Messages

Groundhog Day approaches. Wickla in Aughrim. Any predictions?

The blessed loophole. Relegation is a different competition seemingly and therefore suspensions don't count. The CB playing next goal wins with Laois GAA. No wonder they can't find a decent coach for our Senior team. Come back Eddie Brennan. Turns out you were right all along.

100% agree with you about relegation. I don't think this is CB fault though - I think this is a Official Guide problem. Its daft that it is considered a separate competition!

[Lads come armed with videos and other evidence]

The reason lads get off is because there is inconsistency. Lads come armed with videos and other evidence. Lads found guilty of openly fighting should be banned for the next game. The two week turnaround if anything should be a help here, but no it seems. We're in a proper state as a county because the CB trip themselves up at every turn. Still, it's nice to see one or two of their representatives and friends coming out to bat for them 😄.

Surely videos and evidence are legitimate defence? If a video or evidence exonerates someone isn't that a good thing? Is it not preferable to right a wrong not allow it stand?

I think I know what you mean but it isn't the evidence that is the problem; it is the disciplinary process that needs fixing.

Sounds like you know more than the rest of us. We're only looking for transparency here. These teams play tomorrow after all. The dithering will surely allow any guilty parties to play, which shouldn't happen. Or maybe that's the plan. Who knows. We have an anaemic local media so somebody has to question what the f**k is going on here. Might as well be us as anyone, but I welcome your contribution and am happy to debate the point. The whole thing stinks. Standard fare for this county unfortunately

And for what it's worth, I will never be reasonable where I perceive an injustice, an inconsistency or blatant disregard for fair play. I may be wrong but will happily admit to be if good evidence disproves my point. We haven't seen any evidence yet, but in previous similar situations, we knew everything. Remember too that a lot of us were there and know what we saw. No need to mention names

I know nothing! Have no idea what has been proposed as regards suspensions, fines or even expulsions..... I would agree that the process in GAA disciplinary hearings is drawn out for too long. The number of appeals is a concern. It either means individuals just will not accept the outcome or the process is flawed. IMO the process is flawed and needs an overhaul - in every county.

Of course action is being taken. People have to be given fair process. If they are charged with an offence, they are entitled to a hearing. A decision is then made and the individual is entitled to an appeal. Whats the problem with that? I don't see why the County Board should be criticised at this point - they didn't cause the row and can only deal after the event with the referees report and the evidence available. It can't be trial by social media. A bit of reasonableness is needed.

If you are going to criticise the County Board for not reappointing Eddie Brennan, they must be credited with appointing him in the first place. If they appointed him in the first place they must know what they are doing. Maybe the fingers are being pointed in the wrong direction. Likewise with Sugrue. Both walked. Counties have to work within their financial constraints and can't issue bank cheques for expenditure on preparing county teams. There isn't a bottomless pit of money. Counties all over are in dire financial straits due to Covid and there is going to be no sanctioning of expenditure than cannot be afforded. And rightly so.
There has to be a radical rethink of the inter county scene. It cannot continue to be such an unjust playing field.
If it continues as is and as it is being pushed we will arrive at a Super 8s scenario very quickly and small counties will never get a look in and forgotten about. Death of the intercounty scene as we know it.

Davy Burke has made a great impact in Wicklow and they fancy their chances of promotion. Bit of a row over senior manager over ruling Kevin O Brien to prevent U20 players playing v Clare last week. Strong feeling this u20 team can take Dublin...
Galvin made a shrewd move to involve Cian Deely and with anyoiubg squad they can definitely create a big improvement on their 2019 form.
These south east neighbours to surprise during 2020.

Paul Rouse has raised a very important question. What type of Association do we want?
In defence of the GAA, they cannot win; on every controversial issue - rules, competition structures, tiers, codes, ticket prices there are multitudes who take multiple opposing positions and consensus is not possible.

All the Committees in Croke park and the Provincial Councils are ordinary GAA folk, dealing with complex matters that are possibly beyond their professional competences. The professionals in Croke Park are career officials and often these are opposite sides of the same coin.

We crave professional preparation but oppose professionalism and insist on counties spending millions in preparing amateur county sides. The balance has been lopsided in favour of the county game over the club game. The only way to bring it back in sync is to stop spending so much money but who is going to do that?

If pre season competitions are anything to go by Westmeath and Sligo must be favourites for promotion. An O Byrne Cup title must give Westmeath great momentum and confidence. Sligo were edged out by the Rossies who hammered Galway yesterday.
Laois doing well on the challenge game circuit and seem to have a stronger panel than last year - they feel they are a Div 2 team operating below their true status..... time will tell

Well, thank God for that...
http://hoganstand.com/Laois/article/index/294384?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Should suit a defensive team like Laois

I spoke to about 20 people who were at Ros v Sligo and nobody not one of them said the handpass rule should be binned.

Are you serious? Saw a number of plays pulled up early on less than 4 hand passes, saw a pull down which should be a black card not given. Lots of people around me wanted it gone

Thats some beating for Longford. Mullinalaghta lads to come back - Mullinalaghta would have put up a better show?

Sugrue has done his pre season work very well with area team competition and an enlarged panel. Counties need to have new talent coming in and pressing existing players for places. He has looked at a lot of players in the O Byrne Cup and now knows exactly what he has to work with. Results were irrelevant.
No reason why Laois won't be in Div 2 at the end of this campaign.

Cup has been good to give game time and assess new lads.
Be fairly sure of back to back promotions. Nothing to fear in this division

Not a fan by any stretch. Like a lot of these podcast interviewers he comes with so much bias in his views and all of them fawning over current player guests is cringeworthy.... nauseating at times. Yet at other times has thrown up some gems...
Similar to Brolly, chases headlines and soundbites.
Used to listen but have tuned out as regular listener.