Messages

Well done Portlaoise! Have had a real rags to riches season for them. Delighted for them. We need Portlaoise back at the top table.

Don is suggesting that Croke Park are funding the COE and Laois are willing to take the rap on the knuckles for breaking the rule instead of rocking the boat and risk losing funding. Its politics.

Has a panel been rounded up? Or even a meeting?

Where are these courses advertised or promoted? Id be interested but never hear of any courses that are being run?

With the amount of amalgamtions borne of little effort at juvenile level we will end up like rugby. Only a few clubs and a minority sport. We cannot less this happen. If you have numbers form a juvenile team at u7, u9 etc. Look after them what ever level they play.

Is there any credible evidence of this happening? For example, Rathdowney Errill or Borris Kilcotton? We heard that it would impact on the number of people playing but as far as I can see both clubs have teams at multiple grades and competitive underage teams year after year. I think there is far more danger of lads not committing to hurling if they are playing for Mickey mouse juvenile teams at B level and barely able to field a team.  If a club has enough players for 2 juvenile teams they can field them at multiple grades but the only club that seems to have the numbers for this are Portlaoise. Maybe it is happening but I haven't seen it myself.

B/K and R/E are examples of well run amalgamations.

Other clubs do it out of convenience without the required effort at u7, u9 etc. Places like Mountrath, Mountmellick should always be fielding on their own with the numbers available.

With the amount of amalgamtions borne of little effort at juvenile level we will end up like rugby. Only a few clubs and a minority sport. We cannot less this happen. If you have numbers form a juvenile team at u7, u9 etc. Look after them what ever level they play.

I'd say Danny Owens cannot wait to get out of there.

This shouldnt be allowed happen. Both clubs are competitive in senior. Might both need a few more to win it but doesnt mean they should amalgamate.

Which border are you on?

For those saying that it was accidental...Camross are masters of the filthy stroke that almost looks accidental. Even that people are suggesting it might have been accidental is a victory for them. Dont believe it.

/

I would take a wager that the majority of youngster in Potlaoise have not been to see "their club" playing in any county final, name the players on the team or have even set foot inside O'Moore park for any championship game. It really is a huge issue for Laois GAA to try and readdress.     

Its an idea in isolation but could the county board not go to every school in Portlaoise (and killenard) and give every child a free ticket for the county final. Have a bit of fanfare about it. Give out a few prizes. I know they get in free anyway but it would raise awareness of the game especially in Portlaoise.

If Portlaoise harness their power and are not split up beforehand then we will have our very own version of Dublin only worse.

Portlaoise needs 2/3 clubs backed and funded by Laois co board and Croke Park. If run properly they would all be competitive and Laois would benefit in the long run. This will need a hardline stance from county board and people who will be decisive and forward thinking. Its a huge project but it has to be done.

Yes there would be approx 48 teams but one or 2 might not field. This is teams not not clubs. Some(not many) clubs field 4 teams.

Fogarty is talking about counties with only 2 or 3 clubs. The likes of Cavan, Fermanagh, Longford etc have very few teams and very few games as a result. If they pooled resources theyd have 8-10 clubs for a cship. Laois has 6 grades of hurling with 8 teams in each. Thats a world away from the counties he is referring to.

Its a disgrace. Hurling and football can work very well together. Slaughtneil have proved this.