Messages

I would agree with Don on this. There were 40 players playing senior between both clubs as opposed to 20. Kilcruise won a senior and arguably could have won more had it not been for the dominance of an excellent Portlaoise team. Killeen contested finals. Yes, they may have won more as a combined team but that's a matter of opinion. Was the senior championship better for having both those teams in the senior ranks, definately. It all gave the county a feisty derby.
It's a non argument anyway because while both teams were competing well there was never going to be an amalgamation so it's a 'what if' argument. Same could be had for most if not all parishes.

Kilcruise won't be amalgamating with anyone for the time being. Although they're an aging team they are still committed to their club and I can't see them even considering it while they are still playing senior.

What's Joe Campions situation? He played a couple of years ago. Is it work/college or lack of interest?

The only thing I would say on that is if you don't have the numbers to field a team/panel you mightn't be left with any option. Gaels teams which are only there to improve a seniors chances I wouldn't agree with. Stradbally surely have no difficulty getting 20 lads together. They were county champions lat year FFS.

Does it happen with Graigue or Port (we know it doesn't with Portlaoise). If anything they gain as opposed to losing players to smaller or neighbouring clubs.

My point is that the population of the Mountmellick urban area must be a lot higher than that of Ballyfin. I will omit the 'small' part of rural club.

Barrowhouse are now playing underage with Arles so I would think the Josephs arrangements of the past are just that past tense.

It might sound like I have it in for Mountmellick but a relatively large urban club having to join with a small rural club to play senior football? Mountmellick should concentrate getting up to senior on their own merit.

I think I read somewhere that Eric Kileen got U21 player of the year!

Palmer will be out for a while with injury. Geroid Burke would be a big plus if he'd commit. Hopefully Leigh and Lee come back in as I was very impressed with both of them last year. Mullaney is a committed and skillful hurler but he's very heavy and neither pacey or agile enough. Maybe the s & c work might help.
Is Tom Delaney back in?

No a Kingston transfer wouldn't be a surprise but still big news.

Great result for Mountrath CS today. Interesting to note there wasn't a Camross starter considering how they're cleaning up at club level in the county. It has become a very important school for hurling in the county.

https://www.laoistoday.ie/2017/11/16/mountrath-cs-claim-rest-leinster-junior-hurling-title/

A loss for the hurlers and they are competing at a higher level and will probably have more supporters than the footballers this year. He was an automatic choice when fit so a bit of an odd one.

They wouldn't want to play in Killeen or Kilcruise jerseys as a gaels team so wearing Barrowhouse jerseys saves having to get new ones done up.
Rumours flying around as usual. The fact Donie is out of Laois panel will just add more wind to them.

Interesting B final with the Arles/Killeen/Barrowhouse combo v the Bally boys

First game in the Walsh cup is on December 30th!