2024 Joe McDonagh Cup

[County Man]

Looking back on last Saturday, it was great to have Laois on TV in a national final with great exposure and a really competitive battle which unfortunately we came out the wrong side of it.

Despite the 18 wides, it comes back also to the old adage that goals win games. They came as a real tonic to Offaly. We got the goals back in April and they got the goals last year in Tullamore.

We showed great fighting spirit to back from 5 points down early on to get level and especially to come back from 7 down in the second half. Paddy Purcell and Aidan Corby put in immense performances as did our captain Aaron Dunphy.

Today we have a free shot against Wexford. Nobody is giving us a chance and in fact there are a lot of hurling "experts" from Munster counties who think we have no business being here and would much prefer if Galway and Waterford were playing Cork and Wexford today. Don't forget that last year they attempted to remove the link between the Joe McDonagh finalists and the All Ireland series.

To win today would be nothing short of sensational having not beaten Wexford in the championship since the mid 80s but hopefully today we can be at least as competitive as possible and give some of the "big boys" something to think about.

[Giovanni]

In fairness, I think both could've had a bit more game time. Lee Cleere in particular didn't seem to get much of a chance although he's a reliable back

[The infidel in exile]

Look Giovanni, please tell me who would you have taken off to give either of the two starts In the games?. Willy Dunphy has hurled for Laois for at least 8 years ( someone help me out on that one) and he has been a good servant, but he is being totally unprofessional, because whispers in a dressing room is virus that spreads hate, it's actually infantile. Look at Ross King, now there's a man who plays for the Jersey. Has he ever walked away and sulked because he hasn't started much for three years now, that is what you call professional, I'm actually surprised that Willy has apparently done this, because he had 70 minutes against Westmeath to prove to maher. Anyway let's leave it because its not a healthy conversation to have. I really believe that we will give Wexford a right run today, their not that good, and they are ageing and they are struggling at under age level. We drew with them at u20 this year and apparently should have won. God bless Y,all

[Giovanni]

Don't disagree that it's not what you'd want from senior players but there were plenty of opportunities to give Lee Cleere a game. I agree Willie Dunphy hasn't as much cause for complaint although he is more proven in big games than some others. Anyway, you're right - there's not much point in talking about it now.

[ottoman]

Look Giovanni, please tell me who would you have taken off to give either of the two starts In the games?. Willy Dunphy has hurled for Laois for at least 8 years ( someone help me out on that one) and he has been a good servant, but he is being totally unprofessional, because whispers in a dressing room is virus that spreads hate, it's actually infantile. Look at Ross King, now there's a man who plays for the Jersey. Has he ever walked away and sulked because he hasn't started much for three years now, that is what you call professional, I'm actually surprised that Willy has apparently done this, because he had 70 minutes against Westmeath to prove to maher. Anyway let's leave it because its not a healthy conversation to have. I really believe that we will give Wexford a right run today, their not that good, and they are ageing and they are struggling at under age level. We drew with them at u20 this year and apparently should have won. God bless Y,all

Willie made his debut for Laois in 2012, so he hads given more years than most to his county. Whatever his reason are let him off, very easy for lads with made up avatars to have a cut at you on an online forum.

[The Boy Wonder]

Very disappointing to hear personalised criticisms of players.
It's one thing to voice such opinions in private conversation but very unwarranted and unfair on an online forum.

[ottoman]

Very disappointing to hear personalised criticisms of players.
It's one thing to voice such opinions in private conversation but very unwarranted and unfair on an online forum.

Agree, I'm not from Ballacolla so I don't know Wille personally, or at all actually. But I did hurl long enough with Laois myself to know what it takes out of you. and regardless of your reasons, I'd never have a cut at any Laois man who has done likewise on an anonymous online public forum.

[Mossy Bruce]

...hurling "experts" from Munster counties who think we have no business being here and would much prefer if Galway and Waterford were playing Cork and Wexford today. Don't forget that last year they attempted to remove the link between the Joe McDonagh finalists and the All Ireland series...

Bastards

[Voice of tReason]

Hard luck to the lads today. Wexford will probably feel they had us rather comfortably at arms length after 20 mins but there were a few positive performances. The loss of Conway was a huge blow as he had started well.

Some strange decisions from the line with lads not picked for the panel last weekend coming on ahead of players who started. That kind of inconsistency has been oddly common for the last couple of years.

Hopefully the bulk of the playing panel will recommit next year. No need for any of the more experienced lads to be contemplating stepping away. The new Div 2 will give us great games in the spring and another shot at Joe Mc is definitely there for us.

[burdizzo]

Some strange decisions from the line with lads not picked for the panel last weekend coming on ahead of players who started. That kind of inconsistency has been oddly common for the last couple of years.

On the other hand, it was nice to get a look at Cody Comerford. Did quite well, and a good prospect, I thought.

[Voice of tReason]

On the other hand, it was nice to get a look at Cody Comerford. Did quite well, and a good prospect, I thought.

Oh absolutely.
He's going to be a big player for us moving forward. I think he'd have been an asset on a big pitch like Croke Park.

[clonadmad]

...hurling "experts" from Munster counties who think we have no business being here and would much prefer if Galway and Waterford were playing Cork and Wexford today. Don't forget that last year they attempted to remove the link between the Joe McDonagh finalists and the All Ireland series...

Bastards

Since it came in with the round robin in 2018

There has been 13 of these preliminary quarter finals

The Joe MacDonagh team has won just 1

The winning margin before yesterday was an average of 22 points

I'm all for the promotion of hurling but Joe Mac teams playing 3rd in Leinster or Munster 6/7 days after the final is a complete mismatch and waste of time

The Joe MacDonagh should be a standalone competition with more media coverage,2 semi finals and spread out so that the final is the curtain raiser to the All Ireland Final

[Laois Abu]

Very surprised Cody Comerford didn't get some game time in the Joe Mc final. He has the makings of a serious hurler

[Giovanni]

...hurling "experts" from Munster counties who think we have no business being here and would much prefer if Galway and Waterford were playing Cork and Wexford today. Don't forget that last year they attempted to remove the link between the Joe McDonagh finalists and the All Ireland series...

Bastards

Since it came in with the round robin in 2018

There has been 13 of these preliminary quarter finals

The Joe MacDonagh team has won just 1

The winning margin before yesterday was an average of 22 points

I'm all for the promotion of hurling but Joe Mac teams playing 3rd in Leinster or Munster 6/7 days after the final is a complete mismatch and waste of time

The Joe MacDonagh should be a standalone competition with more media coverage,2 semi finals and spread out so that the final is the curtain raiser to the All Ireland Final

Fully agree.

[The infidel in exile]

Sadly I didn't get the chance to see the game yesterday so I had to listen to it on south East radio, but the Wexford commentators were wax lyrical about Mullanney, Dunphy and a couple of other Laois lads, although they never sounded in fear of an upset. Also I want to apologise about anything I may have said about Willy Dunphy as that was never my intention as I claimed that he has been a great servant to the County. I actually didn't start the conversation regarding players being upset with management. Anyway on a better note I think that it's been a positive season for the County as we are playing division 1 hurling and I believe the the Joe Mcdonagh will not be as Strong next year as both Offaly or Antrim won't be in it. We have the beating of Carlow, and we should have the beating of Westmeath as I assume its in Portlaoise next year. Hopefully we can unearth a couple more young lads to compliment Cuddy, Dooley, Quintana, Keynes and Comerford, I also think that young Duggan of the Harps has a lot more in his locker, and Byrne of Abbeyleix, Although only 19, certainly knows where the onion bag is.