Messages

[Saturday 15 / Sunday 16 June]

Overall I think management have also done very well and will have the lads ready for the final.
The only downside I see is Offaly in Croke Park, a place where we haven't fared so well against them in the past and tradition and mentality will play a big part.
Looking forward to what should be a cracking game of hurling.

I think you summed it up pretty well - we travel in hope more than confidence.
Let's hope for a repeat of the great clashes with Offaly in the early 1980s with us coming out on top for a change.

From Hoganstand:
Saturday 15 / Sunday 16 June
All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-finals
Joe McDonagh Cup winner v 3rd placed Munster team, TBC, TBC
Joe McDonagh Cup runner-up v 3rd placed Leinster team, TBC, TBC

The winner of the Joe McDonagh Cup draws the short straw - a probable date with Cork 

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 

The Republic of Ireland Act 1948 came into force on Easter Monday, 18 April 1949, and declared that the state was a republic.

Republic Of Ireland Act1949

Dublin straight into semi-final after winning 2/2 in 3-team group.
Kildare straight into semi-final after winning 2/3 matches in 4-team group.

Laois into quarter-final after winning 3/3 matches in 4-team group.
And their reward ? A date with 2021 Leinster Minor Champions, Meath.

You still can't answer why Meath and Kildare are broken but not other teams who are much closer to dublin - i.e. Derry and Kerry and Tyrone when they get themselves in gear will be there or thereabouts.

Teams get a huge confidence boost by winning their provincial championship and are much more primed for a crack at the Dubs than Leinster counties who have been crushed by the Dubs for over a decade. The demoralising effect of Dublin's dominance in Leinster also has a knock-on effect in the League - the imbalance of Ulster v Leinster teams in Division 1 being the prime example.

The provincial system exacerbates the problem with Leinster football. The Ulster Championship is the model for a proper Provincial competition. Connacht has Mayo, Galway & Roscommon in regular contention. Munster has Kerry, Cork and at times Clare or Tipperary. If Kildare and Meath were in Connacht or Munster I would say they would be quite competitive and in the shake-up quite regularly.

[areas]

Re. Football & Hurling areas in Carlow, Laois & Offaly

At a guess I'd say the area split would be two-thirds football and one-third hurling - I'm open to contradiction.

Most clubs across these counties would be dual - football clubs fielding at minimum junior hurling teams and vice-versa.

Carlow - hurling strongest in areas bordering Kilkenny & Wexford
Laois - hurling strongest in areas bordering Kilkenny, Offaly & Tipperary
Offaly - hurling strongest in areas bordering Galway, Tipperary & Laois

There was a good programme on TV some time ago about Bord na Mona and how the employment it provided was a big factor in the rise of Offaly football in the 1960s through to 1980s.

Westmeath is another county similar to Carlow, Laois & Offaly with a proud football & hurling tradition.
Of course Offaly's record as a dual county is the envy of all the smaller dual counties.

[Laois]

Laois v Leitrim  Laois by 3
Down v Westmeath  Down by 3

Donegal v Armagh  Donegal by 3
Derry v Dublin  Dublin by 3

Well done to the hurlers today and best of luck next weekend - Carlow has been a bogey team for us in recent times.

NHL Division 1B 2025
Waterford, Dublin, Westmeath, Offaly, Antrim, Carlow, Laois

A much improved format for the League next year
- only Waterford might consider themselves head and shoulders above the rest.

[Draw]

Derry v Roscommon  Draw
Dublin v Tyrone
Kerry v Galway
Monaghan v Mayo  Draw

Cavan v Fermanagh  Draw
Cork v Armagh
Donegal v Meath
Kildare v Louth  Draw

Antrim v Wicklow
Down v Clare  Draw
Offaly v Limerick
Sligo v Westmeath  Draw

Carlow v London  Draw
Waterford v Laois
Wexford v Longford  Draw
Leitrim v Tipperary

Venue for Tipperary v Wexford changed from Templetuohy to Enniscorthy - Tipp conceding home advantage.
Very unfair on the other counties involved in the promotion race.

[Dublin]

Galway v Dublin
Tyrone v Monaghan
Roscommon v Kerry
Mayo v Derry  DRAW

Armagh v Cavan  DRAW
Kildare v Donegal  DRAW
Meath v Cork
Louth v Fermanagh

Wicklow v Limerick
Clare v Antrim
Sligo v Offaly
Westmeath v Down  DRAW

London v Waterford
Laois v Leitrim
Tipperary v Wexford
Longford v Carlow

The Nazifascists are calling for 2 No Votes so they're obviously 2 good things.

Huh !

[Dublin]

Derry v Dublin
Mayo v Roscommon  DRAW
Kerry v Tyrone
Monaghan v Galway

Fermanagh v Armagh
Cavan v Meath
Donegal v Louth
Cork v Kildare  DRAW

Limerick v Clare
Antrim v Westmeath  DRAW
Down v Sligo
Offaly v Wicklow

Carlow v Wexford
Laois v London
Tipperary v Waterford
Longford v Leitrim  DRAW

Laois - Pope Pupeus
Ireland's only Pope

[Tyrone]

Tyrone v Mayo
Dublin v Kerry DRAW
Galway v Derry
Roscommon v Monaghan DRAW

Fermanagh v Cork  DRAW
Louth v Cavan
Meath v Kildare
Armagh v Donegal

Down v Offaly
Clare v Wicklow
Sligo v Antrim  DRAW
Westmeath v Limerick

Wexford v Waterford
Longford v London
Carlow v Leitrim
Tipperary v Laois