled to get the ball up the field and then when they did the support just couldn't get there quick enough. Laois probably left 4 or 5 simple points behind them too. Some fine footballers there despite the loss
You do well 2 explain this one
Where's the future? It's all a solid mess
Quote from: Batman!!! on May 03, 2023, 11:05:05 PM
Where's the future? It's all a solid mess
I follow all the games very closely in Laois football whether it be club or county and I hate to say it but we STILL haven't hit rock bottom yet despite us being in division 4. I can visibly see our underage teams particularly our minor teams becoming increasingly further off the mark every year . It was like men vs boys down in Wexford park tonight . Wexford were physically a much more superior team to Laois and we had no answer to their power and pace . Laois are not lacking ability or anything but the department where we are CONSTANTLY getting shown up in at all levels is our size , power , pace and mobility compared to other sides . Interestingly enough that Wexford team lost to Wicklow by 3 points and Wexford only bet Carlow by 3 points which suggests that Wexford are nothing special themselves
I think in 3-5 years from now that our senior team will be worse than it currently is now to be honest. I mean for a start the likes of Timmons , Lillis and J Finn who have been great servants will probably pack it in in the next year or two . More worryingly when P Kingston (30 next year ) and particularly OCarroll ( 29 next year ) move on there will be a gaping hole up front . None of the forwards I've seen at minor or u20 for us the past few years look like they will be anywhere near the level of Paul or Evan . I haven't seen anyone as of yet who is capable of replacing OCarrolls size , ball winning ability , ability to get fouled and draw frees and ability to break the tackle and bully full backs with his sheer size . He brings others into play too by plucking dirty ball and throwing it around to others . He's also comfortable shooting off both feet and taking frees with both feet too. Them attributes are not easily replaced especially in a county like Laois where we struggle to do even the basics right . Once he's gone thats our main focal point and scoring threat gone . Everything comes through him . In my eyes he was our closest thing to Donie Kingston in a way .
Basically I feel that it will probably get worse again before it gets better as I think that what's coming through is actually worse again than what's currently on our senior team . Our recent minor teams in the past few years have been a lot worse than the minor teams that most of our current senior players were on . The longer this rut continues the harder it will probably be to convince lads to commit to playing Senior with Laois too . There was as many as 7/8 lads from my club asked to play senior with Laois this year and only 1 lad committed for example. I try to see light at the end of the tunnel for us but it just feels that the walls are still closing in on us with no end in sight for foreseeable future
Amidst all the doom and gloom lets not forget that the mighty Kilkenny almost beat our AI winning minor team back in the day.
Quote from: redsetanta on May 04, 2023, 02:59:27 PM
Amidst all the doom and gloom lets not forget that the mighty Kilkenny almost beat our AI winning minor team back in the day.
"If my Aunt had balls she'd be my Uncle, but she doesn't, so she's not"
Genuine question, is there anyone employed by the county board with respect to strength and conditioning at underage teams? Or is it at the whim of whatever manager we bring in each year?
There should be something put in place from a very early stage, perhaps 14/15 years to get these lads started on the required level because at the moment we seem to be miles behind most teams in this area.
Managers and their coaches (and any related fitness coaches) come and go on a bi-yearly basis to be replaced it seems by yet another journeyman and his backroom staff. Something like fitness, strength and conditioning shouldn't change with a manager and is something that should be handled by the county board.
Quote from: redsetanta on May 04, 2023, 02:59:27 PM
Amidst all the doom and gloom lets not forget that the mighty Kilkenny almost beat our AI winning minor team back in the day.
Something almost happened 26 years ago so cheer up lads.
Quote from: Andy06 on May 05, 2023, 11:52:29 AM
Genuine question, is there anyone employed by the county board with respect to strength and conditioning at underage teams? Or is it at the whim of whatever manager we bring in each year?
There should be something put in place from a very early stage, perhaps 14/15 years to get these lads started on the required level because at the moment we seem to be miles behind most teams in this area.
Managers and their coaches (and any related fitness coaches) come and go on a bi-yearly basis to be replaced it seems by yet another journeyman and his backroom staff. Something like fitness, strength and conditioning shouldn't change with a manager and is something that should be handled by the county board.
The development panels are out on an s+C course whwn they go in at 13 years of age. I think it wasJasonCoffey who ran it across the panels or if he wasn't over a team then he supervised it. He was headhunted by UL as head of their setup. I don't know who's taking over from him now
Didn't Laois appoint a person full time to oversee S&C?
Do all clubs have gyms now? What's the uptake on it from u16s up?
Quote from: Butch Cassidy on May 05, 2023, 04:17:57 PM
Didn't Laois appoint a person full time to oversee S&C?
Do all clubs have gyms now? What's the uptake on it from u16s up?
I think there's a fella appointed to oversee all the Co S+C but I cannot think of his name. I'd imagine that most clubs have a gym now but I suppose they cannot let u18s in unattended due to child safety/insurance concerns this means a group session and clubs might not have the personnel or equipment to have 22 or more lads at it together
There was a fella appointed alright but I wouldn't think much of him. The sooner he and our football GDA are got rid of the better.
Our S&C coach called in the Hurling squads mentors and told them they must cut their panels to 30 even though they have two teams entered into every blitz. Jason Coffey was doing an excellent job and was removed from the squads by the new appointment but has done very little with the squads. The guy we appointed was ran and laughed out of Tipperary GAA only last year but yet we appointed him. It's laughable the way out County Board works. I'm completely fed up of Laois GAA at the minute.
Minor manager and backroom team should be put in at under 16 level and work with the team for the two years. This does not happen. IMO the manager and back room team were too inexperienced and this should have been picked up last year but it wasn't. The question needs to be asked why ? As one man said to me those minor footballers started the year full of confidence but by year end they are all shook with a very low confidence level in the team. Minor, under 20s, Senior are all the same and urgent change is needed at the top
To be fair to de management would de likes of dineen, Emerson, daragh farrell be huge losses? R there others tat weren't available 2?
Quote from: Sir Alex7 on May 07, 2023, 12:30:26 AM
To be fair to de management would de likes of dineen, Emerson, daragh farrell be huge losses? R there others tat weren't available 2?
Dineen was in but injured all year one of the others was in but was let go for whatever reason. The other lad was strongly approached I heard but was involved in rugby in a big way. Three big players I reckon but would they have made that much difference I don't know. There was a big trials process at the start of the year but maybe you and I would see something in a fella that the management missed so there's always a few possibles not on a panel I suppose