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GAA Discussion => Local GAA Discussion => Laois => Topic started by: The PRO on February 28, 2019, 09:55:42 AM

Title: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: The PRO on February 28, 2019, 09:55:42 AM
Round 1
Portarlington v The Harps
Portlaoise v Barrowhouse
Killeshin v Graiguecullen
O'Dempsey's v Camross
Spink v Ballyroan-Abbey
Kilcavan v Park-Ratheniska
Ballylinan v Castletown
Stradbally v The Heath
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: SCFC on July 25, 2019, 12:17:44 PM
Quote from: The PRO on February 28, 2019, 09:55:42 AM
Round 1
Portarlington v The Harps
Portlaoise v Barrowhouse
Killeshin v Graiguecullen
O'Dempsey's v Camross
Spink v Ballyroan-Abbey
Kilcavan v Park-Ratheniska
Ballylinan v Castletown
Stradbally v The Heath
I'll predict wins for Port, Barrowhouse, O'Dempseys, BA, PR, Castletown and Heath.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Rusty on July 28, 2019, 11:09:23 PM
Ballyroan had a very good junior team out against Spink today
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Silkyskillssunshinee on July 29, 2019, 12:03:47 AM
I seen Stradbally just fell short of neighbours The Heath in their match. Sure 49 points is just a kick of a ball really  :D ;D
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: High Fielder on July 29, 2019, 03:39:00 PM
A frightening scoreline really. I'm not sure how it's even possible for a team to get beaten by 49 points. Maybe I'm being unfair. Was there a good reason does anyone know?
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Helix. on July 29, 2019, 04:08:36 PM
Quote from: High Fielder on July 29, 2019, 03:39:00 PM
A frightening scoreline really. I'm not sure how it's even possible for a team to get beaten by 49 points. Maybe I'm being unfair. Was there a good reason does anyone know?

Depleted team from last year. Between missing 7 off last year's senior team and whoever went up to senior on Friday night aswell as injuries. That team they put out would struggle to win a junior c match let alone junior A. At least they fulfilled the fixture. I see Graiguecullen's second team conceded to Killeshin. The Heath have a decent junior team though will struggle to meet the 1st teams ability and realistically lose 1-2 off senior team.

I see Cathal Og Greene back for Park Ratheniska. A massive addition for that level. I'd be very surprised if they didn't win it this year. They threw away chance vs Annanough last year.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: BallyroanAbu on July 29, 2019, 06:19:31 PM
I'd give us a good chance of making semi final unlikely to lose many to Senior.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Silkyskillssunshinee on July 30, 2019, 12:51:45 AM
Quote from: Helix. on July 29, 2019, 04:08:36 PM
Quote from: High Fielder on July 29, 2019, 03:39:00 PM
A frightening scoreline really. I'm not sure how it's even possible for a team to get beaten by 49 points. Maybe I'm being unfair. Was there a good reason does anyone know?

Depleted team from last year. Between missing 7 off last year's senior team and whoever went up to senior on Friday night aswell as injuries. That team they put out would struggle to win a junior c match let alone junior A. At least they fulfilled the fixture. I see Graiguecullen's second team conceded to Killeshin. The Heath have a decent junior team though will struggle to meet the 1st teams ability and realistically lose 1-2 off senior team.

I see Cathal Og Greene back for Park Ratheniska. A massive addition for that level. I'd be very surprised if they didn't win it this year. They threw away chance vs Annanough last year.

Park-Ratheniska look the the team to beat alright. Saying that, they have failed to get over line at this grade for the last four years or so. It will be interesting to see if they can come out on top of any matches that go down to the wire.

I wouldn't write off Kilcavan just yet, but Barrowhouse look like they've fallen back a bit. The Harps have a few decent players, but will focus on the hurling later in the summer and football will take a hit.

I feel a bit sorry for Robert Tyrell. A terrific talent that is being wasted at a hurling club that barely tolerates football in Camross. If he is to play football for Laois at Senior level he will need to be competing in the Senior championship. I wouldn't be an advocate for transfers, but in this case it might be necessary.

Of the second teams, O'Dempsey's, Portarlington, Ballyroan Abbey and The Heath look best placed to challenge. Even though it's hard to know how strong The Heath are considering how poor the opposition was in round one.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: SCFC on July 30, 2019, 05:32:26 PM
Quote from: Silkyskillssunshinee on July 30, 2019, 12:51:45 AM
I feel a bit sorry for Robert Tyrell. A terrific talent that is being wasted at a hurling club that barely tolerates football in Camross. If he is to play football for Laois at Senior level he will need to be competing in the Senior championship. I wouldn't be an advocate for transfers, but in this case it might be necessary.
They love their football in Camross...  ::)
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: The PRO on July 30, 2019, 05:45:14 PM
Ogie Greene is a huge boost for Park Ratheniska. And young Brian Dunne looks a big find along with the lad who transferred from Waterford. I can't seem them slipping up this year.
Amazed at the Barrowhouse result though. Portlaoise's third team really shouldn't be turning them over. They are a club I have great time for and they've been badly treated in relation to player poaching. Hard to keep things going really but I know they will.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: on the hop on July 30, 2019, 06:21:53 PM
would tyrell not look for a move to the nearest senior team which I think is ballyfin, he would be a great fit with portlaoise.  :)
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: SCFC on July 30, 2019, 06:48:19 PM
Quote from: on the hop on July 30, 2019, 06:21:53 PM
would tyrell not look for a move to the nearest senior team which I think is ballyfin, he would be a great fit with portlaoise.  :)
Portlaoise would not be a good move for Robert. He might not make their team. Ballyfin might work but I'm not convinced as to their future in senior football.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Joeythelips on July 30, 2019, 08:00:03 PM
It is not good to see hammerings at any level but if any team is missing a few of its main players for whatever reason it's going to struggle badly. I'm from Kilcavan and down the years like any club with a small pick we would struggle if we missed 1 or 2 but if we lost 3 or more of our main players we would be open to a bad beating.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: High Fielder on July 30, 2019, 11:03:00 PM
Quote from: SCFC on July 30, 2019, 06:48:19 PM
Quote from: on the hop on July 30, 2019, 06:21:53 PM
would tyrell not look for a move to the nearest senior team which I think is ballyfin, he would be a great fit with portlaoise.  :)
Portlaoise would not be a good move for Robert. He might not make their team. Ballyfin might work but I'm not convinced as to their future in senior football.

He'd make the team alright.

Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Jd on July 31, 2019, 09:54:21 AM
Donal Miller Niall Donoher Fergal Byron Derek O Connell Darren Rooney all kicked with intermediate/ junior clubs. If tyrrell is good enough he'll be fine. Doubt if he'd be allowed transfer to Pl anyway
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on July 31, 2019, 10:01:33 AM
Quote from: Jd on July 31, 2019, 09:54:21 AM
Donal Miller Niall Donoher Fergal Byron Derek O Connell Darren Rooney all kicked with intermediate/ junior clubs. If tyrrell is good enough he'll be fine. Doubt if he'd be allowed transfer to Pl anyway

Also the fact that he has already "emerged" and been a  part of Laois development/underage squads for years will help. He has already been "spotted". His main development is going to happen from November-March with the Laois Seniors next year if he is good enough. If anything he could be glad of the break that comes every year when Laois are knocked out! Could be ideal! Summers in the sun!
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on July 31, 2019, 02:06:52 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on July 31, 2019, 10:01:33 AM
Quote from: Jd on July 31, 2019, 09:54:21 AM
Donal Miller Niall Donoher Fergal Byron Derek O Connell Darren Rooney all kicked with intermediate/ junior clubs. If tyrrell is good enough he'll be fine. Doubt if he'd be allowed transfer to Pl anyway

Also the fact that he has already "emerged" and been a  part of Laois development/underage squads for years will help. He has already been "spotted". His main development is going to happen from November-March with the Laois Seniors next year if he is good enough. If anything he could be glad of the break that comes every year when Laois are knocked out! Could be ideal! Summers in the sun!
All the players mentioned there, play with Clubs who give a f**k about football however.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on July 31, 2019, 02:18:41 PM
I see the point but to me the bigger worry is the pool available at underage and the opportunity to identify them and get them into Development squads.
It's not ideal that a prospective senior IC player probably has no opportunity to train at adult level in his own club, but he ya already spotted & developed. Solving his problem (and I'm sure a few clubs not too far away from him would accommodate his attendance at training) requires a lot less work & attitude changing than the bigger problem of denying huge numbers the opportunity to ever play the game underage in the other code.

Camross (and I'm no lover of them) lined out football teams from when he was 8/10 years old. I know he might not have been there until he was 12-14?
But Borris, Kilcotton, Castletown & Slieve Bloom (Matthew Whelan, Rob Jones, Reddins, Cuddys, Mullaneys, Ben Conroy etc) have done the same going back many years!
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on July 31, 2019, 02:20:07 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on July 31, 2019, 02:18:41 PM
I see the point but to me the bigger worry is the pool available at underage and the opportunity to identify them and get them into Development squads.
It's not ideal that a prospective senior IC player probably has no opportunity to train at adult level in his own club, but he ya already spotted & developed. Solving his problem (and I'm sure a few clubs not too far away from him would accommodate his attendance at training) requires a lot less work & attitude changing than the bigger problem of denying huge numbers the opportunity to ever play the game underage in the other code.

Camross (and I'm no lover of them) lined out football teams from when he was 8/10 years old. I know he might not have been there until he was 12-14?
But Borris, Kilcotton, Castletown & Slieve Bloom (Matthew Whelan, Rob Jones, Reddins, Cuddys, Mullaneys etc) have done the same going back many years!
Oddly enough, it takes more than a development squad to develop a player to intercounty potential.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on July 31, 2019, 02:29:14 PM
I don't see where I indicated that.

Problem 1: Hurling clubs put out juvenile football teams. Odd fella is good enough for Dev Squads. He goes in, continues with them, plays minor & U20 for Laois. He is not getting enough training/games with his club (in the months of August & September) after Laois are out of the championship.

Problem 2: Many football clubs blatantly disregard hurling, never put out teams at u8/10/13/15/17. Nobody from these clubs ever play competitive game of hurling. No point even mentioning that nobody from these clubs ever make it onto development squads.

Now, which of these problems is a priority? Which is bigger? Which is holding us back more?
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on July 31, 2019, 02:41:35 PM
You didn't. Don't be so tetchy.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on July 31, 2019, 02:43:13 PM
Quote from: Don Draper on July 31, 2019, 02:41:35 PM
You didn't. Don't be so tetchy.

A bit like Boris Johnson telling you to brush your hair!
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on July 31, 2019, 02:45:12 PM
There you go again. Alway on the defensive. Let down those barriers and let some love in.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on July 31, 2019, 02:57:42 PM
Quote from: Don Draper on July 31, 2019, 02:45:12 PM
There you go again. Alway on the defensive. Let down those barriers and let some love in.

Ah stop! Who's next on your list?
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on July 31, 2019, 03:01:35 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on July 31, 2019, 02:57:42 PM
Quote from: Don Draper on July 31, 2019, 02:45:12 PM
There you go again. Alway on the defensive. Let down those barriers and let some love in.

Ah stop! Who's next on your list?
I think that you'll be doin' just fine if you relax a little
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Sir Alex7 on August 02, 2019, 01:08:15 AM
Graiguecullen gave a walkover in de junior a but played junior c last night..should they have being allowed junior c?
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on August 02, 2019, 02:11:08 AM
No. This keeps creeping up. In my opinion a bye law is needed. Once you concede a championship game, all teams of a lower grade age automatically removed from their championships.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: SCFC on August 02, 2019, 10:31:09 AM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on August 02, 2019, 02:11:08 AM
No. This keeps creeping up. In my opinion a bye law is needed. Once you concede a championship game, all teams of a lower grade age automatically removed from their championships.
100%. What's to stop Graigue (and I'm not saying they did) naming their first 17, name 10 or so more senior standard players in the second 17 and add in 7 spurious names and then walk the junior b or c? Completely unfair.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Jd on August 02, 2019, 01:39:01 PM
It's scandalous what Graiguecullen did actually. If you're a one team club kicking at junior c then that's your level. All club competitions should be played from top down and if you can't field a second team at a higher level then I'm sure and certain that you shouldn't field a third in a lesser competition
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on August 02, 2019, 06:49:36 PM
I think the problem is that you are allowed concede one game & still be in a competition. That probably prevents Laois being able to do anything about it!
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Pugwash on August 08, 2019, 12:00:28 PM
Quote from: Jd on August 02, 2019, 01:39:01 PM
It's scandalous what Graiguecullen did actually. If you're a one team club kicking at junior c then that's your level. All club competitions should be played from top down and if you can't field a second team at a higher level then I'm sure and certain that you shouldn't field a third in a lesser competition

Perhaps whoever looks after fixtures at the start of every year would have the foresight to not put out the likes of Graiguecullen's junior A side the day before the senior side play in league matches when the league is only getting going again after the winter break?

Just because Graigue have a big pool of players, doesn't mean at times resources can't be stretched to a point that a walkover or two in this case aren't beyond the realms or possibility. Between lads playing soccer or in with Laois, injuries etc.

It smacks of sour grapes to suggest Graigue were doing anything snide also, they're playing Killeshin tomorrow night in the semi final I'm sure if you went to the game you would note that most of the lads playing didn't even play Junior A championship last year but why deal with facts  :-X
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Jd on August 08, 2019, 01:05:54 PM
So why not pull their junior C team and compete at junior A as they have a team at that level if they get relegated well thats just natural progression if they felt they had numbers at the start of the year then fine put in your junior C team but if the numbers aren't there then you pull the lower team. They were able to stay Junior A last year so that's where they belong not trying to hover a handy junior C.  Most people have said that they will walk the junior C due to their strength. What happens if they don't happen to win Junior C when they have numbers next year will they put in two C teams. All clubs have problems with county players and soccer etc so Graiugecullen aren't unique in that
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Pugwash on August 08, 2019, 01:29:27 PM
Quote from: Jd on August 08, 2019, 01:05:54 PM
So why not pull their junior C team and compete at junior A as they have a team at that level if they get relegated well thats just natural progression if they felt they had numbers at the start of the year then fine put in your junior C team but if the numbers aren't there then you pull the lower team. They were able to stay Junior A last year so that's where they belong not trying to hover a handy junior C.  Most people have said that they will walk the junior C due to their strength. What happens if they don't happen to win Junior C when they have numbers next year will they put in two C teams. All clubs have problems with county players and soccer etc so Graiugecullen aren't unique in that

Did you not read my post or are you just ignoring the obvious?

The vast majority of Graiguecullen's Junior C team are the same lads playing this year, so where is this whole "hovering up the Junior C" coming from?

You would swear it's the whole Junior A team playing tomorrow night, when in truth it isn't. I would argue 2 or 3 maximum would have started for the Junior A's last year in the championship that will start tomorrow against Killeshin, so your logic is somewhat flawed and baffling.

I would also argue, asking a team (Junior A side) to go and play Championship with one league game under their belt would have been pointless and silly, the club done right by pulling the team imo.

Graiguecullen supplied a list of 34 players to the county board at the start of the year, the same as every club (with 3 teams) and still happen to be rather strong at Junior C level, if Graigue lost in the first round you wouldn't be questioning the club at all.

Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on August 08, 2019, 03:34:50 PM
I agree with you Pugwash, but one question. How many of that Junior C team would or should have played A this year.

This is outside the 17 of course, who can't play Junior C. I feel for these fellas to be honest, they've lost all football this year. Which isn't right at all. Could the Junior C's not have stepped up and filled the holes in the A side for those league matches?

Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on August 08, 2019, 03:50:47 PM
Pugwash you are missing the point entirely.
Graigue named 17 Senior & 17 Junior As at the start of the year.
They will hardly use 34 seniors?
Therefore there are surely a large bunch (10-12???) who were supposedly good enough to kick Junior A a few months back but now won't play any football. Presumably this includes some promising young footballers, not quite ready to kick senior. Now these guys will probably get no football this summer.

Had they kept the Junior A team & conceded the Junior C one of two things would have happened.

1. The Junior C team would have lost a few players and possibly had to concede. BUT everybody in the club would have the opportunity to play on Junior A team.
2. The Junior C team would have lost a few players and probably would have had to coax a few lads out of retirement to make up a team.

Either way they should be putting out their strongest possible Senior team, followed by their strongest possible Junior A team.....
Otherwise you are effectively playing ringers.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on August 08, 2019, 03:57:03 PM
I just looked up there that they played the first round of Division 2 and lost to Crettyard. I understand that it must be tough for a second team to play in Div 2, but surely they could have kept the team together with the incentive of Junior Championship to come?
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Pugwash on August 09, 2019, 01:06:06 AM
I'm not missing anything, I've backed my argument with cold hard facts.

Have a scan through the fixtures of the Div 1 A league and Div 2 and you will see where certain problems arose in regard to Graiguecullen Junior A's pulling out of the league, having our Junior A team playing a day before or a day after the Seniors play as well as trying to field a Junior C team is fairly rotten in my opinion. Why not give clubs second teams a couple of days apart from the Senior Team's matches?

As you pointed out there are plenty of lads in limbo not getting football and this was a major part of it.

The club had no reason to pull the Junior C team to keep the Junior A going, the Junior C team have huge numbers up with lads who are genuinely happy just to be playing Junior C these include a couple of players who would have played Senior for Graigue for years who could probably still be part of the Senior set up but for numerous reason's aren't.

I do think going forward Graiguecullen need a strong Inter/Junior A side in order to give the fringe players on the senior panel the game time against good opposition to be ready if/when required, but that's for another day.

Funnily enough Killeshin's Junior A's are playing this weekend while their Junior C's are playing Graigue Friday night, due to Killeshins Junior A's getting a walkover in the championship (from Graiguecullen) Killeshin may well use players Friday night capable of playing at a higher grade to try get them into a final even though certain players may then not even been eligible after Fridays match? But we won't kick up a fuss about that as that's football.

I'm sure the game will be a cracker and look forward to attending.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on August 09, 2019, 08:14:01 AM
Quote from: Pugwash on August 09, 2019, 01:06:06 AM
I'm not missing anything, I've backed my argument with cold hard facts.

Have a scan through the fixtures of the Div 1 A league and Div 2 and you will see where certain problems arose in regard to Graiguecullen Junior A's pulling out of the league, having our Junior A team playing a day before or a day after the Seniors play as well as trying to field a Junior C team is fairly rotten in my opinion. Why not give clubs second teams a couple of days apart from the Senior Team's matches?

As you pointed out there are plenty of lads in limbo not getting football and this was a major part of it.

The club had no reason to pull the Junior C team to keep the Junior A going, the Junior C team have huge numbers up with lads who are genuinely happy just to be playing Junior C these include a couple of players who would have played Senior for Graigue for years who could probably still be part of the Senior set up but for numerous reason's aren't.

I do think going forward Graiguecullen need a strong Inter/Junior A side in order to give the fringe players on the senior panel the game time against good opposition to be ready if/when required, but that's for another day.

Funnily enough Killeshin's Junior A's are playing this weekend while their Junior C's are playing Graigue Friday night, due to Killeshins Junior A's getting a walkover in the championship (from Graiguecullen) Killeshin may well use players Friday night capable of playing at a higher grade to try get them into a final even though certain players may then not even been eligible after Fridays match? But we won't kick up a fuss about that as that's football.

I'm sure the game will be a cracker and look forward to attending.
You may have a point re fixtures, but I don't think you're taking into account hurling and dual clubs. Its difficult, but there's plenty of clubs out there who play 4 league matches in 5 days on occasion, with some players togging out for at least of 3 of those. I'd imagine making the league fixtures is some headache for those in HQ, and they simply can't suit everyone. Thats life in the leagues, when you have players spread across differing teams.

I think this is a shame really on the whole for those 17 Junior A's in Graigue, but I guess some of the players need to take personal responsibility and do what it takes to encourage teammates to help out and turn out.

Also, I think if Killeshin get into that Junior C final, if its possible at all, they won't touch those players until after its finished.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Junior Ex Laoistalk on August 09, 2019, 11:47:56 PM
Tonight's Junior C Result

Graiguecullen   2-12
Killeshin            1-01
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Pugwash on August 10, 2019, 12:01:37 AM
Superb performance tonight from Graigue, scoreline was slightly harsh on Killeshin despite not scoring in the second half. They kicked some very bad wides especially in the first half when they were well in the game.

Killeshin fielded a lot of chaps under the age of 20 tonight from what I could see, I have no doubt the great work being done out there will reap rewards in years to come at Senior level. Games like tonight they will learn a lot from.

Graigue have a side with a lovely blend of youth and experience, their game management this evening and tactics were spot on. They will of course be mindful going into the final, nothing is ever won easy (especially not for Graigue)

In the other semi finals it's Colt or Annanough who play tomorrow evening.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Chairman on August 10, 2019, 12:45:00 AM
Hard to stomach your propaganda Pugwash.

This Graigue team should not be in this competition. Not for the first time the club have pulled a stunt and are getting away with it.

You cannot stand over pulling out of the Junior A championship and blatantly keeping a group of players together for a grade they are far too strong for. Did this Graigue team not reach the Division 4 league final and get promoted to Division 3 for next year. Did Division 4 include Spink and Portlaoise, two Junior A teams.

This Graigue team would have been good enough to beat at least half the teams in Junior A especially if you added 3 or 4 lads who'd be eligible but not on Senior team.

The league fixtures can be tough on every club but St Joseph's, Portarlington and O'Dempseys has no problem fielding numerous teams throughout the divisions.

Graigue shouldn't have been allowed keep a third team in a competition when they pulled out their second team. Ok they mightn't have technically broken any rule but they have certainly broken the spirit of it with by putting a false team into a championship and even screwing their own players to win an aul handy junior C. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Pugwaah might be able to answer this but when ye won the junior c the last time five or six years ago didn't ye do the exact same thing and hammer everyone to win it?

That small mind mentality is a blight on Laois gaa

Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Pugwash on August 10, 2019, 01:17:52 AM
Quote from: Chairman on August 10, 2019, 12:45:00 AM
Hard to stomach your propaganda Pugwash.

This Graigue team should not be in this competition. Not for the first time the club have pulled a stunt and are getting away with it.

You cannot stand over pulling out of the Junior A championship and blatantly keeping a group of players together for a grade they are far too strong for. Did this Graigue team not reach the Division 4 league final and get promoted to Division 3 for next year. Did Division 4 include Spink and Portlaoise, two Junior A teams.

This Graigue team would have been good enough to beat at least half the teams in Junior A especially if you added 3 or 4 lads who'd be eligible but not on Senior team.

The league fixtures can be tough on every club but St Joseph's, Portarlington and O'Dempseys has no problem fielding numerous teams throughout the divisions.

Graigue shouldn't have been allowed keep a third team in a competition when they pulled out their second team. Ok they mightn't have technically broken any rule but they have certainly broken the spirit of it with by putting a false team into a championship and even screwing their own players to win an aul handy junior C. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Pugwaah might be able to answer this but when ye won the junior c the last time five or six years ago didn't ye do the exact same thing and hammer everyone to win it?

That small mind mentality is a blight on Laois gaa

All of those players that played against Killeshin on Friday night were eligible to play and have broken no rules.

Again, people seem to ignore that the vast majority of the Graiguecullen Junior C team played Junior C last year too and many didn't play Junior A, yet that's being ignored? The simple fact is Graigue would still have won tonight taking out the lads who were playing Junior A last year in my opinion. You still have a whole host of lads there who either played senior for a number of years or good young players which there seems to be plenty of thankfully.

Small minded mentality, that's a good one and as for the club being ashamed of themselves? I would equate shameful behaviour with hitting referees, mass brawls, sending leaflets into neighbouring villages trying to recruit players  ;) ;D bringing the game into disrepute at various levels etc as something to be ashamed of not going out and winning a game fair and square.

We're very fortunate that we have a large catchment area and despite a blip with how the Junior A went this year (I'm sure that will be sorted for next year and Graigue will attempt to run 3 times for the whole year) and have a number of good players to call upon no matter the level.

There is no Junior C Championship won yet by any side, I'm sure the Graiguecullen management and players would say the same.

The rest of the county can have their opinion on the matter, but if Graiguecullen do win the Championship will they care what anyone thinks outside of the panel? I'm sure you all know the answer to that one.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Jd on August 10, 2019, 02:16:35 AM
So ye pull the stronger team to hover up a junior c at the expense of clubs who are trying to do things properly .......... well done. Graiguecullen seem to have a habit of doing this. Last year they entered a  Fèile team in the B section as they realized that Portlaoise had a strong team too. This is a team that this year contains 7or 8 of the county u15 panelists and is hammering other teams by 40 points This year they pull the junior A team and screw not only the rest of the teams in junior C but also the genuine junior A players in the club. Annanough lost 8 players to their intermediate team but at least have done things right. Colt are a hurling club trying to keep football going. Killeshin ran three teams this year. All are clubs trying to promote football. Graigue just pulled a fast sneaky move and deserve our sustain
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: laoisboy on August 10, 2019, 07:02:48 AM
Good win for graig junior a  last night.sorry junior  C
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Chairman on August 10, 2019, 11:16:15 AM
How can you not see that having a first team and a third team but no second team is just wrong and completely unfair on every other club?

Ye got to the Division 4 Final with a Junior C team, competing against a couple of other Junior A teams. The honorable thing to do would have been to say "we'll be even stronger now when we add the couple of lads who are available and give the Junior A a go". If St a Joseph's can be intermediate with their second team and O'Dempseys are able to get to a final, Graigue should be able to compete at the latter end of that competition. But they'd rather be the snakes that continuously pull these stunts. 'Honourable' isn't something that is a given a moments consideration in Graigue.

And you never answered my previous question. When Graigue won the Junior C the last time again hammering everyone on their way as well, did they or did they not do the exact same thing?
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Silkyskillssunshinee on August 10, 2019, 11:41:57 AM
I have to admit that I agree with the above comments. Regardless of what team Graiguecullen are throwing out at Junior C level, it's not right. There's no reason why they shouldn't have scrapped the Junior C team and used some of those players, along with members of their proper Junior A team, and had a good run at the Junior A championship, a competition they haven't been far off from winning the last few years.

There's lads on Graiguecullen's Senior side who will be sitting on the bench tomorrow and not see any game time. What are they to do for the rest of the summer? Sit on the bench for the rest of the summer, or maybe decide to drop down and win an easy Junior C title?
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Joeythelips on August 28, 2019, 12:19:41 PM
Laois Shopping Centre Junior Football Championship Quarter Finals
Castletown v Winners of Killeshin/Spink
Ballyroan-Abbey v The Heath
Park-Ratheniska v The Harps
O'Dempsey's v Kilcavan

Some interesting ties, The Harps beating Barrowhouse would have to go down as a bit of a shock, if then can beat Barrowhouse they will cause problems for Park. Bally roan should win, Kilcavan v O Dempseys sounds 50/50 and not too sure about the first game. No one really stands out, Park are favourites I would imagine but whoever wins will really have to earn it.

Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Toomanygaels on August 28, 2019, 01:24:29 PM
If Graigue decide to field 3 adult teams next year, what grade will they play at?

Quote from: Silkyskillssunshinee on August 10, 2019, 11:41:57 AM
I have to admit that I agree with the above comments. Regardless of what team Graiguecullen are throwing out at Junior C level, it's not right. There's no reason why they shouldn't have scrapped the Junior C team and used some of those players, along with members of their proper Junior A team, and had a good run at the Junior A championship, a competition they haven't been far off from winning the last few years.

There's lads on Graiguecullen's Senior side who will be sitting on the bench tomorrow and not see any game time. What are they to do for the rest of the summer? Sit on the bench for the rest of the summer, or maybe decide to drop down and win an easy Junior C title?
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: SCFC on September 16, 2019, 10:35:18 AM
Stunned by that result yesterday morning. Park Ratheniska must be absolutely devastated by that. Seems Castletown fully deserved it too.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Jd on September 16, 2019, 10:52:25 AM
Kinda ironic if Castletown win it that the lads who were with Mountmellick would end up playing with their own club at the same level. They are a nice outfit and I would fancy them to take this title too. Feel sorry for park they're a great club but just cannot get over the line
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: les Antiques on September 16, 2019, 12:20:34 PM
I heard Ryan Mullaney was colossal at centre field for Castletown yesterday.   
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Helix. on September 16, 2019, 02:18:13 PM
Quote from: SCFC on September 16, 2019, 10:35:18 AM
Stunned by that result yesterday morning. Park Ratheniska must be absolutely devastated by that. Seems Castletown fully deserved it too.

Park Ratheniska had their chance last year too and blew it. They just don't have enough up front to get the job done. Other junior teams will only get stronger (Spink and Ballyroan will have a decent crop of young lads next year which will be a boost). Joseph's 2nd team back down and Kilcavan will always be tough. It's going to get more increasingly difficult for them to win Junior A. And if they do win staying up intermediate will be a challenge.

The irony is Castletown have more senior football player experience than Park Ratheniska since a good few have played with Mountmellick in the past so a surprise rather than stunned. Most of them would be quite fit from training senior hurling and inter county level. If they get James Mullaney home from abroad for a final they'll have massive chance. Fully deserved.
ODempseys and The Heath this evening in other semi final.
It'll be interesting to see will any of the Castletown lads go in with regional team at end of season.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: SCFC on September 16, 2019, 05:24:11 PM
Quote from: Helix. on September 16, 2019, 02:18:13 PM
Quote from: SCFC on September 16, 2019, 10:35:18 AM
Stunned by that result yesterday morning. Park Ratheniska must be absolutely devastated by that. Seems Castletown fully deserved it too.
It'll be interesting to see will any of the Castletown lads go in with regional team at end of season.
Depends if they're in or out of the hurling I'd imagine.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Helix. on September 16, 2019, 10:12:56 PM
O'Dempseys with a comfortable win tonight. The Heath with a few injuries ran out of steam and O'Dempseys full value for the win. Will be a decent final will be hard one to call. 
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Joeythelips on September 17, 2019, 09:31:31 AM
Just going on match reports but it did seem that Park were all hands on deck this year so if Castletown can beat them they should me more than good enough to beat O'Dempseys.

It does show the benefit of the gaels system though as Castletown had a few players who had been kicking at senior level with Mountmellick and that has really stood to them. They could win their 3rd junior title on the trot which is a great achievement.
Title: Re: Laois Junior Football Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on September 28, 2019, 09:01:14 PM
Well done to o Dempseys a club going in the right direction. Hard luck to castletown but it's been a great 3 year for them