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"That's me done with Laois," he said on Off the Ball. "I'm finished with them. I'm not supporting them any more.

"The thing I'm annoyed about is Laois have two or three years to be competitive in Leinster.

"After that, when the 2003 minors are too old, (Colm) Begley and these fellas, Laois are not going to be competitive.

"There was a chance of another two or three years, if someone good enough came in, to be the second best team in Leinster and that's not going to happen now.

"I am sad about that and I am disillusioned."
-Colm Parkinson.

When I read this way back before the season started, i was slightly worried, but put it down to Parkinson's personality and his falling out with Lillis. But you know what, it's becoming clear that he was spot on. Cunningham's appointment is a desperate move and it has come too late. I fear for Laois in Nowlan Park and the qualifiers - it should not be this way, had someone given a damn and had a bit of foresight about the next few years. Turley or Higgins were far greater choices, the people at the top should have known that Lillis is just not up to taking Laois to a good level. In Parkinson's words, he's out of his depth. I feel sad above all for the lads putting in the huge effort - all for what? To get an average Junior B set up?

Sure he's still in Spain on holidays - how is he the main man. I highly doubt that.

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Jason Ryan, but his stay at Kildare was not so good. He did a great job in Wexford and had them very competitive. He seems off the radar now, though. Kildare was his big break and unfortunately for him, it just didn't work out.

You're missing the point. Yeah of course we can't attract anyone with the PROFILE of Micko. But we can surely attract someone with a good football brain with a desire to make this team as good as it can be.

Heard those comments as well on Radio 3. I think I've criticised Lillis enough so didn't want to bring it up. But it is awful, for a manager to say that, that he thinks we have no chance. As posters have suggested, if we had good preparation, sure we'd be underdogs but NOT no-hopers against Dublin. What's disgraceful is his incompetency this year. His attitude has been woeful as a county manager. I found his comments about how hard it is in Div 2 and how equally hard it will be in Div 3 to not inspire confidence at all. This group of players deserve way more. I just hope they stay around next year and will get a lot more.

As stated before, I do believe this year is already a write off as we obviously haven't prepared well, and the manager doesn't seem motivated, confident, let alone competent. After we lose after 1 or 2 qualifiers, give this man the boot he deserves (even though he is a nice man; it's not personal, but should be nowhere near an IC job) and get somebody with competency in there. This squad of players deserves a man with belief and a man that can make them progress. What they have at the moment is a man with no belief in them and a man who is bringing them back years. It'd drive anyone up the wall. This squad HAS talent and HAS potential - can we not just get a man in there who knows that and can harness that potential. It's not that much to ask surely. All we've got since Micko, has been average journeyman after average journeyman. The players and fans deserve better.

Something seriously wrong in the camp. Nobody up for it yesterday apart from a few. Tackling awful. Giving away possession too easy. Lads unfit. We only seemed to spark into life when they came back at us. Don't know what to make of it or who to blame. Lads unfit, out of shape, lack of organisation - managments fault. Lads not up for it at all - why even put on the jersey.

Looked like a training match yesterday. If Wicklow had a free taker to capitalise on our awful defending, we'd be in bother.

On the plus side, we seem to have a habit of playing much better when our backs are against the wall. Doesn't seem to suit us to be far ahead - we seem to get complacent. For that reason, I think we'll put up a fight against the dubs, but our lack of organisation, lack of fitness and lack of talent in management will mean we'll be way off the pace.

I agree, Timmons man of the match. I thought Farrell did well when he came in. Meaney tried hard. O loughlin did well. Ross shouldn't have started - really not match fit. Kingston looked a shadow of himself - why? One of the best talents in the country looked average and unfit and disinterested - why? What's going on in that camp at all - does lillis even know? Seems clueless.

Each player needs to ask themselves : Do you want this? Do you want to play for Laois and play your heart out and progress? Be honest with themselves. If the answer is yes, great - you're doing the county proud. If no, leave it to someone who wants it. Same goes for management.

Good post County man. I can see a good crowd for us tomorrow - great weather, lots of town loads back in the team for portlaoise supporters.... we even have a return of "attacking football"! Lads giving it a lot of effort in training. Great championship weather.

My prediction : Louth by 6, Laois by 5.

Seale was a little off in the League but maybe rusty. He has potential. The FB line of Begley, Timmons, Attride sounds good to me - Begley's a bit of an all-rounder. He is more suited further out the field for Loais in my opinion BUT we're lacking in the FB line - I'd like to see him there this year.

McNulty had to go because of all the pressure that was put on him to go. Apparently "people weren't showing up to games because of the style" (but that proves to be nonsense because there are the same or less people showing up to games nowadays with a more traditional style). Significant figures in the media (ahhhemmmm cough splutter Jack Nolan and Co) wanted him out and idiots with no foresight and a football brain suited to the 1970's also wanted him out.

In hindsight, his system did need to be adjusted : we simply were not scoring enough. Too many people behind the ball and ridiculous player usage at times. Still, our conditioning, strenght and fitness was on a par with Division 1. We got to 1/4 final and also ran Donegal close in the 4th round of qualifiers. McNulty was always going to go, but i feel that should our way of competing : getting to a top level of fitness and having a good managerial set up. We seem way behind in terms of conditioning in 2016 and regarding competing with the top level, well, people seem to have said "to hell with it, who cares."

Unfortunately, it seems we've just become like an Offaly, Westmeath, Longford type setup this year. Just going through the motions. There's really no reason why we can't be like a Roscommon or Cavan. Here's hoping a group of folks with the necessary authority care enough about Laois football to make a concerted effort for positive change, starting now, for 2017. Cunningham certainly is a positive move.

See, people seem to think it's either blanket defence or 15 vs 15. Would it blow your mind if you realised Dublin, Kerry, Mayo etc do NOT play 15 vs 15 but also DO NOT play blanket defence. They have a smart, organised, co-ordinated system where people are adaptable, players are tracked and counter - attacks with speed are key. It's what McNulty was trying to do but it was in it's infancy / the players were not good enough / familiar enough with it at the time. It'll be interesting to see what Cunningham can do.

Big week this week. My prediction, with all respect to Wicklow, is that we'll have too much for them. I doubt we'll be comprehensive but 4+ points is my prediction. Will be interesting to see the team named and the match itself - I wonder if our structure will be any different. In a way I hope Wicklow put up a good fight as we certainly can't be anything other than sharp agains't the dubs, IF we come through Wicklow.

Got lucky with the draw. It's ridiculous that, to this day, Leinster and ulster teams have it so much harder to get to a semi or final in their provincial championships. The likes of Mayo or Galway generally win one, and they're in a final.

To be fair to Lillis, I doubt he is getting much, if anything, after expenses. His ability is suspect but his passion for Laois and his effort without pay, can't be questioned really. I like the addition of Cunningham but it would be much better had it been at start of year. Lillis means very well, in fairness, but he's like your ma when she holds your hand on the way to the local disco, in front of all your friends. Meaning well, but in reality - holding you back and cramping your style.

All respect to Wicklow, but we'll beat them. We simply have too much talent, even if the setup is not bringing them to their potential this year. We're 1/8 to beat Wicklow - that's the objective betting on Boylesports. So let's not pity ourselves that bad that we're scared of Wicklow. After that, though, not sure if we'll beat many teams. Confidence is low. Am I the only one that thinks, with our raw talent, we should be fighting for an all ireland 1/4 final? I honestly think that if this squad's talent was harnessed correctly, we should be there or thereabouts.

I'm very open to be proven wrong by this years management - but if we do pull off something good this year after everything so far, it will be an achievement of Leicester standards.

This will have no major effect on our year.  It might have done 6 months ago but a fitness guy coming in April is way too late.  How on earth should this guy get the Laois job, he is a fitness guru and that makes a difference at club level but county that's a big leap.  Let's see if he can somehow spring a miracle this year and then think about the job.

How on earth should he get the job- what? Are you forgetting he has a better record at club level vs Lillis and has inter county experience with Galway hurlers who were in the all-ireland last year? He's vastly more qualified than Lillis and he has a tactical brain and a good man manager. He's a fine all-rounder. You're right about one thing - it's way too late to expect miracles this year. It's ridiculous that we've gone so far back in terms of fitness. The set up sounds inept in 2016, but we'd be lucky to have a man like Cunningham in 2017. Who else will arrest the slide - Lillis seems resigned to the thought that we're not good and are div 3 /4 standard. We just don't need that attitude - this year is predictable already. Win vs Wicklow likely (as they are a worse version of us), 13 men behind the ball against Dublin (as practiced vs Kildare) with our lads scoring less than 12 points and them still getting 20+ points. 0 - 2 wins in the qualifiers depending on who we get but no more than 2 wins. That's 95% chance of what we'll get this year - the setup clearly does not have a good vision and attitude and towards the year. It's a write off, but maybe, just maybe we can get someone decent with aspirations like Cunningham for 2017 in addition to proper underage structure (at least the centre of excellence should be ready by 2018). Otherwise lillis' vision for us will come true - Div 3 or 4 for the next 6 - 8 years at least.

For those who think the only thing to do is to concentrate on underage and forget about the senior set up : you're forgetting - success breeds success and also interest. It's co-dependant. We need the senior team to be one that is performing well and a setup to be proud of - otherwise there's less incentive for youngsters to get involved and to have hopes for future success with Laois at senior level. The opposite is also true : we need a functioning underage setup to breed success at senior. We need a proper vision, really - and it's not too far off common sense: We need the opposite of this year, basically. I play for a lesser club at a Intermediate level and it really sounds like we're miles ahead of the current Laois senior football set up. That's unacceptable.