21 April, Sunday
Laois v. Offaly
28 April, Sunday
Meath v. Laois
5 May, Sunday
Kerry v. Laois
19 May, Sunday
Laois v. Down
26 May, Sunday
Westmeath v. Laois
The GAA website didn't have any fixtures listed, yet. I got these off the RTÉ website (no times or venues listed, yet).
Really need to be beating Offaly at home. Wouldn't fancy going to Westmeath needing the win to get to the final.
The extra game against Carlow is welcome and there should be an air of optimism heading into the the Offaly game.
Last year the team had a number of injuries or players just coming back from injury when we played Offaly in the opening round of the Joe McDonagh. We were also coming off the back of a poor league campaign. This year the team look to be in a far healthier place for the start of this year's championship and I really hope they will be carrying a feel good factor into the game with a victory over Carlow. It really looks like a three horse race between ourselves, Westmeath and Offaly for the Joe McDonagh. The last two performances in the league have been very encouraging- this Laois team might be peaking at the right time this year. Offaly have stepped up from last year as well. Should be a right competitive encounter when the two sides meet.
One week to go until the hurlers kick off their 2024 campaign against Offaly. We really need to lay down a marker here and win this to have any strong hopes of making the JMD Final.
On another note, how long is the JMD competition running now? Since 2018? Still no competition sponsors. Shame on the GAA top brass.
Quote from: redsetanta on March 25, 2024, 04:33:17 PMReally need to be beating Offaly at home. Wouldn't fancy going to Westmeath needing the win to get to the final.
The extra game against Carlow is welcome and there should be an air of optimism heading into the the Offaly game.
I would have thought Offaly will be hot favourites to beat us based on the league where they played Waterford, Wexford, Clare, Kilkenny & Cork. Apart from the Cork game Offaly were reasonably competitive against top tier opponents including both finalists Kilkenny and Clare. All the while Laois play the likes of Carlow, Kildare & Meath.
If you were a betting man you would have to go for Offaly all day long.
Huge game for this group of players. Probably our best panel for many years. Offaly are c**k of the walk at the minute with all these superstars coming. I think our lads will wire into them, they have turned a corner since the league game with Carlow. Lose and we are in trouble, win and we have a real chance of getting to a final and can dream of the glory days of 2019 again. Wouldnt that be fantastic.
We need a big laois crowd on Sunday and the clubs need to drum up a big following. Its the least the players deserve for their efforts.
We are we capable of beating offaly
Quote from: mcwregor on April 17, 2024, 03:31:10 PMHuge game for this group of players. Probably our best panel for many years. Offaly are c**k of the walk at the minute with all these superstars coming. I think our lads will wire into them, they have turned a corner since the league game with Carlow. Lose and we are in trouble, win and we have a real chance of getting to a final and can dream of the glory days of 2019 again. Wouldnt that be fantastic.
We need a big laois crowd on Sunday and the clubs need to drum up a big following. Its the least the players deserve for their efforts.
Well said. The league final performance was one of the best Laois performances in years. Hopefully they can find another gear this weekend and having a good support at the game will surely help.
No Willie Dunphy, Ross or Picky in the starting 15. Big calls.
This is the 7th edition of the Joe McDonagh Cup having been launched back in 2018. Every year it has delivered as a very competitive competition and I'm sure this year will be no different.
Certain Munster hurling "snobs" try to belittle the Leinster hurling championship let alone the Joe McDonagh. There needs to be more coverage and promotion of the smaller teams as the "big fish" get enough coverage as it is. Thankfully the link with the Liam McCarthy Cup remains despite an attempt last year to remove that link. Who can forget the famous day we beat Dublin in 2019 and got to contest and All Ireland quater final against eventual champions Tipperary.
As for this year, a massive game awaits today. Best of luck to Willie Maher and his men for this campaign. The ambition obviously has to be an appearance in the Joe McDonagh final on June 8th and see what we can achieve from there.
(https://scontent.fdub1-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/436350832_815228257307050_5963940277461736900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=-vEVyj3JW80Ab5P8c0T&_nc_ht=scontent.fdub1-4.fna&oh=00_AfDFeBATNqzjDU8D3zcDgKJhKyfxptK4MvUnvQznenkUxQ&oe=662ACB9D)
Really strong bench.
That's what we need.
Rare we have it!
Have a good feeling about this one.
For @Mossy Bruce over on the west coast USA, you can watch the match live on clubber.tv for €12 / $13. They also have an annual pass for €149 which is great value as alot of club matches are shown also.
With the greatest of respect - f**k them!
Delighted with the win!
Even more delighted with how we won!
Oh that was one sweet win. Tom Cuddy hurled some game. Paddy Purcell deserves the freedom of Laois. Rowland was immense. Dooley came good in the second half as did Shanahan. A brilliant start to championship hurling 2024. Kerry beating Westmeath opens up the group. We should beat Meath and Down so we'd just need a win over either Westmeath or Kerry to make the final now.
Do you think maybe Rowland needs to go for fewer of those long range frees?
An awful amount of ball wasted today.
When it's not happening of a day, I think it has to be called to change tack.
There was a bit of pushing and shoving after the game. I only saw the aftermath where those involved were being separated. I heard someone saying that the opposing managers were involved. It fizzled out fairly quickly anyway.
Great finish from our lads who looked dead and buried when 6 points down. A grand day out in the sun :)
Offaly manager johny Kelly couldn't take his beating. He was going at wille Dunphy aswell.
Quote from: Verbal on April 21, 2024, 03:37:34 PMDelighted with the win!
Even more delighted with how we won!
Exactly! Usually them that get the late goal to sink us, so this was indeed sweet. Not as good as the Dublin win, but still very good! Of course, it's only a first step. Great to have Picky to come in in the second half - and he had a lot to add to the mix besides just the frees. Purcell's trademark goal really the turning point. Up till then, our forwards couldn't really get motoring, with a lot of terrible ball in. In fairness, Offaly also guilty of hitting a bit of aimless ball. But after that first Purcell goal, it became real helter-skelter stuff, and in injury-time there can't have been a free given and the backs defended for their lives. Often wondered why Tom Cuddy was there, but he contributed well today. What's the odds of a re-match in the final? Quite short, I'd say!
Quote from: burdizzo on April 21, 2024, 07:50:44 PMWhat's the odds of a re-match in the final? Quite short, I'd say!
If Westmeath turn Offaly over next weekend, their season is effectively over.
Quote from: G@@ on April 21, 2024, 12:48:42 PMFor @Mossy Bruce over on the west coast USA, you can watch the match live on clubber.tv for €12 / $13. They also have an annual pass for €149 which is great value as alot of club matches are shown also.
Thanks, G@@! Unfortunately I forgot to set my alarm (for 5:30 am) to follow the match. AAAARGH! :'( Anyway, I will check this out for future matches. Thanks, again.
What a great start to the JMD. Should be well capable of beating Meath next day out but need to be wary of both Down and Kerry while Westmeath despite their result yesterday will be a very tough game.
A lot of hurling to be done.
Very impressed with Tom Cuddy, Corby, Dooley and of course Paddy. Rowland excellent again too although as someone else said, maybe he could change it up a bit with the long range frees.
Wouldn't be impossible that we'll meet Offaly again. That would be great for hurling in the county.
powerful finish but we not be leavin it so late next time mauybes. paddy is a bayshyt n great to have willie n picky n roddy there to close it out. biffos left the park fare quiet this week
Great to see a bit of character and grit to get the win
.
There's not doubt it wouldn't have happened without the subs and lads are right, I don't remember seeing a bench with as much experience or talent on it.
I suppose the only downside is that Offaly could have been much further ahead at half time which would have made life a lot more difficult.
Anyhow, a major hurdle out of the way and hopefully the lads stay focused and power on to the final.
Fantastic to dig out the win but much to improve on. A lot of our passes were inaccurate with lads having to try catch balls high over their heads or stretch out a hurl which impacted the fluidity. It's been a while since we could comfortably make substitutions with lads of equal quality. After 50 mins I would have not been upset by a narrow defeat with a good chance of a rematch in the final down the road, but the win was a bonus. With the exception of Screeney, I don't think Offaly had the same depth on the bench. I have felt Picky has seemed a bit lazy the last while but he turned the game yesterday.
Well done to all involved.
It's no surprise that Laois' upturn in performance and results has coincided with Mossy Bruce's return to the forum!!!!
Quote from: Laois Rising on April 22, 2024, 01:31:27 PMIt's no surprise that Laois' upturn in performance and results has coincided with Mossy Bruce's return to the forum!!!!
I'm not going anywhere, so on to the All-Ireland Championship in June!
( :o yikes)
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on April 22, 2024, 05:30:22 AMQuote from: G@@ on April 21, 2024, 12:48:42 PMFor @Mossy Bruce over on the west coast USA, you can watch the match live on clubber.tv for €12 / $13. They also have an annual pass for €149 which is great value as alot of club matches are shown also.
Thanks, G@@! Unfortunately I forgot to set my alarm (for 5:30 am) to follow the match. AAAARGH! :'( Anyway, I will check this out for future matches. Thanks, again.
Forgot to mention, the match commentary is in English too!
Meath away tomorrow in Trim at 3pm. Hopefully some of the bench can get a run out here and give them championship game time.
Team has been announced:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GMFWx5tXMAEDreS?format=jpg&name=medium)
Good that we have the luxury of letting the u20s play w/ the u20s.
Quote from: burdizzo on April 26, 2024, 11:56:44 AMGood that we have the luxury of letting the u20s play w/ the u20s.
Yup, right decision.
Quote from: G@@ on April 26, 2024, 12:10:12 PMQuote from: burdizzo on April 26, 2024, 11:56:44 AMGood that we have the luxury of letting the u20s play w/ the u20s.
Yup, right decision.
I think Westmeath are in a bit of a bind on that one, in so far as they have a reasonably good u20 side playing Dublin on Sunday, but also a must-win game v Offaly in the McDonagh on Saturday. What do they do?!
If Laois were to lose to Kerry, Down or Westmeath you could have a scenario that the Joe McDonagh Final places end up being decided by points difference come end of the league part of the competition. Important that Laois put a decent score up on Meath this weekend.
Quote from: Laois Rising on April 26, 2024, 04:03:48 PMIf Laois were to lose to Kerry, Down or Westmeath you could have a scenario that the Joe McDonagh Final places end up being decided by points difference come end of the league part of the competition. Important that Laois put a decent score up on Meath this weekend.
Laois 7-29 v 1-16 Meath.
A 31 point cushion after a sluggish start. That's two games now where we start off rather slowly.
In Tullamore, Offaly scored 2-23 to Westmeath's 1-20. So, Offaly not gone yet.
Is that the biggest ever score by the Laois seniors?
Quote from: Zooming around on April 27, 2024, 07:40:06 PMIs that the biggest ever score by the Laois seniors?
Not sure! Most likely up there though. Not often we post 5 or more goals in a game.
Antrim beating Wexford tonight is very interesting. Dare we dream to win JMD and meet them in the All Ireland preliminary quarter final! :o
Antrim would probably need to beat Dublin in Parnell Park on May 11th to accomplish that feat.
Quote from: G@@ on April 27, 2024, 10:38:38 PM...Antrim beating Wexford tonight is very interesting. Dare we dream to win JMD and meet them in the All Ireland preliminary quarter final! :o
I like it!
I don't remember a scoreline like that for Laois. 50 points in total.
Must certainly be a biggest winning margin.
Nobody would have predicted Kerry and Laois at the top of the table with 2 from 2. Offaly go there next day out. Another 'knockout' game for Offaly.
Quote from: G@@ on April 27, 2024, 10:38:38 PMQuote from: Zooming around on April 27, 2024, 07:40:06 PMIs that the biggest ever score by the Laois seniors?
Not sure! Most likely up there though. Not often we post 5 or more goals in a game.
Antrim beating Wexford tonight is very interesting. Dare we dream to win JMD and meet them in the All Ireland preliminary quarter final! :o
Antrim would probably need to beat Dublin in Parnell Park on May 11th to accomplish that feat.
Laois definitely have the winning of this tournament in them, but would wait till after the win before getting Antrim.
Carlow have done really well considering no points but have not shipped the heavy defeat that Antrim had last week so when we meet our advantage is a home game against them.
Dublin are not going to take us lightly either so would take an even bigger result away from home to gain third for us.
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on April 29, 2024, 02:37:46 PMLaois definitely have the winning of this tournament in them, but would wait till after the win before getting Antrim.
Carlow have done really well considering no points but have not shipped the heavy defeat that Antrim had last week so when we meet our advantage is a home game against them.
Dublin are not going to take us lightly either so would take an even bigger result away from home to gain third for us.
Absolutely, the team needs to stay focused on the tournament in hand. Us fans can merely speculate though!
The Laois V Kerry match on Saturday is the springboard game to coast into the final. For Offaly, every game for them going forward is knockout with their biggest threat in the form of Kerry at Tullamore later this month. These two games will really decide the Joe McDonagh Cup.
If we lose this Saturday and Offaly beat Kerry on May 19th then we are in a dog-fight with Westmeath in the last round - a dogfight in Mullingar is really where we don't want to be.
A vital game this Saturday coming up.
Quote from: G@@ on May 01, 2024, 11:56:15 AMQuote from: Milltown Row2 on April 29, 2024, 02:37:46 PMLaois definitely have the winning of this tournament in them, but would wait till after the win before getting Antrim.
Carlow have done really well considering no points but have not shipped the heavy defeat that Antrim had last week so when we meet our advantage is a home game against them.
Dublin are not going to take us lightly either so would take an even bigger result away from home to gain third for us.
Absolutely, the team needs to stay focused on the tournament in hand. Us fans can merely speculate though!
The Laois V Kerry match on Saturday is the springboard game to coast into the final. For Offaly, every game for them going forward is knockout with their biggest threat in the form of Kerry at Tullamore later this month. These two games will really decide the Joe McDonagh Cup.
If we lose this Saturday and Offaly beat Kerry on May 19th then we are in a dog-fight with Westmeath in the last round - a dogfight in Mullingar is really where we don't want to be.
A vital game this Saturday coming up.
Been a great competition which has not been given much credit or attention, while winning it wont propel you to tier one status, it moves you into a competitive tier two level and that where you want to be
Very quiet on here ahead of a very important fixture tomorrow. This arguably is the most important game of the rest of the campaign. Win this tomorrow and we've one foot firmly planted in the final.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GMpKlg2WIAApVya?format=jpg&name=medium)
Strong team announced and based on form this year so far, one couldn't complain with that starting 15.
Best of luck lads tomorrow. Any sort of win will do! ;D
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GMvxJkuW0AAV982?format=jpg&name=medium)
Meath 3-16 v 5-31 Offaly
Down 3-19 v 1-25 Westmeath
Kerry 0-18 v 1-25 Laois
In the driving seat. Offaly V Kerry next week you feel will decide who Laois meet in the final. We cannot afford to drop the guard against Down in two weeks time, they should have really beaten Westmeath today.
What the hell has happened with Westmeath?! They're second from the bottom, right now.
( ;D )
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on May 06, 2024, 08:16:28 PMWhat the hell has happened with Westmeath?! They're second from the bottom, right now.
( ;D )
It's relatively straight forward brother, unlike Offaly, who have a winning mentality that they discovered in the mid eighties, when they picked up all irelands, and continuing through to the naughties, although they inevitably fell away because like ourselves and Westmeath, they are relatively small in terms of population and have both codes competing annually, ourselves and Westmeath are confidence teams, a couple of wins and everything changes almost immediately. When we lost to Carlow in the first league game this year, we could easily have fallen apart, but one win and then going the Dr Cullen and producing a great display totally changed the Laois mindset, then hanging on to the coat tails of Offaly in Portlaoise, keeping the within two scores of us for 55 minutes until Paddy Purcell got the first of two goals, has completely changed the teams mindset, but I personally believe that if Offaly turned us over by a few points then we most definitely be looking at a different Laois team. Westmeath are exactly the same as Laois. They, like ourselves have some wonderful hurlers, but after a poor league campaign and losing to kerry has caused them to fall through the floorboards confidence wise. In live in Nottingham so I can only watch via livestream, but I watched Laois minors lose against Offaly, quite simply because we never believed that we could have beaten them. Offaly didn't win that game, Laois totally threw it away, hitting the post with an open goal at his mercy, poor decision after poor decision in front of goal proved that Laois have an uncanny habit of beating themselves. Finally I truly hope that I am wrong but the u20s will probably be exactly the same, because Offaly know what it takes to get over the line with an inferior team. Laois Will play Offaly in the Joe McDonagh final, forget about Kerry or Down, We beat Kerry by 10 points and they beat Down by a similar margin in the second round. Can we beat Offaly in a final with this current squad ?? Absolutely, but will we, we'll that's where psychology plays a major part. Finally I have a question that I would love an answer, Abbeyleix got to a senior final last year, although they were well beaten, but in the last ten years, they have won minor and u20 championships more than once, please explain why there is only one player in the whole squad ? Let's be brutally honest, if a town is almost perennially winning underage finals then they must have a few good hurlers so what's their problem
A good win over Kerry.
We are on course to top the table so they have achieved their objectives so far. They were comfortable winners in the end. Maher happy with the win but admits the performance could have been better.
Laois are playing with a confidence at the moment and they will need it, if indeed we do meet Offaly again in the final.
Aaron Dunphy also taking the captaincy in his stride and showing great leadership.
Quote from: The infidel in exile on May 06, 2024, 10:08:19 PMQuote from: Mossy Bruce on May 06, 2024, 08:16:28 PMWhat the hell has happened with Westmeath?! They're second from the bottom, right now.
( ;D )
It's relatively straight forward brother, unlike Offaly, who have a winning mentality that they discovered in the mid eighties, when they picked up all irelands, and continuing through to the naughties, although they inevitably fell away because like ourselves and Westmeath, they are relatively small in terms of population and have both codes competing annually, ourselves and Westmeath are confidence teams, a couple of wins and everything changes almost immediately. When we lost to Carlow in the first league game this year, we could easily have fallen apart, but one win and then going the Dr Cullen and producing a great display totally changed the Laois mindset, then hanging on to the coat tails of Offaly in Portlaoise, keeping the within two scores of us for 55 minutes until Paddy Purcell got the first of two goals, has completely changed the teams mindset, but I personally believe that if Offaly turned us over by a few points then we most definitely be looking at a different Laois team. Westmeath are exactly the same as Laois. They, like ourselves have some wonderful hurlers, but after a poor league campaign and losing to kerry has caused them to fall through the floorboards confidence wise. In live in Nottingham so I can only watch via livestream, but I watched Laois minors lose against Offaly, quite simply because we never believed that we could have beaten them. Offaly didn't win that game, Laois totally threw it away, hitting the post with an open goal at his mercy, poor decision after poor decision in front of goal proved that Laois have an uncanny habit of beating themselves. Finally I truly hope that I am wrong but the u20s will probably be exactly the same, because Offaly know what it takes to get over the line with an inferior team. Laois Will play Offaly in the Joe McDonagh final, forget about Kerry or Down, We beat Kerry by 10 points and they beat Down by a similar margin in the second round. Can we beat Offaly in a final with this current squad ?? Absolutely, but will we, we'll that's where psychology plays a major part. Finally I have a question that I would love an answer, Abbeyleix got to a senior final last year, although they were well beaten, but in the last ten years, they have won minor and u20 championships more than once, please explain why there is only one player in the whole squad ? Let's be brutally honest, if a town is almost perennially winning underage finals then they must have a few good hurlers so what's their problem
The two Byrne's are starting and playing well for Laois U20s and possibly will break into the Laois senior panel/team over the next few years. Shaun Fitzpatrick who was one of the main players on the teams that made successive U20 county finals is concentrating on football and is starting for the county footballers so is not available to the hurlers.
The majority of the senior team that made the county final are still very young and inexperienced. Perhaps one or two more will step up in the coming years to make a Laois panel e.g. Lawson Obulor. I don't think there is anyone in the club that you could argue is being wrongly overlooked by the Laois management. Remember, Abbeyleix were intermediate in Laois two years ago so those players need a couple of more years playing adult hurling to develop.
Of more concern is Portlaoise hurling and can it be revitalised over the next ten years that it's underage sides can be consistently contributing3/ 4/5 players to the county underage teams and in time feed players into the senior set up. On the current u20 panel I think I'm right in saying that Portlaoise only have one player who is the goalkeeper and I cannot think of anyone off the top of my head from Portlaoise on the senior panel this year. If Laois are to progress up the ladder we need a strong representation from the Town. I'm old enough to fondly remember the 80s with the likes of John Taylor, Pat Critchley, Liam Bergin, and Billy and John Bohan playing for Laois. Today's squad with 3/4 more players thrown in from Portlaoise of the ilk of these lads would give anyone in Leinster a game. We won't have a truly strong Laois side until hurling in Portlaoise is properly promoted and developed.
Quote from: Laois Rising on May 08, 2024, 04:07:25 PMQuote from: The infidel in exile on May 06, 2024, 10:08:19 PMQuote from: Mossy Bruce on May 06, 2024, 08:16:28 PMWhat the hell has happened with Westmeath?! They're second from the bottom, right now.
( ;D )
It's relatively straight forward brother, unlike Offaly, who have a winning mentality that they discovered in the mid eighties, when they picked up all irelands, and continuing through to the naughties, although they inevitably fell away because like ourselves and Westmeath, they are relatively small in terms of population and have both codes competing annually, ourselves and Westmeath are confidence teams, a couple of wins and everything changes almost immediately. When we lost to Carlow in the first league game this year, we could easily have fallen apart, but one win and then going the Dr Cullen and producing a great display totally changed the Laois mindset, then hanging on to the coat tails of Offaly in Portlaoise, keeping the within two scores of us for 55 minutes until Paddy Purcell got the first of two goals, has completely changed the teams mindset, but I personally believe that if Offaly turned us over by a few points then we most definitely be looking at a different Laois team. Westmeath are exactly the same as Laois. They, like ourselves have some wonderful hurlers, but after a poor league campaign and losing to kerry has caused them to fall through the floorboards confidence wise. In live in Nottingham so I can only watch via livestream, but I watched Laois minors lose against Offaly, quite simply because we never believed that we could have beaten them. Offaly didn't win that game, Laois totally threw it away, hitting the post with an open goal at his mercy, poor decision after poor decision in front of goal proved that Laois have an uncanny habit of beating themselves. Finally I truly hope that I am wrong but the u20s will probably be exactly the same, because Offaly know what it takes to get over the line with an inferior team. Laois Will play Offaly in the Joe McDonagh final, forget about Kerry or Down, We beat Kerry by 10 points and they beat Down by a similar margin in the second round. Can we beat Offaly in a final with this current squad ?? Absolutely, but will we, we'll that's where psychology plays a major part. Finally I have a question that I would love an answer, Abbeyleix got to a senior final last year, although they were well beaten, but in the last ten years, they have won minor and u20 championships more than once, please explain why there is only one player in the whole squad ? Let's be brutally honest, if a town is almost perennially winning underage finals then they must have a few good hurlers so what's their problem
The two Byrne's are starting and playing well for Laois U20s and possibly will break into the Laois senior panel/team over the next few years. Shaun Fitzpatrick who was one of the main players on the teams that made successive U20 county finals is concentrating on football and is starting for the county footballers so is not available to the hurlers.
The majority of the senior team that made the county final are still very young and inexperienced. Perhaps one or two more will step up in the coming years to make a Laois panel e.g. Lawson Obulor. I don't think there is anyone in the club that you could argue is being wrongly overlooked by the Laois management. Remember, Abbeyleix were intermediate in Laois two years ago so those players need a couple of more years playing adult hurling to develop.
Of more concern is Portlaoise hurling and can it be revitalised over the next ten years that it's underage sides can be consistently contributing3/ 4/5 players to the county underage teams and in time feed players into the senior set up. On the current u20 panel I think I'm right in saying that Portlaoise only have one player who is the goalkeeper and I cannot think of anyone off the top of my head from Portlaoise on the senior panel this year. If Laois are to progress up the ladder we need a strong representation from the Town. I'm old enough to fondly remember the 80s with the likes of John Taylor, Pat Critchley, Liam Bergin, and Billy and John Bohan playing for Laois. Today's squad with 3/4 more players thrown in from Portlaoise of the ilk of these lads would give anyone in Leinster a game. We won't have a truly strong Laois side until hurling in Portlaoise is properly promoted and developed.
Thank you for your explanation regarding Abbeyleix. But we have to accept that the four biggest towns in Laois are football towns. Portlaoise 22.000. Portarlington 7.900. Graigcullen 5.500. And Mountmellock 2.340. That's the reason I asked about Abbeyleix as it number five in the county. Then Rathdowney, the two hurling towns as Mountrath is struggling at the moment. We rely totally on rural clubs with small picks, forget about the Town, Their main secondary school won't play hurling, here in the UK football clubs are fighting against this woke culture that has ruined our children. Brocken Reilly's son is in goal.i know brocken well as he started refereeing when I gave it up. But Brocken is originally from Longford and the town he was from was a hurling town so he instilled that in his son. I heard about Obular, a friend told me that he is a good centre back, throw him in next year
Quote from: The infidel in exile on May 08, 2024, 08:20:35 PMThank you for your explanation regarding Abbeyleix. But we have to accept that the four biggest towns in Laois are football towns. Portlaoise 22.000. Portarlington 7.900. Graigcullen 5.500. And Mountmellock 2.340. That's the reason I asked about Abbeyleix as it number five in the county. Then Rathdowney, the two hurling towns as Mountrath is struggling at the moment. We rely totally on rural clubs with small picks, forget about the Town, Their main secondary school won't play hurling, here in the UK football clubs are fighting against this woke culture that has ruined our children. Brocken Reilly's son is in goal.i know brocken well as he started refereeing when I gave it up. But Brocken is originally from Longford and the town he was from was a hurling town so he instilled that in his son. I heard about Obular, a friend told me that he is a good centre back, throw him in next year
Not sure about throwing U20s into the Senior setup, I'd be fairly against that. Ger Quinlan looked quite tired this evening against Offaly.
In fact, Laois have never truly recovered from the 'experiment' under Damien Fox to cull all over 23s from the senior setup back in the day. We need experienced heads on the Laois team like Patrick Purcell, etc...
Bringing on lads before their time is going to give rise to burnout.
Quote from: G@@ on May 08, 2024, 08:45:55 PMNot sure about throwing U20s into the Senior setup, I'd be fairly against that. Ger Quinlan looked quite tired this evening against Offaly.
In fact, Laois have never truly recovered from the 'experiment' under Damien Fox to cull all over 23s from the senior setup back in the day. We need experienced heads on the Laois team like Patrick Purcell, etc...
Bringing on lads before their time is going to give rise to burnout.
So true. Happens at club level, and all. Too much, too soon.
Granted Portlaoise is a football first, hurling second club but with the numbers living in Portlaoise a long term plan at revitalising hurling in the club should yield some quality players. Obviously, it will take a ground up approach but with the population there and with the funding that is available to counties there is no excuse really.
It's a great point you make regarding the townlands in Laois. GAA in urban areas in Laois is really struggling in many of our towns and has been for a long time. Showing some initiative, getting good people involved and putting the work in at underage as Abbleyleix/(Ballyroan) and Portarlington have done shows what is possible. Portarlington is a football town but is now starting to feed players into underage hurling county squads. Not something anyone would have foreseen a few years back.