Messages

Was down in Stradbally tonight. A very young Courtwood team took Joseph's apart. They could be a good bet especially if they beat mm in first round . I'd only put timahoe and possibly mountmellick ahead of them

I couldn't get to the match cos of work but was listening to Jack Nolan. When we were seven or eight behind we were facing a hiding but somehow you knew that this team wouldn't lie down and that is down to attitude which John Sugrue and the management have instilled in this group. I am very proud to be a Laois man this evening. This is only year one of what I hope is a long term development plan.we have a good development officer in Fergal ,a super new centre of excellence and a top senior manager. We're 5 to 7 years behind the likes of Monaghan in terms of s+c so we have to be patient. I have been involved in underage football and know that the players are in the clubs. Some ridiculously talented, so we have to identify what type of players we need and make sure they are properly looked after .....sounds easy doesn't it!!! Patience is a virtue but we'll get there

I wonder if Derek McGrath would be an option for senior manager. He turned out Waterford with a very definite plan(sweeper, short passing game) seems to have developed a bit of depth in Waterford too. Might suit our lads to have a bit more structure to their game. He probably wouldn't want it but no harm in asking

Mick Nolan from Portlaoise is probably still the second best keeper on Laois. A lovely striker of the ball and top class at controlling a backline. Would be on any other team in the county

All tightening up at the top of this division. A few teams finished up . Joseph's look to be top. Barrowhouse Courtwood clonaslee timahoe and Park fighting it out for second and third. If it comes to head to head I don't know where it is but on score difference Courtwood and Barrowhouse have an edge. Annanough and Kilcavan had poor leagues and doesn't bode well for junior championship.

Ooops I see you're talking qualifiers...... I was talking super 8. Jumped the gun a bit .sorry

Think it's something like one at home, one away, and one in Croke Park. But I could have dreamt that too

The Dublin sub keeper came in the last day with Dublin around 10 points up and Longford down to 14 men. Might be a bit different in his first Leinster final with Laois hopefully close and a full compliment of players pushing up on kickouts. Kerry did it to cluxton 2 years ago and should have beaten Dublin and I suspect that this fella is no Cluxton........on the point of underage development I read that Monaghan don't really worry about winning minor or u20s competitions. They view those teams as a way to identify one or two new players fit to play senior thus having a constant supply of fresh lads coming through. Could we name 2 from the u20s fit for senior next year. Crowley has done it. Possibly there's two or 3 more so not too bad overall

I was impressed with the way we held onto the ball yesterday .we have good footballers who will trouble Dublin for periods the next day but the problem is that Dublin are relentless and move the ball so fast so periods of good play just won't be enough. McCarthy was up and down the field and he only looked at half throttle. I still think that while we're a good bit off Dublin's standard we are capable of competing with a lot of the other teams left in the qualifiers and while I hope I'm left eating my words I reckon we would be very happy with a good final performance and a place in super 8s. A few u20s in next year's panel and develop from there and suddenly we could be in a very good place in a couple of years

So happy to have been there . Pride well restored in the jersey. Just a word about some of the so called Carlow support . They were itching to argue everything .if a Lapis lad fouled they were screaming for cards and if I even looked sideways they were in my ear . Delighted we bet them cos they are a cynical team

 I'm from the football end of things but am saddened by the demise of hurling in the county. We chased Sugrue to manage senior football and are getting good results. Our GDAs are primarily from football background and I can see the efforts and small benefits coming from this . We should chase the best hurling men in the county now and make sure they are given exactly what they want on a par with the football. Pat Critchly and Cheddar have probably forgotten more about hurling than the rest of the county know but are not being utilised properly if at all . I'm sure there are plenty of other good coaches around the club's too. Get them working at grassroots and in 5 or 6 years we'll see the benefits. Finally we need to put a bit of thought into the senior manager and get a man who will pull all the clubs together for the betterment of the county

And there I was giving out about the club championship being on hold till August...... Wouldn't it be great if we had to put it off for a while longer to facilitate the county team😊😊

Was reading Tomàs O Shea in Indo yesterday and Kildare haven't won a match in something like last 11. If they beat Carlow I reckon they could be vulnerable. A huge step up for our lads but they're eager to step up by the looks of things. If Carlow win well we know that we have the ability to beat them once the attitude is right. Nice to be going to Croke Park in June no matter who we play though

I reckon Donoher a bit unlucky not to start. Was involved in so much last time out. Maybe management feel he's only able for half an hour ?

A lot of clubs playing B cos they enter A and get hammered by the likes of St Paul's , Port, Ballyroan, and Portlaoise. Most of them just trying to keep young fellas playing  and hoping for a good crop ......nothing is worse for a chap than getting the s#£@e bet out of you every match. I was at Port v St Paul's semi and both teams had most of last year's u12s out....... Portlaoise had every player up to full age and at that age size makes a huge difference