Laois Senior Football Championship 2024

[SCFC]

Starts tomorrow night with Ballyroan Abbey v The Heath.
BA should win this.
Port v O'Dempsey's is hard to call. I think O'D's to edge it.
Clonaslee could pull off a shock against a very understrength Emo.
Strad to beat Rosenallis comfortably enough.
Killeen to edge Ballyfin.
Joseph's to beat Graigue by around 5.
Portlaoise could beat Ballylinan by maybe 10.
Killeshin v Courtwood - Killeshin with Roche and Lowry back might edge this.

[Ballboy48]

I agree with most of them calls but I reckon port will beat o Dempseys,I think emo will beat clonaslee and the form courtwood are in at the moment I think they will beat Killeshin comfortably

[The PRO]

Anyone catch any of the games?
I saw Port and O'Dempseys and it wasn't a great game. Port are gone back a good bit but so are O'Dempseys.
Big Dan McCormack was a real threat but wasn't used enough by his teammates.
Don't think either of them will be winning it this year.
Also saw Rosenallis and Stradbally last night. Very impressive from Rosenallis. Have brought through some good young lads like Friel, Hyland and Claffey(?). It had got a bit stale for them over the past year or two. But combining the hurling and football will always be a bit of a tall order.
As for Stradbally, it was so disappointing. Never got going. Plenty of new young lads too but it didn't click for them last night.
I still think they could make a quarter-final if they sort out a few issues.

[Laoiseabu]

I know the opposition was questionable but I can't see anyone stopping Portlaoise this year . Aidan Fennelly has them flying and they still have a couple of lads like Swayne to return . Mahoney the Tipp lad is a nice addition . Maka and Larkin is a very strong midfield and Lillis in at full forward is giving them a focal point which they haven't had in a while . Pace wise and physically they look a level above the rest

[redsetanta]

I certainly wouldn't be making predictions on the basis of Portlaoise hammering Ballylinan.

[CB234535]

Lads who are best placed to challenge Portlaois down there this year?

[Junior Ex Laoistalk]

I saw the Graiguecullen v St Josephs game last friday night, it was a very even game all through. Joseph's lost two lads early on through injury,  Dylan Doyle after 10 mins and Cooney the goalie five minutes later. Josh O'Brien replaced Doyle and played very well. Graigue started slow, Joes went ahead but Graigue leveled it and it was 0-5 each at half time.

Josephs looked like they meant business and scored two quick points but graigue fought hard and dominated most of the second half. They created a few good goal chances but were narrowly wide with both of them. Scully in the graigue goals pulled off two good saves and they were level at full time. Then Brian Byrne found a bit of space 40 yards out and kicked a great point to win it for Graiguecullen. Eoghan O'Flaherty had a chance to level it from a free but drove it wide but overall Graiguecullen deserved it with great performances from Aaron Dorgan, Ben Dorgan  and Daniel O'Reilly.
Graiguecullen will now face 2022 champions Portarlington in the 2nd round, tough draw for them after playing the 2023 champions in the first round. If they're going to win it they will certainly have to do it the hard way.

LAOIS SFC ROUND 2 WINNERS GROUP
Arles-Killeen v Courtwood
Ballyroan-Abbey v Rosenallis
Portlaoise v Emo
Graiguecullen v Portarlington

LAOIS SFC ROUND 2 LOSERS GROUP
Killeshin v Ballyfin
Clonaslee-St Manman's v Stradbally
St Joseph's v Ballylinan
O'Dempsey's v The Heath

[on the hop]

I certainly wouldn't be making predictions on the basis of Portlaoise hammering Ballylinan.

definitely, wait till after the emo match but its good to see them kicking the ball more than previous years. possibly still lacking a scoring forward

[SCFC]

Good display from Clonaslee last night to be fair to them but my God, that was one of the worst Stradbally teams I've ever seen.
One thing you'd always get with Stradbally was a bit of cuteness that often helped them beat better teams but they were completely off the pace last night and had no real leaders apart from possibly young Deegan in midfield.
Clonaslee's half back line were all excellent and Corbet and Lee ran the show up front. Big full back was very good too - either Dunne or Owens, not sure.

[Countyminor]

The argument for a slimmed down championship has never been stronger IMO. Some very one sided results so far. Throw into the mix walkovers from the hurling clubs in the Junior and the general poor standard of the Intermediate and I think it's a necessity really at this stage. I'm not sure the likes of Ballyfin or Ballylinan on current viewing would even compete with Crettyard or Mountmellick a drop below them.

On a more optimistic note, while the quality might not be there at times, this nonetheless is possibly the most open championship at the top end we've had in a long time. Graiguecullen, Portlaoise, Portarlington, Ballyroan and St Joseph's must all be fancying their chances. I'd have given Emo a fair chance too if they'd had a full complement including Greene, Kirwan etc available. I find it very tough to call a winner at this stage.

[Zooming around]

What happened with the draw?

[redsetanta]

What's the story with Ballylinan?

Winners of Intermediate last year and hammered in both games in the senior this year.

If that doesn't enforce the opinion that the senior championship should be reduced in size what does?

[georgedoylesrightleg]

poor ballylinen, lost half team abroad n injuries n lost mananger. can happen.

[The boardman]

The argument for a slimmed down championship has never been stronger IMO. Some very one sided results so far. Throw into the mix walkovers from the hurling clubs in the Junior and the general poor standard of the Intermediate and I think it's a necessity really at this stage. I'm not sure the likes of Ballyfin or Ballylinan on current viewing would even compete with Crettyard or Mountmellick a drop below them.

On a more optimistic note, while the quality might not be there at times, this nonetheless is possibly the most open championship at the top end we've had in a long time. Graiguecullen, Portlaoise, Portarlington, Ballyroan and St Joseph's must all be fancying their chances. I'd have given Emo a fair chance too if they'd had a full complement including Greene, Kirwan etc available. I find it very tough to call a winner at this stage.

The county board are already are considering trying to slowly introduce the idea by the way they introduced the senior b cup for the lower teams definitely need to reduce number of senior teams

[BobbyBoucherJr]

Zach will be back for the Town this year, this changes things, surely the favourites to win it now