Messages

It'd be really nice to get Tuohy back for 2016!

Imagine : Healy, Tuohy, Begley, Kingston, O' Loughlin, Timmons, Quigley, Munnelly, Strong - the best players in the county in my opinion. All of these lads would get on almost every county in the country - and theres 9 players there. I don't care what people say, we still have very strong talent in Laois.

I'm a Portlaoise man, but would have great for Laois football for Emo to win it. There, I said it.

Let's not get into a discussion about best forward! Jaysus. it's just like musical taste, each indiidual has their preference. Let's leave it at that. Damien Goggie Delaney though 

Here we go again . At least put that match in O'Moore Park. Make it interesting. Get a full crowd in there. I see why they want to make it Croke Park, because of capacity, but something needs to change. Put it in O'Moore Park and it changes from a potential 20point defeat to a possible upset.

[GAA Football Leinster Championship 2016 Draw]

GAA Football Leinster Championship 2016 Draw


First Round

Laois v Wicklow

Louth v Carlow

Longford v Offaly


Quarter-Finals

Dublin v Laois/Wicklow

Louth/Carlow v Meath

Longford/Offaly v Westmeath

Wexford v Kildare


Semi-Finals

Laois/Wicklow/Dublin v Louth/Carlow/Meath

Longford/Offaly/Westmeath v Wexford/Kildare

Junior, in fairness you could have put that on the thread "Looking forward to Laois in 2016". No point starting multiple threads about a very similar topic.

So, we have a new man at the helm. It won't we long at all now until the new season comes around. Will it be more of the same? Or will we see a sea change in Laois, seeing solid progress and success? Here is a team that I'd like to see in the league. All we can hope for is that we're the best we can be :

Brody,
Healy timmons Keogh
O Connor Begley C Begley
O Loughlin Quigley
Bruno (!) Boyle O Carroll
Cahilane Donie K Ross.

Any thoughts? Your team for 2016? Any new additions after the county championship?

Cahilane, Kingston, Ross.

I like the sound of that FF line. I hope a good few of the portlaoise lads will join the squad this year.

Stupid post.  "85% of the country feels like losers because of where they were born."?!?! Where did you get that statistic? YourArse.com.

Almost everyone I know is proud of where they came from.

Of course it can work. Thinking it can't work is very narrow minded. Look at all all of the pro sports in the world. They make it work, of course they didn't start off as huge as they are now. It's the only way forward. It will be in place within 10 - 15 years in my opinion.

Cahir is just committment to Laois through and through. Lads like him should be earning a wage for the contribution he's making. If the GAA goes pro, it doesn't mean that players can transfer county - it just means that the GAA will be the player's job and they can focus on being top athletes. Imagine the numbers we'd get, trying to play for Laois, if it was professional. It would be great. The GAA have more than enough to cover a wage. The sport would get huge! Interest would grow as well as attendances.

Then, a true, talented and committed athlete like Cahir wouldn't have be doing nonsense like get a plane each time he has to train. 

Doubt Healy will come back : Doing football and hurling for inter county in the modern age is next to impossible. Unless he's able to work out a plan with lillis and Cheddar.

Back in 1990, it was much easier. Maybe two sessions per week at most for county teams. Now it's 5/6 per week x 2 if you're with both codes. It's gotten crazy, really.

Long term, if the "pro like training" trend continues (and i think it will, and get more intense), players will simply have to be paid. Can you imagine doing at least 10 hours training  + extra personal physical training per week + extra commutes on top as well as your 40 hour p/w job? I can't. It's no wonder lads aren't committing. They simply can't. If someone has a family on top of that, it's ridiculous. Personally, I'd love if the GAA went pro, but I digress.

I have to say I'm getting more and more optimistic about the appointment...IF IF IF he gets a great background team and attracts players to commit to Laois for the year. The Portlaoise lads committing would make a massive difference - loads of competition for places breeds high standards. 

Portlaoise were always going to win. Bruno had some game - I wonder if there are any Laois days in him yet. It'll be a predictable final. Whatever about amalgamating clubs - if Arles stayed as one we'd have a bit of a fight. Fair play to Emo, punching above their weight. Will lillis get a few of the new young portlaoise lads on board? Seems to me that Laois with Cahilane, Bruno and 3/4 new to laois lads would greatly improve the county squad.

Yee are not thinking straight. Here's how it goes : You have a core group of senior players that are at a good level : Check.

You have 3 - 4 good players coming in abound the u-21 age group : check.

You have 4 - 6 good minors coming through : Check.

We're not winning all irelands at minor level anymore, but that's not necessary to continue having a good group of players.

There are many years left in the likes of kingston, timmons, o loughlin, begley, quigley, begley junior, etc.

There are more coming through in the shape of o'connor, shiel, young kingston.

Minors are looking promising. We're not in a half bad state.

Let's remember : Laois were never world beaters; we're about par for the course at the moment. The way people are talking, you'd think we had 10 all irelands in our trophy cabinet and now we're crap. Truth is, we're doing ok, by our standards since the GAA began. With hard work, good communication, lads committing and a good setup, we can have a good year, by our standards.