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Well, they did beat Wexford in 2013. Or are they not a big gun any more?
However, extremely disappointing minor result, and you're right - they just can't beat Kilkenny...

Can't you be in the square now, once the ball is struck?
Oh, after that first goal, it was like the bad old days again. Up to that - for the first 15 mins - they'd been doing really well, Galway had a something like 8 or 9 wides, there was good intelligent running off the ball, and they were managing to keep it tight. Once the goal went in, Galway couldn't miss, and Leix couldn't get a sniff at it. Soft mentally?
Was very impressed with Paddy Purcell in midfield, and Tommy Fitz did well in the first quarter.
I must say, though, Galway are some outfit, and will be hard stopped this year.

Fair play!

Absolutely fantastic performance, great work in the backs, and some superb shooting in the forwards. No goals, but that Laoise were the ones w/ the chances, shows how effective the defence, and the sweeper system, was. A great spell in the second quarter, when four down, to get 0-8 without reply and go in four up. And, importantly, the concentration didn't waver in the last 10 minutes. Quite a sight to see the Offaly faithful streaming out at that stage!
Delighted for them all, but most of all for the old servants; the likes of Tommy Fitz, Joe Fitz, and - yes - Matt Whelan, who all had stormers.
Now, a quandary: the seniors in Tullamore, June 20th in a semi-final, and the minors in a semi-final on June 20th in Nowlan Park... What to do?

I think Foyle is still injured. Anyway, he probably hasn't done enough hurling lately. However, Maher should certainly start.

I hope you're right. We'll see...

Personally, I find it hard to be optimistic about the hurlers. I've seen too many let-downs against Offaly, and they haven't beaten them in championship since 1972, or something, so many of us - myself included - haven't seen it. On the other hand, I think the footballers will probably beat Kildare, who aren't going great at the moment. Mind you, I'm no expert on that...

I have a big favor to ask. It's been a few years since I've been following the hurling back there and I'd like to reacquaint myself with the County panel. Would someone list the players who've played the most in League and the Championship this year and note what club the players are from? Also, are Conor and Brian Dunne still playing for Laois?

Thanks!
Bruce

Conor Dunne has started a lot of the games; he's the only one from The Harps on the panel as far as I know.
So, off the top of my head, there's also: Tommy Fitz and Cahir Healy (Portlaoise); goalies Enda Rowland and Eoin Reilly (both Abbeyleix); John A Delaney, Stephen Maher, Willie Hyland (Ballacolla); Brian Stapleton, Matthew Whelan, Neil Foyle, Joe Campion, PJ Scully (Borris Kilcotton); Zane Keenan and Dwayne Palmer (Camross); Cha Dwyer and Jimmy Walsh (Ballinakill); Joe Fitzpatrick, Patrick Purcell, Ross King (Rathdowney-Errill); Ben Conroy (Slieve Bloom); and Brendan Reddin (Castletown).
Might've forgotten one or two...

Ross is out for 6 - 8 weeks, I think.
James Walsh was centre back when Whelan was injured before. It didn't work that well, in my opinion. Pity was, Whelan was playing much better since he came back from his injury... Dunno what the answer is, really.
Laoise have lost Whelan and Plunkett, and the already slim chance they had of beating Offaly, it seems.

I don't think Cheddar was there, whatever's up.

Absolutely, well done Cha - his goal obviously the turning point. However, in fairness, Westmeath weren't too bad. Certainly better than Carlow, and Laoise dug it out in the end. It looked dicey after Murtagh got his goal, though I thought Healy really improved after that lapse. Things may have been a little easier, only Zane was having a bit of a nightmare from the frees, and Alan Kelly - again! - would hardly give them one at all. With any luck, he won't be reffing the Offaly game. I'd imagine Maher will start that game, too. Hopefully Ross is all right, though it looks like he was badly hurt enough. He was playing pretty well.

Kilkenny it is.

What's the story when teams are level on points? Assuming Laois beat Westmeath and Antrim beat Carlow...

Currently
Westmeath 4pts +19
Antrim 2pts -16
Laois 2pts +2

Laois' third place is the head-to-head (again assumed) but if three teams are level, do they simply disregard the Carlow results for each team?

Oooh, I wouldn't make either of those two assumptions. Carlow still have a lot to play for, it's in Dr. Cullen Park, and Antrim don't seem to travel that well. They're cutting the round robin group to three for 2016, so the last placed team automatically goes down, and the second last plays the 2015 Christy Ring winners. So, the stakes are quite high! If Laoise lose to Westmeath, they will, at best, be in another relegation playoff.

This habit of falling asleep and not closing out games in a bit of a worry. Carlow were well beaten halfway through the first half, but were let right back into it. In fact, the third quarter was the only period where Laoise showed what they're capable of, at all, and in the first half Carlow seemed far more eager, and were getting in hooks and blocks much more than our lads. Poor Willy caught some great ball, but his radar was turned off, though he wasn't the only one guilty of bad wides in the first half. Obviously, Ben Conroy's 1-3 was vital, and he could have had another goal, too. Amazing sometimes when you come on, things just go for you! In fairness to Rowland, he made a couple of important contributions - maybe they were bread and butter stuff, but still, he did 'em. I see they dropped a man back in the second half, too, which seemed to work - until they went to sleep, that is.
I tell you, Laoise getting out of this round-robin is far from a certainty. Westmeath will be on a high, and I'd say there could be a bit of nervousness now.

I can assure you, Skull, that that wasn't my lad. He was there w/ my missus, and there's no way she'd let him do that!