Messages

I think port had 3 triallists but none of them committed. O Ds have a chap on the panel but he was injured for last night. Ballyroan just had a less successful crop this year so it's not that standards are slipping in those clubs but just that they for whatever reasons don't have lads on the team

But sure its true. There are distinct football and hurling areas.in Laois and people on here saying that football clubs should be pushing hurling at underage are living in a dreamworld. If the appetite is there then of course let kids play hurling but to say that there's suddenly going the be a big uptake of hurling in stradbally or ballylinan is just wrong no more than saying that Ballacolla are suddenly going to be a football superpower. Kids will pick whatever sport is big in a certain area and to excell at a sport then sometimes clubs and players just have to concentrate on one

There is indeed an underage setup but no adult. He doesn't play with the club as he prefers football....... Football area

What you say actually confirms what I said. There isn't the appetite in the traditional football clubs for hurling because there are not enough "hurling people" in these clubs. The football people don't care enough to try to develop it further and while I can't speak for all clubs I can honestly say that I have never seen anyone actively try to prevent hurling. It's not protests which kill hurling in the football areas but more apathy. Its the same as football in hurling areas. Unless a hurling person "blows in" to a football area or vice versa then it'll never start up much less grow. I love hurling but am from a football area. My young fella brings his hurl to school cos I almost bully him to but he himself has said there's more of the lads playing football so he'll l play that with his club

It's very easy to accuse clubs of being closed to hurling but in my opinion it's not true. Clubs will let anyone start a hurling team and many have tried. They fail not through resistance of clubs but through sheer lack of people to run such teams. Take port for instance..... A big traditional football club with an decent underage hurling setup. How many people are driving the hurling?? 5 or 6 whereas there's multiples of that doing football. There are not enough people skilled in hurling to teach the skills to kids and even if you put County coaches in there still won't be enough to sign up to coach. You mentioned Emo/St Paul's, these kids are getting good coaching through Emo and Rath schools as both principals are hurling men but once again once it goes back to the clubs there's only small numbers there to coach. Also parents choose which sport the child has a better chance of progressing in as they can't be out 6 nights a week. It's not the clubs which are stopping hurling but tradition. Clubs will always revert to their stronger code just to keep things going but as with hurling clubs will always struggle to get enough coaches to teach the weaker one.

 There are full-time s&c people in there. The underage setups all come through the system now and it is starting to show. The Minor footballers whom I see regularly are very well conditioned and compare very favourably against any teams they play. I heard a member of management say that 28 of the 33 have come through this system so I'm sure it's the way across the board. There's a bit of upheaval in there at the moment but I'm sure it'll be sorted by the new head of that dept

Look like a nice team. Seem to have a few decent forwards Dineen at fullback looks like a serious prospect

Jason Coffey still with the minors. Took the warmup yesterday. I think he may be staying on board with them

Apologies ........this is a hurling stream. Mixed up my codes

Minors havent played anyone yet. Might have been u16. First minor practise match is Saturday v Wicklow.

I wouldn't necessarily sat the eye is off the ball at all in port. Sometimes you just have a barren spell when it comes to different teams. Port minors will prob produce 2 or 3 senior players from their minor team . They had 3 laois minors last year and naybe 2 this year Same with u20. If they can keep getting one or two every year and integrate  them into current teams theyll be fine. Ballyroan are on a full rebuild as fas as I can see nad placing massive hope on a bunch of players that have won a lot throughout underage. But I'd suuggest that it will be a few years yet before them lads mature enough as a group to start winning seniors. I hope they have the patience to wait cos it will eventually happen

While I'd love  agree with a reduction in senior numbers i have to disagree with some other points. With regards to sigerson there are at least 4 lads currently  in on the senior panel of college age who would be good enough for sigerson but have opted for trades or jobs.  Perhaps theres more its just what lads are choosing. The physical point is debatable as the squad is very well balanced size wise and theres an S+C pathway in place now for players who have been identified  from underage squads with potential for senior . Financially the Co  is good and from what I have seen theyre not being tight with teams. Senior footballers and hurlers have everything they could possibly need. Dont forget that the COE is a massive bonus to have too. Its going to take a bit of time but the current administration is still in its first year and already big changes are happening. Just my opinion. Things not great but not as bad as some think either. Realistically we're probably a mid tier county in football and upper to mid tier hurling  county with a good team coming through every few years

Rioghan murphy probably would be but hes on a basketball scholarship with UL so isn't allowed play football

Yeah I think thats his name alright. Blonde hair chap. I've not seen any Port  lads yet. Timmons back in Paul Kingston in no sign of Donie

Ah no I know Kieran Lillis is definitely in too.Gareth Dillont isnt though theres plenty of lads I wouldnt recognise. Them lads are just a few newer faces .