Clean Slate - New thread
Can we win the Joe Mc in 2024??
I believe they are back in training.
Who are the new members of the squad? Do we have everyone back from last year?
Presume our fixtures will be (based on reversing last year's);
Offaly (Home)
Down (Away)
Kerry (Home)
Meath & Westmeath?
Westmeath at home would be ideal.
Not sure how they decide the final two fixtures.
I am unsure that we are capable of beating two of Offaly, Kerry & Westmeath
AND
Beating one of them again in the final.
If Laois get their best 15 on the field this year they will win the McDonagh.
The trouble is certain players not committing as always and also management not selecting the best players available. The best player in the club championship this year couldnt start for Laois which makes little sense to me
So we have offaly at home in April in first round of the Joe McDonagh big game a win would be a great start.
Quote from: mcwregor on November 26, 2023, 11:02:02 AMClean Slate - New thread
Can we win the Joe Mc in 2024??
I believe they are back in training.
Who are the new members of the squad? Do we have everyone back from last year?
Quote from: Verbal on November 26, 2023, 01:30:55 PMPresume our fixtures will be (based on reversing last year's);
Offaly (Home)
Down (Away)
Kerry (Home)
Meath & Westmeath?
Westmeath at home would be ideal.
Not sure how they decide the final two fixtures.
I am unsure that we are capable of beating two of Offaly, Kerry & Westmeath
AND
Beating one of them again in the final.
Confirmed20/21 April- Offaly (Home)
27 April- Meath (Away)
4/5 May- Kerry (Away)
18/19 May- Down (Home)
25/26 May- Westmeath (Away)
Kerry away again.
3 out of 5 away again.
Laois can feel hard done by.
Unfortunately, we are at a point where away makes a difference against the likes of Kerry & Westmeath.
I don't think we will win both of those games.
We can't afford to lose both.
It'll be hard for us to win that Joe McDonagh on last year's form. Almost more important to have a good showing in the league, ensure we're back in Div 1B for '25 when the leagues are restructured into divisions of 7.
First campaign with a new manager last year and our form got better as the season went on. Let a couple of games slip which done us in the end. Had a good away win against Kerry. Hopefully lessons learned from last year. No reason why we can't win the McDonagh in my opinion.
Any update will cha Dwyer ór Seán Downey bé back for next year?
Looking forward to what should be an interesting year for the Laois hurlers.
The standout fixture in the league is the game at home v Carlow, see how we are progressing when playing the Joe McDonagh champions and a team preparing for the Leinster championship. The top 2 in the division will qualify for the newly restructured Division 1B in 2025.
The Joe McDonagh cup campaign promises to be as competitive as ever. My feeling is that the final will involve 2 of Laois/Westmeath/Offaly. Our first game at home v Offaly is massive. Winning that would take a lot of the heat off. If we lose to Offaly, the pressure would be huge to get the win away against Westmeath in the last round. Obviously, we couldn't afford to lose both.
Would be great to be McDonagh champions again. Hopefully we can get to the final anyway and give it a crack.
Good to hear of Lee cleere returning. Not sure of the panel mKe up but there are plenty of lads that might not be available which will weaken what we could potentially have. I understand Paddy Purcell is unlikely to return. Jack Kelly has not been asked back. Ross king is currently not with the squad and uncertainty around his future. James keyes is in America and would be a big loss if he stays out there. Cha Dwyer and Sean Downey are still abroad, not sure if they will he around either. PJ Scully is not part of the panel for 2024 either. A couple of others we could do with are Ciaran McEvoy, Eanna Lyons etc.
On the positives Picky Maher and Willie dunphy are back along with a few youngsters like cathal and Tom cuddy, David dooley, jer quinlan, Aaron phelan and a couple more. Also heard that Mark kavanagh might be making a return.
We will need them all, westmeath and an up and coming offaly will be hard bet. Be great to get to a mcdonagh final and a day out in croker.
Quote from: mcwregor on December 17, 2023, 04:04:05 PMGood to hear of Lee cleere returning. Not sure of the panel mKe up but there are plenty of lads that might not be available which will weaken what we could potentially have. I understand Paddy Purcell is unlikely to return. Jack Kelly has not been asked back. Ross king is currently not with the squad and uncertainty around his future. James keyes is in America and would be a big loss if he stays out there. Cha Dwyer and Sean Downey are still abroad, not sure if they will he around either. PJ Scully is not part of the panel for 2024 either. A couple of others we could do with are Ciaran McEvoy, Eanna Lyons etc.
On the positives Picky Maher and Willie dunphy are back along with a few youngsters like cathal and Tom cuddy, David dooley, jer quinlan, Aaron phelan and a couple more. Also heard that Mark kavanagh might be making a return.
We will need them all, westmeath and an up and coming offaly will be hard bet. Be great to get to a mcdonagh final and a day out in croker.
According to this article everyone is back on board.
https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/gaa/1373513/theres-no-stone-being-left-unturned-laois-hurling-manager-willie-maher.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Quote from: les Antiques on December 18, 2023, 07:14:42 PMQuote from: mcwregor on December 17, 2023, 04:04:05 PMGood to hear of Lee cleere returning. Not sure of the panel mKe up but there are plenty of lads that might not be available which will weaken what we could potentially have. I understand Paddy Purcell is unlikely to return. Jack Kelly has not been asked back. Ross king is currently not with the squad and uncertainty around his future. James keyes is in America and would be a big loss if he stays out there. Cha Dwyer and Sean Downey are still abroad, not sure if they will he around either. PJ Scully is not part of the panel for 2024 either. A couple of others we could do with are Ciaran McEvoy, Eanna Lyons etc.
On the positives Picky Maher and Willie dunphy are back along with a few youngsters like cathal and Tom cuddy, David dooley, jer quinlan, Aaron phelan and a couple more. Also heard that Mark kavanagh might be making a return.
We will need them all, westmeath and an up and coming offaly will be hard bet. Be great to get to a mcdonagh final and a day out in croker.
According to this article everyone is back on board.
https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/gaa/1373513/theres-no-stone-being-left-unturned-laois-hurling-manager-willie-maher.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
I heard Mark Kavanagh has reluctantly left the panel due to his knee holding him back.
One worry I have is the amount of u20s on the panel. A few players are only gone 18 and on the panel. Personally I think it's wrong. Let them develop at their own age.
Hard to see pitches playable for games this week shocking rain falling.
Quote from: Laois man on January 02, 2024, 12:55:21 PMHard to see pitches playable for games this week shocking rain falling.
Match Thursday in C/B moved to COE in Portlaoise.
Good result on the scoreboard.
Laois 2-18 v 0-18 Offaly.
Yes, great to get the win. Offaly hadn't a particularly strong team out, but I suppose our lads were down a few, too. Strange not to have a free-taker in the forwards, all the same. Did Rowland top-score for us? The attack only seemed to spark when Willie Dunphy came on in the second half, and Aaron Dunphy got a few nice scores. Duggan did OK, and like the work-rate of Martin Phelan - as always. He scored a couple of nice points, too. Good to see Lennon back, and Cleere, although he seemed quite a bit off the pace. Didn't mind Lynch at CB. However, it wasn't exactly a marvellous game - plenty of slipping in the drizzly conditions. Good crowd, though. Probably more than will be at some of the Div. 2 games.
Good win. Offaly finished with 10 of the team that started in the Joe mcdonagh final. A few of the younger lads were good.
Lets hope the lads get going early this year. They got better as the season progressed last year but left games behind them from winning positions before a great win away to Kerry.
I know you can't read too much into a game this early in the year but a great start.
We are more than capable of wining the McDonagh cup.
You have to be happy with the effort and the application within the squad after the offaly game. Work rate was excellent for a walsh game in January. The trick is to keep that going in Division 2 games where laois will be overwhelming favourites for most games.
I was talking to an offaly man who tells me there is genuine concern that for all the young, nippy talented hurlers coming through a lot of them are small in statute. Maybe lacking the physical
Presence to make it at the top level of inter County hurling.
In fairness that was evident on Thursday evening. Laois boys were towering over a lot of the offaly players. Mark dowlings goal, one example.
A good start but that's all it is.
I see that the Galway game against Offaly was eventually abandoned due to fog. Galway were giving them a bit of a beating at that stage anyhow.
Quote from: redsetanta on January 08, 2024, 12:11:44 PMI see that the Galway game against Offaly was eventually abandoned due to fog. Galway were giving them a bit of a beating at that stage anyhow.
It was 3-11 to 1-8 at half-time, I think. What was it when it was abandoned?
4-15 to 1-11
Seemingly, the Offaly goal was a joke, and the Galway 'keeper never even saw the ball. One thing playing football in fog, but hurling?!! Luminous yellow sliothars could be the answer!
First teamers missing from Offaly game
R Mullaney
P Maher
R King
P Purcell
M Keyes
D Hartnett/FC Fennell
Didnt start but came in
P Delaney
W Dunphy
Players Abroad ( Looking unlikely we'll have any of them)
C Dwyer
S Downey
J Keyes
Looking like a decent panel of players at present, there will be considerable competition for places this year by the looks of it. Would love to see a fit cha dwyer leading the line up front but it looks like hes not going to be around.
Absentees (Not committed/asked in)
J Kelly
E lyons
C McEvoy
PJ Scully
L Obular
Heard some chat that Mullaney was going abroad in the summer. Hoping the timing of that doesn't affect his ability to commit. Didn't see him at the Offaly match, all the same.
In the 'absent' category, Macca is one that would be no harm to have, I'd have thought. The others have probably given their best by now, and I don't think Obular has the hurling for inter-county level.
Quote from: burdizzo on January 09, 2024, 08:45:44 PMHeard some chat that Mullaney was going abroad in the summer. Hoping the timing of that doesn't affect his ability to commit. Didn't see him at the Offaly match, all the same.
In the 'absent' category, Macca is one that would be no harm to have, I'd have thought. The others have probably given their best by now, and I don't think Obular has the hurling for inter-county level.
agree with the above, although J kelly of R/E would surely be a big addition, he wouldn't be that old? I don't know if he's not committed or wasn't asked back in, but i would have him in.
Quote from: Ballygowen on January 10, 2024, 09:01:07 AMQuote from: burdizzo on January 09, 2024, 08:45:44 PMHeard some chat that Mullaney was going abroad in the summer. Hoping the timing of that doesn't affect his ability to commit. Didn't see him at the Offaly match, all the same.
In the 'absent' category, Macca is one that would be no harm to have, I'd have thought. The others have probably given their best by now, and I don't think Obular has the hurling for inter-county level.
agree with the above, although J kelly of R/E would surely be a big addition, he wouldn't be that old? I don't know if he's not committed or wasn't asked back in, but i would have him in.
Jack Kelly's form for the County has been pretty average since Eddie Brenanns first year in charge.
Don't think he is a huge loss.
Mullaney would be a loss if he's not around for championship.
We have a good mix of talented young players joining the panel and chomping at the bit to make their mark combined with very realistic and tangible expectations of winning silverware this year to create a feel good, buzz to Laois hurling for 2024. A positive and winning environment will hopefully help bed in the young talent coming through. A year of Division 1 losses and bad beatings in a Leinster championship could have knocked the players development, interest and enthusiasm. Barely missing out last year when we were the strongest Joe McDonagh team by the end of the the group stages of the competition might prove a blessing in disguise for us. 2024 gives the management team to space and games to blood new players, create a winning mentality and hopefully have us in a stronger position in 2025 when we potentially return to division 1 hurling and the Leinster championship proper.
Pre season or not conceding 6-29 against a depleted Galway is shambolic. Is Maher Making any progress at all ?
We actually played lots of good hurling and there were plenty of positives.
I suppose the major thing would be to plug the gaps and stop conceding goals. The Galway FF line looked like creating goal opportunities every time they got the ball. LOC did plenty of good things at FB but was vulnerable if turned at all. Lee Cleere was similar unfortunately. Both are excellent hurlers but maybe better suited elsewhere. Hartnett is due to come back but we need a 3. Would Podge Del or Mullaney be suited. Also wonder if Fiachra C Fennell might be best suited to 2 or 4.
Outside of that Aaron Dunphy was good, D Dooley set up the goal brilliantly and did well overall. Quinlan also looked really dangerous in possession.
It might not have been Galways strongest team but their pool of hurling talent is much much deeper than ours. They have 40-60 Fitzgibbon cup hurlers every year. I think we are in the 10-15 category for past 10 years.
Galway game was a shambles in my opinion no positives to take apart maybe Aaron Dunphy .
I left it 10 mins early because I was frozen and had forgot my hat .
I was surprised there was no more goals on the board for Galway when I heard the result after .
Our full back line was so slow when Galway got the ball in it was like a backs and forwards game you'd see where backs don't care.
I don't see much progress under the management but I probably don't got to enough games so maybe my comments could be a tad harsh
Interesting choice for captain for the year. Wouldn't have seen Aaron as captain material but I wouldn't know much about the man. Good choice in lads opinion?
Quote from: Unlaoised on January 16, 2024, 10:55:05 AMGalway game was a shambles in my opinion no positives to take apart maybe Aaron Dunphy .
I left it 10 mins early because I was frozen and had forgot my hat .
I was surprised there was no more goals on the board for Galway when I heard the result after .
Our full back line was so slow when Galway got the ball in it was like a backs and forwards game you'd see where backs don't care.
I don't see much progress under the management but I probably don't got to enough games so maybe my comments could be a tad harsh
Agree with the above comments by UnLaoised. Was at the game myself with the young lads. Full back line really got exposed for pace, was a big worry, Galway looked like getting a goal anytime the ball went in. Only for Rowland making a number of super saves could of been way more goals. Shanahan was missed, as was Hartnett in there.
Really impressed by Tom cuddy so far, has made the step up to senior look easy. Quinlan and comerford also nice new additions.
Forward line still a bit all over the place, thought the new captain Aaron Dunphy work rate was impressive again, just need more lads working around him.
Hopefully management and players take learnings from this game, so these same issues won't come back to hurt us in Joe McDonagh.
Full back line is a worry. Our two corner backs were taken to school in the first round of the joe mc against offaly lasy year too. It was the main reason for Offaly winning that game. Eoghan Cahill and Charlie Mitchell went to town. FC Fennel was corner back that day and wasnt good, i would give him another go there tho as he has got great pace and he did a very good man marking job on Dessie Hutchinson a couple of years ago. I think we need shanahan in there too, he has a bit of size and is pacey too, he could be trialed at full back or if not id have him in the corner.
As good a hurler as Podge is i dont think he is suited to the full back line.
First 15??
E Rowland
FC Fennell
R Mullaney
I Shanahan
L Cleere
P Delaney
T Cuddy
P Purcell
A Corby
S Maher
A Dunphy
W Dunphy
M Keyes
M Phelan/J Quinlan/ D Dooley
R King
D Conway, D Hartnett, L O Connell, J Lennon, C Comerford, P Dunne, G Lynch, S Bergin
Could be leaving out a few
(dusting off this long dormant account)
Hello, lads!
I hope all is well with you.
Welcome back Bruce.
Did you manage to get over to Durrow?
Quote from: redsetanta on January 22, 2024, 09:56:58 AMWelcome back Bruce.
Did you manage to get over to Durrow?
Thank you!
Well, early last year, we had the money all saved up to get back there -- finally. We bought a couple of travel books to help us start planning our trip when my wife's car made it clear it was ready to give up the ghost. So instead of a trip back there (probably several trips), we have a yellow Honda Fit in the driveway. :'(
Quote from: redsetanta on January 22, 2024, 09:56:58 AMWelcome back Bruce.
Did you manage to get over to Durrow?
I heard it said by many that the demise in Laois hurling over the last couple of years can be attributed to Mossy Bruce disappearing off the scene. Now that you are back, I expect Laois' fortunes to take a turn again.
Good to have you back Bruce. Hopefully we will have some success to celebrate on the forum in 2024.
Quote from: Laois Rising on January 23, 2024, 04:05:01 PMI heard it said by many that the demise in Laois hurling over the last couple of years can be attributed to Mossy Bruce disappearing off the scene. Now that you are back, I expect Laois' fortunes to take a turn again.
Good to have you back Bruce. Hopefully we will have some success to celebrate on the forum in 2024.
Haha! Wait. Damn, now I feel guilty.
LAOIS hurled cork in a challenge match in rathdowney..cork won 1-21 1-15... Team tat started was
Rowland...Noah Quinlan,Liam O Connell,Diarmuid Conway...tom cuddy,Mullaney,fiacra C Fennell...Willie Dunphy and paddy Purcell in midfield... David Dooley,Aaron Dunphy,Cody Comerford...jer Quinlan,Martin phelan,picky...subs used in 2nd half included mark Dowling,James Duggan,Aidan Corby,cathal Dunne,Eric Killeen
The final score flattered Cork. Laois were back to a point down and missed an equalising point with about 5mins to go. Picky missed a few frees that looked scoreable.
What sort of a Cork team was it?
Strong cork team. Had most of them
Quote from: Sir Alex7 on January 27, 2024, 02:59:26 PMLAOIS hurled cork in a challenge match in rathdowney..cork won 1-21 1-15... Team tat started was
Rowland...Noah Quinlan,Liam O Connell,Diarmuid Conway...tom cuddy,Mullaney,fiacra C Fennell...Willie Dunphy and paddy Purcell in midfield... David Dooley,Aaron Dunphy,Cody Comerford...jer Quinlan,Martin phelan,picky...subs used in 2nd half included mark Dowling,James Duggan,Aidan Corby,cathal Dunne,Eric Killeen
Good to see Cathal Dunne getting in. Strange how little game time we have given to back up keepers over the last 8 or 9 years!
We all know ER is number 1. But things pop up!
That's positive, we need find a way to stop the big teams from running up huge scores like galway did a couple of weeks ago.
Who played well for laois?
Game against Down this weekend. Nothing much to learn from it as we should beat them handy enough. Will management go with 'best' 15 or will panel players start?
The tougher league games will come later.
I don't think Down will be too bad. Lost 4 games in the league last year but only lost to Offaly by 3 and Kerry by 1. I'm not sure what their prep has been like this year and I understand that Trevor Fletcher joined their backroom recently enough. Laois should win but wouldn't totally dismiss Down. Often the so-called inferior teams do well in the early stages of the league (when pitches are heaviest and especially if they have a good block done pre-Christmas and some games played after it) and do less well later in the year.
Hearing of discontent within the squad. Some hearsay around the county that Mahers new addition to the management team walked from the setup in the last few weeks.
Any truth to this?
Quote from: Galtee1 on March 05, 2024, 03:46:49 PMHearing of discontent within the squad. Some hearsay around the county that Mahers new addition to the management team walked from the setup in the last few weeks.
Any truth to this?
All good in the camp . Situation being overblown.
Quote from: les Antiques on March 06, 2024, 05:25:37 PMQuote from: Galtee1 on March 05, 2024, 03:46:49 PMHearing of discontent within the squad. Some hearsay around the county that Mahers new addition to the management team walked from the setup in the last few weeks.
Any truth to this?
All good in the camp . Situation being overblown.
Hope so, the last thing we need now is behind the scenes distractions. We really need to win JMD this year, otherwise Offaly will be overtaking us again.
Won't be easy win the JMD offaly and westmeath are ahead of us the way we are hurling at the moment.
Quote from: Laois man on March 06, 2024, 09:28:14 PMWon't be easy win the JMD offaly and westmeath are ahead of us the way we are hurling at the moment.
I'd have faith we will give them a rattle. We need to get some of the absent lads back asap though.
Offaly and Westmeath have both put in good performances. We've struggled to be honest.
Not sure that we've improved on last year based on our league performances.
If Maher has put all his eggs into the 'peaking' at the right time basket we'd really need to hit the ground running in championship. With Westmeath the last game, up in Mullingar, we really need to be beating Offaly on April 21st in O'Moore Park
Team v Meath
1. Enda Rowland
2. Ian Shanahan
3. Liam O'Connell
4. Diarmuid Conway
5. Ryan Mullaney
6. Podge Delaney
7. Tom Cuddy
8. Aidan Corby
9. Paddy Purcell
10 Martin Phelan
11 Stephen Maher
12 David Dooley
13 Jer Quinlan
14 Aaron Dunphy
15 Tomas Keyes