Senior Football Championship 2015

[Cruella De Vil]

Big shock that O'Dempseys were relegated. Not the fact that Ballylinan beat them, just that a team that would have aspirations towards the latter end of the championship finds themselves relegated.

Ballylinan were good value with the bookies for this one, around 5/2 afaik, o'd's had shown very little all year to suggest they'd be capable of a result, but as said, at the start of the year you'd never thought it.

[The Monument Road]

Decent game between Arles V Emo today. little between these two and the replay will be hard to call although Arles will feel confident as they will improve i think. Ross wasnt as prolific as the last day against the Heath but he still kept his nerve to score the crucial goal. darren strong was outstanding for Emo.
Kileen were at sea for most of their game against a Portlaoise team in first or second gear at most. They tried hard but were way out of their depbt and only for Donies fetching in midfield they would have been hammered.Kileen needed Paul Kingston, Donie Brennan Enright and Julian to be at their best but they were very Very poor. Kileen could end up on a very rapid downward spiral after this loss  as they dont seem to have anything coming through.what can you say about Portlaoise that has'nt been said over and over for the past 9 years. They are head and shoulders above the rest of us.

[Uisce]

Some win for Ballylinan. Would have thought Dempseys might have had enough to win but obviously not. I wasn't at the game but it's hard to comprehend what went wrong for them this year. Losing to Timahoe in the Division 2 final then getting rid of their manager has obviously had a very negative impact on their year.But fair play to Ballylinan.

Kilcruise and Emo was decent, Emo fought hard and kept Kilcruise's bug players relatively quiet and only for a mistake by their goalie probably would have won. Kilcruise will hope they can step up there game and win the next day. There was a incident in the first half where Mick Lawlor struck one of Kilcruise players in the face and then elbowed him right in the face while the umpires were looking straight at it. They talked to the referee but nothing came of it. It was unbelievable he didn't get the line, have no idea what the umpires were at.

Portlaoise put in there usual performance and will have no real problem winning again this year I feel. They played some great football and have strength in depth which is a asset that most teams to do not have. They kept the Kingstons quiet and after that there wasn't a whole lot Arles offered. Never really felt at any time that they were going to win the game.

[maccer]

Must be very disappointing for o'dempseys. Most people probably had them as dark horses for championship at start of year. Fair play to a young ballylinan team though.

emo nearly pulled it off. Their goalie will be relieved alright.
hard to know who'll pull it off. It would be remarkable for pat Ryan to get a 3rd club to a county final.

town were always in control. Even when Killeen got it back to 3 points they tacked on 3 scores immediately. Need to improve on their own kick outs and probably a bit too pure at back with no sweeper. Killeen very poor and predictable. Ball moved very slowly compared to Town.
Town seem to have found a couple of younger lads and are renewing themselves. Their hunger and work rate is fantastic typified by last couple of points where Bruno fought like a demon to win the ball back even though the result was probably secured.

If you're looking at some team to take over from The Town every potential club seems to be regressing. Killeen & kilcruise nearing end (it will be interesting to see where both are in 5 years) stradbally gone back a lot, port very disappointing, o'dempseys relegated. Josephs probably the likely team now but it will take a few years.

[Laoischat]

Now Timahoe and O'Dempseys in the intermediate next year.
Very strange to have heard the Timahoe result. Many had them as sure favorites to stroll straight back into the senior championship, after Ballyfin left them for dead last year. But again they have failed. Between Annanough and Clonaslee now for senior status.

Courtwood very unlucky not to beat Annanough.

[Tony]

Portlaoise were always going to win. Bruno had some game - I wonder if there are any Laois days in him yet. It'll be a predictable final. Whatever about amalgamating clubs - if Arles stayed as one we'd have a bit of a fight. Fair play to Emo, punching above their weight. Will lillis get a few of the new young portlaoise lads on board? Seems to me that Laois with Cahilane, Bruno and 3/4 new to laois lads would greatly improve the county squad.

[redsetanta]

Ross's missed free at the end was crucial for Emo. If that had gone over it put 2 points between the sides. In fairness a draw in the end was fair on both teams. Watching Portlaoise in the second game though it's hard to see anything other than another title for them. They were sharp and always had a response in them if Killeen drew near. There is also a bit of steel about them which was evident. They are all good footballers, very well conditioned and look sharp at the moment.

On another note why is the replay between Arles and Emo  fixed for Thursday evening with a big Euro qualifier against Germany on at the same time. The clash will certainly affect the attendance.

[Junior Ex Laoistalk]

Big win for Emo last Thursday beating Arles Kilcruise by 3 goals, 3-08 to 0-08.
County final,  Emo v Portlaoise fixed for Sunday 18th Oct at 4-00pm.

[Faugheen]

Thought i seen somewhere that throw in was at 5.15 ?.

[redsetanta]

Changed alright due to rugby.

[Gmac]

Very little talk about county final on Sunday is it a sign of the interest in football in the county at the moment?

[redsetanta]

Does anyone give any hope to Emo at all?

Mickey Lawlor will torment them one way or the other. Emo ain't the worst and have improved as the championship went on.

Like Operation Market Garden it could be a bridge too far!

[Keyser Söze]

C'mon Aymo now!

[Helix]

Mickey Lawlor will torment them one way or the other. Emo ain't the worst and have improved as the championship went on

u

2 goals scored and last min free to level it. Portlaoise were atrocious and still managed to get out of jail: fair play to them.
Town should win replay. Possibly fixed midweek as leinster club vs Palatine next weekend.

[Heshs Umpire]

Great effort from Emo. You'd have to admire their spirit, guts and pure determination. And you'd also have to admire Portlaoise's comeback from what looked a really bad position.