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GAA Discussion => Local GAA Discussion => Laois => Topic started by: The PRO on February 28, 2019, 09:53:24 AM

Title: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: The PRO on February 28, 2019, 09:53:24 AM
Group A
Rathdowney-Errill
Ballinakill
Castletown
Portlaoise

Group B
Camross
Borris-Kilcotton
Clough-Ballacolla
Abbeyleix

Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: SCFC on February 28, 2019, 12:26:26 PM
B looks a bit stronger than A to my uneducated eye!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on February 28, 2019, 01:08:04 PM
Yes! Tough time for Abbeyleix!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Zooming around on February 28, 2019, 01:52:51 PM
I predict:

Portlaoise v Abbeyleix relegation final:

Outright Semi Finalists: Borris/Kilcotton and Rathdowney/Erill

Quarter Finals: Camross v Castletown and Ballinakil v Clough Ballacolla
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on February 28, 2019, 06:44:38 PM
I reckon Portlaoise will beat Castletown, and that Castletown will be relegated.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Moregroundhurling on February 28, 2019, 08:56:15 PM
Quote from: burdizzo on February 28, 2019, 01:08:04 PM
Yes! Tough time for Abbeyleix!

In for three serious thumpings, which isn't great prep for a relegation final
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: G@@ on March 07, 2019, 10:53:49 PM
Ballinakill V Clough-Ballacolla Relegation with Ballinakill to drop down.

Group toppers: Rathdowney-Errill and Borris-Kilcotton meeting Camross and Portlaoise respectively.

Interesting Semi-Final with a repeat of last year's final who will probably lose to Borris-Kilcotton in the final.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on March 08, 2019, 06:26:47 AM
I don't quite understand the set-up for club hurling, yet. Is "Senior B" a level just below "Senior" (kind of like Division 1B is just below Division 1A in the Allianz National Hurling League)?
:-[
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: SpeculativeEffort on March 08, 2019, 08:25:38 AM
2-3 years ago Abbeyleix looked like a seriously young and up and coming team.  Where has that gone and why?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on March 08, 2019, 10:21:30 PM
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on March 08, 2019, 06:26:47 AM
I don't quite understand the set-up for club hurling, yet. Is "Senior B" a level just below "Senior" (kind of like Division 1B is just below Division 1A in the Allianz National Hurling League)?
:-[

It's intermediate in all but name.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on June 29, 2019, 10:49:22 AM
Clough/Ballacolla beat Borris/Kilcotton last night to top Div 1 and qualify straight for the final.
BK will meet Camross in a semi-final on Wednesday.

Relegation remains uncertain. Rosenallis (cleverly I think) conceded their game to Rathdowney/Errill. It means if Abbeyleix beat The Harps next week, 4 teams will be tied on 4 points and score-difference can't be used to decide who goes down. It'll mean there'll be a 4-way playoff between Castletown, The Harps, Rosenallis and Abbeyleix.
If The Harps win, Abbeyleix go down unless Rathdowney/Errill intermediates win Div 1A.

Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on June 29, 2019, 11:17:20 PM
Quote from: merman on June 29, 2019, 10:49:22 AM
Clough/Ballacolla beat Borris/Kilcotton last night to top Div 1 and qualify straight for the final.
BK will meet Camross in a semi-final on Wednesday.

Relegation remains uncertain. Rosenallis (cleverly I think) conceded their game to Rathdowney/Errill. It means if Abbeyleix beat The Harps next week, 4 teams will be tied on 4 points and score-difference can't be used to decide who goes down. It'll mean there'll be a 4-way playoff between Castletown, The Harps, Rosenallis and Abbeyleix.
If The Harps win, Abbeyleix go down unless Rathdowney/Errill intermediates win Div 1A.

2nd year in a row that this has been pulled!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on July 09, 2019, 12:17:04 PM
Camross vs Clough/Ballacolla in the League Final tomorrow.

10 county panelists unavailable.

Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on July 09, 2019, 12:17:44 PM
Quote from: merman on July 09, 2019, 12:17:04 PM
Camross vs Clough/Ballacolla in the League Final tomorrow.

10 county panelists unavailable.
Great to see TBF.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on July 09, 2019, 12:22:22 PM
Quote from: Don Draper on July 09, 2019, 12:17:44 PM
Quote from: merman on July 09, 2019, 12:17:04 PM
Camross vs Clough/Ballacolla in the League Final tomorrow.

10 county panelists unavailable.
Great to see TBF.

Absolutely.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on July 10, 2019, 11:23:05 PM
Camross full value for their league win tonight.
They set a standard that other teams can't match consistently.

Between them and Rathdowney/Errill for the championship again imo.
Borris/Kilcotton and Clough/Ballacolla best of the rest.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on July 16, 2019, 05:09:18 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on March 08, 2019, 10:21:30 PM
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on March 08, 2019, 06:26:47 AM
I don't quite understand the set-up for club hurling, yet. Is "Senior B" a level just below "Senior" (kind of like Division 1B is just below Division 1A in the Allianz National Hurling League)?
:-[

It's intermediate in all but name.
I see for the Adult Hurling Championship fixtures (on the Laois GAA website) there is now "Senior" and "Senior A" listed but no "Senior B." Is Senior A the rebranded Senior B?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: South Laois man on July 16, 2019, 05:41:44 PM
There was never a Senior B Mossy. It's been Senior and Senior A for the last few years. Senior A would of been Intermediate before this.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on July 16, 2019, 05:47:35 PM
Quote from: South Laois man on July 16, 2019, 05:41:44 PM
There was never a Senior B Mossy. It's been Senior and Senior A for the last few years. Senior A would of been Intermediate before this.
Hmmm. Not sure where I picked up "Senior B." Thanks for setting me straight, South Laois Man.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on July 16, 2019, 05:54:05 PM
Yes Mossy.
It has been called Senior A and Senior B at various stages. Or at least referred to as Senior B. Not sure exactly when (& why). It is Intermediate and should be labelled as so. There is absolutely no good reason for it to be called otherwise. The winners proceed to the Leinster Intermediate Championship each year too.
It's not like a football situation either where they went from 16/18 teams down to a smaller number. The number of senior teams in Laois was always around 10/12. There aren't too many "traditional" senior teams in Senior A (or is it B?). I'd like to see a club bringing this change to the Laois Convention. I don't honestly think there would be resistance among the hurling clubs. Clubs who don't enter an adult hurling team should abstain!!!

Anyways Mossy, back to your question, the Senior (top grade championship) will always be labelled simply Senior.

While I am on this thread I'll give my predictions. I'd label Camross favourites, just ahead of Rathdowney Errill.
1. Camross
2. Rathdowney Errill
3. Borris Kilcotton
4. Clough Ballacolla
5. Ballinakill
6. Castletown
7. Abbeyleix
8. Portlaoise

Although Camross would have to top of the rankings, given their record over the last 2 years particularly, I think the winner will come from RE or BK. Despite a bit of age starting to creep in, I'll go with RE.
There is age (or experience depending on your outlook) with Campion, Fitz etc. Alan Delaney often plays a part too.
But when you add in Corrigan, Killeen, Kelly, Ryan, Purcell, King you have 5 of the best in the county.
Borris Kilcotton don't need any bigging up, I just think at least one of the teams coming out of Group A will suffer for how competitive and bruising the games could turn out to be. RE don't have that problem.

I think CB are a little off the top 3, and it's hard to see likes of Cleere, Dunphy, Picky and Bergin being able to account for the years in the legs elsewhere. Maybe not so different to RE's situation, but there has been a pattern of downing tools at least once a year in a big game over the past 4 years. Seem to be on a slide.

I think positions 5, 6 & 7 above are fairly interchangeable. All of them are capable of running any team close once a year, but none will do it consistently. Abbeyleix would probably need 3 big results just to get to a semi final. Castletown and Ballinakill are as likely to be relegated as appear in a semi final. Ballinakill have turned up consistently for the championship for the last 4/5 years, Castletown haven't.

I could well be proved wrong, but Portlaoise to me are the ones who will struggle most.

Round 1 predictions;
Castletown V Portlaoise
Rathdowney Errrill v Ballinakill
Camross v Borris Kilcotton
Abbeyleix v Clough Ballacolla
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Silkyskillssunshinee on July 16, 2019, 06:09:36 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on July 16, 2019, 05:54:05 PM

Round 1 predictions;
Castletown V Portlaoise
Rathdowney Errrill v Ballinakill
Camross v Borris Kilcotton
Abbeyleix v Clough Ballacolla

I'll go with Portlaoise, R/E, Camross and C/B to win the opening round of games. Some very close calls though. Camross V B/K and PL V Castletown are two games I definitely wouldn't bet on..
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on July 16, 2019, 06:33:25 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on July 16, 2019, 05:54:05 PM
Yes Mossy.
It has been called Senior A and Senior B at various stages. Or at least referred to as Senior B. Not sure exactly when (& why). It is Intermediate and should be labelled as so. There is absolutely no good reason for it to be called otherwise. The winners proceed to the Leinster Intermediate Championship each year too.
...
Thanks for clearing that up for me!  :)
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on July 16, 2019, 07:32:53 PM
Just as an extra bit of info. The competition was first "created" in 2013. This was in order to streamline our top 4 divisions into 4 divisions of 8 teams.
Senior
Senior A (Or B: I checked it out and it was known as Senior B in 2013 & 2014, and Senior A since.)
Intermediate
Junior A

They all followed the same format, and a particularly good format in my opinion!

The winners since it began have generally been the team relegated from Senior the previous year, with Ballyfin Gaels (Ballyfin and Mountmellick) being an exception in 2017

2013 Abbeyleix (beat Ballyfin comfortably. Both teams had been relegated in 2012 to bring the number in senior down to 8 teams)
2014- Ballinakill (beat Mountrath comfortably. Ballinakill had been relegated in a playoff v The Harps in 2013)
2015- Portlaoise (beat Clonaslee in a tight game. Portlaoise had been relegated in a playoff v Borris Kilcotton in 2014)
2016- Castletown (beat Ballyfin Gaels with last puck of the game. Castletown had been relegated in playoff v The Harps in 2015)
2017- Ballyfin Gaels (beat Colt Gaels  by 3 points (Colt & Clonad). The Harps were relegated in a playoff v Portlaoise in 2016, first team not to come straight back up. But The Harps represented Laois in the Leinster IHC as Gaels teams are not permitted- ruling out both finalists. A playoff (like a 3rd place play off) was called between the losing semi finalists. Rosenallis conceded and The Harps played in Leinster, losting the first round)
2018- Portlaoise (beat The Harps by 2 points. Portlaoise had been relegated in a playoff v Castletown in 2017).

So, apart from 2017, each year the winner has been the team who came down the previous year. Ballyfin Gaels were relegated last year in a playoff v Castletown Gaels. However, Gaels teams are no longer allowed take part in the Senior A championship, so Ballyfin are now on their own, and wouldn't be favourites to win it this year. The Harps warm favourites, and Rosenallis 2nd favourites in my book.

In the past (pre 2013) there was an intermittent Senior B competition for teams who didn't make Senior Quarter Finals. Sometimes it was known as Senior B, sometimes it was known as Senior Shield, sometimes the winners were awarded the Palmer Cup, sometimes it never happened at all!

There is actually a good results archive section on the Laois GAA website that might interest you Bruce, but it only goes back as far as 2011.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on July 16, 2019, 08:25:22 PM
This is some great background information (I'm going to print it out). I really appreciate you taking the time to type it out and post it, Keyser!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on July 17, 2019, 05:22:38 PM
I won't quote the entire message but I think that's a fair appraisal Keyser.
Camross are worthy champions and it'd take a foolish man to back against them completing the treble.
I do think Zane Keenan is a huge loss and although they had 6 lads with the County, I don't think they will reinforce their panel to the same extent as Rathdowney/Errill.
RE look very strong to me. Jack Kelly and Mark Kavanagh are legitimate shouts to get All-Star nominations, Paddy Purcell will be bouncing into O' Moore Park come Championship and Eric Killeen looks to be hitting top form at the right time. Their 5th county panelist is Ross King who will be gunning to make up for last year's disappointment.
Add to that mix the likes of Paddy McCane, Tadhg Dowling, Joe Fitzpatrick, James Ryan, Brian Campion and Jimmy Corrigan and it all looks like it should come together for them.
Some question marks persist around their keeper but they have the softer side of the draw and you'd imagine they have three games to iron out most of their creases.

I'm inclined to put Borris/Kilcotton and Clough/Ballacolla a little behind RE and Camross.
BK look too have a few too many chiefs and not enough Indians. The potential is unquestionably there but their league form stuttered towards the end and questions remain. Aaron Dunphy could, however, light up this championship and the wide open spaces of OMP should really suit them.
The same can't be said about CB. They looked leggy in the second half of the League Final and will need their county players to reintegrate very quickly before the big games against BK and Camross. I do think they'll account for Abbeyleix but after that, I just don't know.

They are definitely the top 4 as things stand.

Ballinakill's league form appears desperate and as always, so much depends on Cha. With Eamon Jackman and Seamus Dwyer involved with Kilkenny club teams, the burden might be too great for him to shoulder.

Portlaoise were only marginally better in the league but should account for two second teams to earn their way back into Div 1 for next year. They'll be happy with their draw and with the momentum of 2018 behind them, I think they'll possibly make a quarter-final.

Castletown will be boosted by a resurgent and rejuvenated Ryan Mullaney who has realised his real potential this year. They don't have the firepower to win a championship but have shown they can upset one of the big boys. I think they'll be safe.

Abbeyleix are hard to gauge. A young team with a shallow panel. Their league was poor but if they're short a couple, it weakens them more than others. They've gotten a tough draw and it's hard to see anything but a relegation final. If they are competitive then the higher standard might stand to them but if they ship a couple of heavy losses, as I think they will to BK especially, then their appetite for battle might not be what's needed.

Prediction:
RE to beat Camross
BK and CB semi-finalists
Ballinakill to beat Abbeyleix in the relegation final.
Hurler of the Year: Paddy Purcell
Top Scorer from Play: Aaron Dunphy
Young Hurler: Andrew Mortimor
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on July 17, 2019, 10:57:20 PM
Portlaoise lost to Clough/Ballacolla's second team tonight.
It means that CB will contest the 1A Final against Rathdowney/Errill and there will be no relegation playoff between Rosenallis and The Harps.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on August 01, 2019, 07:16:48 PM
Fancy Castletown to account for Portlaoise tonight.
I think they'll have a bit more about them in the middle third of the pitch.

Prediction: Castletown 1.18 - 0.16 Portlaoise
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Blow-in on August 03, 2019, 11:37:19 PM
Eddie Brennan should get a gold medal. Standard of our championship has been woeful.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on August 03, 2019, 11:46:47 PM
The change of format doesn't help at all. The previous format was very cut & thrust. Awaiting a draw after each round, trying to avoid certain teams etc. This format, to me, has removed that excitement and unpredictability. Back to the dreary plotting and planning ahead.

Under the old format, tomorrow evening you would have Borris, Ballacolla, Castletown & probably Rathdowney going into a hat.  3 of them hoping for Castletown.
Similarly you would have had Camross, Portlaoise, Abbeyleix & probably Ballinakill. 3 of them praying they didn't get Camross.

This new format in it's second year has done nothing to improve standards, interest, excitement or attendance. Time to revert!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mad Mentor on August 04, 2019, 12:36:54 AM
The conditions this evening had a huge effect. The u20 match earlier was the same.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Ogie on August 05, 2019, 02:39:20 PM
Thoughts after the first round?

The gap between the top 4 & second 4 appears to be growing bigger, Portlaoise & Castletown  was of a very poor standard, Abbeyleix & Ballinakill both beaten easily.

Borris Kilcotton with a good performance should have won by more and been out of sight earlier, it will be a big confidence boost for them. Camross will regroup no doubt

Rathdowney Errill were at their ease but looked the class act of the weekend
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Silkyskillssunshinee on August 05, 2019, 03:40:25 PM
Quote from: Ogie on August 05, 2019, 02:39:20 PM
Thoughts after the first round?

The gap between the top 4 of second 4 appears to be growing bigger, Portlaoise & Castletown  was of a very poor standard, Abbeyleix & Ballinakill both beaten easily.

Borris Kilcotton with a good performance should have won by more and been out of sight earlier, it will be a big confidence boost for them. Camross will regroup no doubt

Rathdowney Errill were at their ease but looked the class act of the weekend

Think it's more a big 3 than a big 4. I don't think Clough-Ballacolla are strong enough anymore to challenge the top dogs.

Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on August 05, 2019, 08:59:02 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on August 03, 2019, 11:46:47 PM
The change of format doesn't help at all. The previous format was very cut & thrust. Awaiting a draw after each round, trying to avoid certain teams etc. This format, to me, has removed that excitement and unpredictability. Back to the dreary plotting and planning ahead.

Under the old format, tomorrow evening you would have Borris, Ballacolla, Castletown & probably Rathdowney going into a hat.  3 of them hoping for Castletown.
Similarly you would have had Camross, Portlaoise, Abbeyleix & probably Ballinakill. 3 of them praying they didn't get Camross.

This new format in it's second year has done nothing to improve standards, interest, excitement or attendance. Time to revert!

The format won't fix much at this time. 3 or 4 years ago Clough Ballacolla, Abbeyleix and Ballinakill were competitive. Hard to see any of them being competitors now and Portlaoise look intermediate standard. Castletown are the only improving senior team with a pipeline but are still a good bit back as yet.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: ottoman on August 06, 2019, 09:30:41 AM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on August 05, 2019, 08:59:02 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on August 03, 2019, 11:46:47 PM
The change of format doesn't help at all. The previous format was very cut & thrust. Awaiting a draw after each round, trying to avoid certain teams etc. This format, to me, has removed that excitement and unpredictability. Back to the dreary plotting and planning ahead.

Under the old format, tomorrow evening you would have Borris, Ballacolla, Castletown & probably Rathdowney going into a hat.  3 of them hoping for Castletown.
Similarly you would have had Camross, Portlaoise, Abbeyleix & probably Ballinakill. 3 of them praying they didn't get Camross.

This new format in it's second year has done nothing to improve standards, interest, excitement or attendance. Time to revert!

The format won't fix much at this time. 3 or 4 years ago Clough Ballacolla, Abbeyleix and Ballinakill were competitive. Hard to see any of them being competitors now and Portlaoise look intermediate standard. Castletown are the only improving senior team with a pipeline but are still a good bit back as yet.

A bit understated to say Clough Ballacolla were only 'competitive' 3 or 4 years ago. Considering they won it 4 years ago and were pipped by a point in the final 2 years ago. Yes their not the same team but they are well ahead of Abbeyleix and Ballinakill to their credit.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on August 06, 2019, 11:03:20 AM
To be fair, that 2017 final is a bit of an outlier as their form in 16 and 18 was very poor. I think they're still contenders but it's fair to see they need an awful lot to go right for them. They did make a League Final do they have a certain depth to their panel, its just whether they can get enough out of their established players in O'Moore Park.

I think Castletown have improved and played some nice hurling last Thursday. They have a good spine and a decent spread of scorers. Portlaoise dragged themselves back into the game and for a spell, seemed to have the momentum but they fell just short. Think they'll stay up though.

I also saw RE and Ballinakill on Sunday and it was clinical from RE. The contest was over after 10 minutes and I really would be worried about Ballinakill. They'll have one more kick in them and could certainly make a quarter-final still but they're on a downward trajectory and with their underage setup now formally aligned with Abbeyleix, it seems fair to suggest that amalgamation isn't completely dead just yet.

I wasn't at the games on Saturday. Camross minus Keenan and Dowling were always likely to feel the pressure and from what I've heard, BK spurned then chances to have made it more comfortable in the first half. Looking at the programme, they have some serious firepower. Themselves and RE look to have very settled line-ups and its hard to see any weaknesses therein.

Abbeyleix and CB went almost to script it seemed. We probably knew Abbeyleix would target this game and it took CB a while to get on top. When they did, they had the individual hurlers to close it.

One further observation, a couple of years ago I was sure the 8-team championships were hurting some of the lower-ranked Senior A sides. Having seen both senior A and senior games over the last week, I think the gap has closed between the weaker senior teams and the senior A...the problem is, I think this is due to declining standards at senior rather than any massive improvements below.

Just something to keep an eye on moving forward.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on August 06, 2019, 11:29:47 AM
Quote from: ottoman on August 06, 2019, 09:30:41 AM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on August 05, 2019, 08:59:02 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on August 03, 2019, 11:46:47 PM
The change of format doesn't help at all. The previous format was very cut & thrust. Awaiting a draw after each round, trying to avoid certain teams etc. This format, to me, has removed that excitement and unpredictability. Back to the dreary plotting and planning ahead.

Under the old format, tomorrow evening you would have Borris, Ballacolla, Castletown & probably Rathdowney going into a hat.  3 of them hoping for Castletown.
Similarly you would have had Camross, Portlaoise, Abbeyleix & probably Ballinakill. 3 of them praying they didn't get Camross.

This new format in it's second year has done nothing to improve standards, interest, excitement or attendance. Time to revert!

The format won't fix much at this time. 3 or 4 years ago Clough Ballacolla, Abbeyleix and Ballinakill were competitive. Hard to see any of them being competitors now and Portlaoise look intermediate standard. Castletown are the only improving senior team with a pipeline but are still a good bit back as yet.

A bit understated to say Clough Ballacolla were only 'competitive' 3 or 4 years ago. Considering they won it 4 years ago and were pipped by a point in the final 2 years ago. Yes their not the same team but they are well ahead of Abbeyleix and Ballinakill to their credit.

Fair enough - CB were one of the form teams up to about 2 years ago. They were poor last year and look to be ageing. Their senior success was built on the back of a run of very strong minor teams which has dried up in the last few years as you would expect from a fairly small rural club. No disrespect intended and hopefully things turn around. The general point I was making is that there are fewer strong senior teams in the last couple of years due to a drop (temporary I would imagine) in the form of some of the better clubs. I also agree they are a good bit stronger than Ballinakill or Abbeyleix and still have plenty of very strong hurlers. Even if you include CB in a top 4, there is a chasm down to the next level of Ballinakill, Portlaoise, Abbeyleix and to a lesser extent Castletown at this stage. Not that it was ever any different in Laois mind you. Historically in any given year there have been a max of 4 really competitive teams.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: ottoman on August 06, 2019, 12:15:02 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on August 06, 2019, 11:29:47 AM
Quote from: ottoman on August 06, 2019, 09:30:41 AM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on August 05, 2019, 08:59:02 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on August 03, 2019, 11:46:47 PM
The change of format doesn't help at all. The previous format was very cut & thrust. Awaiting a draw after each round, trying to avoid certain teams etc. This format, to me, has removed that excitement and unpredictability. Back to the dreary plotting and planning ahead.

Under the old format, tomorrow evening you would have Borris, Ballacolla, Castletown & probably Rathdowney going into a hat.  3 of them hoping for Castletown.
Similarly you would have had Camross, Portlaoise, Abbeyleix & probably Ballinakill. 3 of them praying they didn't get Camross.

This new format in it's second year has done nothing to improve standards, interest, excitement or attendance. Time to revert!

The format won't fix much at this time. 3 or 4 years ago Clough Ballacolla, Abbeyleix and Ballinakill were competitive. Hard to see any of them being competitors now and Portlaoise look intermediate standard. Castletown are the only improving senior team with a pipeline but are still a good bit back as yet.

A bit understated to say Clough Ballacolla were only 'competitive' 3 or 4 years ago. Considering they won it 4 years ago and were pipped by a point in the final 2 years ago. Yes their not the same team but they are well ahead of Abbeyleix and Ballinakill to their credit.

Fair enough - CB were one of the form teams up to about 2 years ago. They were poor last year and look to be ageing. Their senior success was built on the back of a run of very strong minor teams which has dried up in the last few years as you would expect from a fairly small rural club. No disrespect intended and hopefully things turn around. The general point I was making is that there are fewer strong senior teams in the last couple of years due to a drop (temporary I would imagine) in the form of some of the better clubs. I also agree they are a good bit stronger than Ballinakill or Abbeyleix and still have plenty of very strong hurlers. Even if you include CB in a top 4, there is a chasm down to the next level of Ballinakill, Portlaoise, Abbeyleix and to a lesser extent Castletown at this stage. Not that it was ever any different in Laois mind you. Historically in any given year there have been a max of 4 really competitive teams.

Agree, this year it does look like a shoot-out between only B/K, R/E and Camross to see who claims the crown. However, there has been far less competitive years in Laois hurling down through the decades. This year I think Rathdowney/Erill will have too much for the rest.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on August 06, 2019, 12:57:16 PM
Sense of deja-vu in Camross losing their first game again this year. I'm sure it will have a galvanizing effect. Essentially, all the rest of their matches will be like knock out for them. This gave them an edge over Rathdowney Errill last year. It is highly likely that RE and BK will top the two groups. Are the semis an open draw?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Ogie on August 16, 2019, 01:19:22 PM
Thoughts before round 2 gents?
Clough Ballacolla v Borris Kilcotton - should be the game of the weekend, don't understand people here writing off CB, I still think they have serious quality throughout & they will be itching to right the beatings of the last two years, I expect them to throw the kitchen sink tonight at BK, who themselves will be heartened by there last win, if the serious firepower clicks again (interesting to see who picks up Aaron dunphy at full forward) this evening will be hard to live with but I think they'll face a big battle, have a sneaky feeling for CB. Hope not!

Ballinakill v Portlaoise - both teams trying to recover from poor first round showings, again I think there's more in Ballinakill who were put to the sword early by a quality Rathdowney Errill, I think they'll have regrouped and target this game to avoid relegation, Ballinakill for me

Camross Abbeyleix
Camross have regrouped and gone back old school and old heads in  as only they do best, Abbeyleix will suffer the backlash

Rathdowney Errill v Castletown
Castletown too will be full of confidence after first round but their facing a much better team this time, Rathdowney Errill don't slip up in these games - Rathdowney Errill
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Silkyskillssunshinee on August 16, 2019, 02:15:00 PM
I'll go with Borris-Kilcotton to edge the game tonight, Ballinakill to have the experience to beat Portlaoise, Camross to hammer Abbeyleix and Rathdowney-Errill to win but Castletown to give them a game of it.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on August 16, 2019, 03:56:47 PM
Fancy Borris/Kilcotton tonight. I actually think it'll be their defence that wins it as I think CB will be determined to keep out goals. The BK forward line is rapid and I just can't see CB living with them without a high free count and dropping bodies back. With all eyes on Aaron Dunphy, I could see PJ Scully posting a huge score from play and placed balls.
At the other end, Picky Maher and Willie Dunphy would need massive performances and I dont see the likes of Matthew, Butch or Stephen Finan allowing that.
BK by 8 but after a battle.

I'm going to go against the grain and back Portlaoise to beat Ballinakill. I think Ballinakill are in big trouble. A poor league and they were completely blown out of the water the last day. They've regressed and I think if Portlaoise can limit Cha to 4/5 points then they might have the firepower to come out with the win.
Portlaoise by 2 in a low-scorer.

Camross should beat Abbeyleix. Abbeyleix might feel they had their chance against CB but I have a niggely feeling it might not be as one-sided as some think. Camross without Keenan are vulnerable. Abbeyleix kept out goals against CB and if they can replicate that feat, they might just have a chance.
I'll go with Camross by 5 but I think it'll be close enough for a long time.

Rathdowney/Errill and Castletown might tell us a little lore about this group. RE dismantled B/kill the last day and I can't see it being as comfortable this weekend. I think they'll win but Castletown could well cause them troubles and if memory serves, they did beat them in the league. RE are, of course, a different animal with their county contingent back and I do see them as the team to beat this year.
RE by 6.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on August 16, 2019, 05:38:18 PM
All sensible stuff above.
I'd go with

Clough Ballacolla to pull one over on B/K (and it could stand to B/K in the long run). Clough Ballacolla need to beat one of the big boys again to prove to themselves they can win a county final.

I think Ballinakill will be under serious pressure to beat Portlaoise. Way more pressure on Ballinakill. I think they are the type of team that Portlaoise will relish playing. Portlaoise will struggle against a team with a spread of quality hurlers. They can handle a team that aren't as balanced around the edges. Portlaoise for me.
(And if so, this group could come down to scoring difference in the wind up!)

Cannot see anything bar a Camross win. Despite losing the last day they showed they aren't reliant on Zane. Expect their freetaking to be tidier too. However, these are the games they haven't really been getting themselves up for over the last few years. I don't think it will be a massacre.

Likewise, Castletown won't live with the R/E attack. I think there was 20+ plus points in it last year,  that's probably not a true reflection on the gap, but would expect it to creep towards double figures with R/E winning.

Clough Ballacolla by 5
Portlaoise by 3
Camross by 8
Rathdowney Errill by 12
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on August 16, 2019, 09:23:52 PM
Good call on the Ballacolla game, anyway! And I'd agree w/ your hunch re. Portlaoise. In a way, I'd like to see them stay up, give them something to build on.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Silkyskillssunshinee on August 16, 2019, 09:55:53 PM
Borris-Kilcotton were not up for it tonight at all. Hard to call anything from these group stages. We'll only know how these teams rank up when we get to the knockout stages.

Clough-Ballacolla have a great chance at topping the group now. Doubt Camross or Borris-Kilcotton are all that worried though, they'll likely play one of Castletown, Ballinakill or Portlaoise in the quarters. That won't faze either in the slightest.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on August 18, 2019, 10:04:52 PM
Fair play Keyser. Didn't see that Clough/Ballacolla result coming after the first round of games. Puts them back in the picture. Doubt Borris-Kilcotton will be overly concerned and they'll make a semi-final at the very least.

Was at the three matches on Saturday and the quality was pretty poor. Ballinakill were better than I expected and Portlaoise a little poorer. They got their scores a little easier and they were physically dominant for long periods. Portlaoise are facing a relegation Play-off and I'd be very worried they'll be going in off the back of a serious thumping from Rathdowney/Errill.

Camross had enough to see off a spirited Abbeyleix team. Abbeyleix look to be trying to do the right things but some of their shooting was woeful. I've said it before, they just don't carry any kind of goal threat. Their full-forward line can't win their own ball and it means they're forced into shooting from outside their comfort zones.
Camross will be satisfied that they've won and realistically in a quarter-final at worst. Andrew Collier back in the forwards looks a good move and their full-back line was excellent. Changes like that can make a huge difference and I think Andrew will bring great athleticism to the forward line. It might free up some of the attention that had been reserved for Ciaran.

Rathdowney/Errill were impressive enough in dismissing Castletown. They didn't need to be at their best but they just look so strong all over the field. Madden in the goals will only get better and he has a rock solid defence in front of him. John Purcell looks at home at corner back and how couldn't he when there's an intercounty-level half-back line in front of him!
Up front, they have scores coming from everywhere. Tadhg Dowling looks as fit as I've ever seen him and James Ryan, John Keane and Paddy McCane supplement the power and precision of Roddy King, Mark Kav and Paddy Purcell.
Going to take a hell of a team to stop them.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: G@@ on September 04, 2019, 09:20:05 PM
What date is the County Final this year?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on September 06, 2019, 05:19:01 PM
Quote from: G@@ on September 04, 2019, 09:20:05 PM
What date is the County Final this year?

We should be back on schedule now after the EP break.

Last round of the group stages this weekend.

Quarters and Relegation Final on 21st/22nd September.
Semi-finals on 5th/6th October.
Final on Sunday 20th October.
I haven't seen that written down anywhere but I'd expect it to be accurate.

Borris/Kilcotton should account for Abbeyleix tomorrow. If they get ahead early, they could post a decisive margin and could still top the group.
A draw would do CB against Camross. Both teams will know what they need going into the game which will add a strange element to proceedings.

RE will beat Portlaoise and if they are ruthless, it could be heavy.
Ballinakill and Castletown will be close and I've a slight feeling that Ballinakill might have timed things better than I gave them credit for earlier in the summer.

Borris/Kilcotton and Rathdowney/Errill with very tentative nods to Camross and Ballinakill.

That'll leave my predictions for the knockouts as follows:
BK and RE to the semi-finals with Camross vs Castletown and Ballinakill vs CB.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on September 06, 2019, 06:25:49 PM
I'd differ a little from Merman's predictions.

Saturday
Abbeyleix v Borris Kilcotton
I think Abbeyleix will go after this game, a nothing to lose situation. Amazingly it could qualify them for the quarters. I can see Borris Kilcotton hitting them consistently if not persistently on the break for goals. I think BK will rack up 3/4 goals and win by about 10 points over a game Abbeyleix team.

Camross v Clough Ballacolla
Despite CB's excellent form to date I would expect Camross to win this and lay down a little reminder to all who challenge, but it will be tight. Camross certainly won't open a pathway to their full back line like BK did. In that circumstance I can see Camross out goaling CB and winning by 4/5. On the other hand, we haven't had a draw yet!

Sunday
Rathdowney Errill v Portlaoise
Interesting to see what approach RE take. Their second team is gone, and with the Laois grading system there is no barrier to bringing guys up en masse. It could be a time for shaking things up with the starting 15 and creating a very competitive training environment for the next month. There aren't wholesale options in their Intermediate side however, and I think it's a year or two early for Thep to be making a mark among the big boys, especially in October. This looks like it would be the perfect place for him to start though.
No disrespect to Portlaoise, but it is very difficult to see anything good coming out of this. RE by 15.

Ballinakill v Castletown
I regularly underestimate Ballinakill, and often in error. Merman makes the point that they may have timed their run cleverly, and if so the fixtures fell nicely for that plan. It would be typical of their pragmatism. Rightly or wrongly I think Castletown have a better spread of good hurlers (Dylan Conroy, Ben Reddin, John Gaughan, Joe Phelan etc) outside of the main 2/3 guys on each side. This should see them through by 5 or 6 points, but the reverse certainly wouldn't be a shock.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Silkyskillssunshinee on September 07, 2019, 09:35:22 PM
I know it's only the group stages, but Camross don't look like the same animal they were. If they can get back Zane Keenan in time for the semi-finals (presuming they win in the quarters), perhaps they can still mount a challenge.

For now it looks like it's between C/B, B/K and R/E though. B/K will improve as they go on. C/B are maybe peaking a little too early, while R/E haven't been tested at all yet.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on September 07, 2019, 09:49:57 PM
C/B are playing to a very set plan. Perhaps they showed glimpses of it during the league but it didn't look all put together, whether it was partially withheld or a work in progress.
They look solid & well set up. Half forward line are covering serious ground and importantly they are finding them from the back. Totally took the likes of Gearóid Burke out of tonight's game.i didn't think at the start of the year they had a title in them. The late return of Hyland could yet turn out to be a major blessing in disguise.

Camross are far from gone, and there will be plenty of wound licking, and most likely a bounce.i don't think there is a final in them.

Anyone know what the story with Eoin Reilly is? He'll surely reappear for the relegation playoff?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on September 07, 2019, 09:52:33 PM
Shadow boxing.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on September 07, 2019, 10:08:30 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on September 07, 2019, 09:52:33 PM
Shadow boxing.

Not sure exactly what you are referring to. But I don't necessarily think so.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on September 07, 2019, 11:02:25 PM
No, I don't think Camross were shadow boxing. They wanted to win, and I'm glad they didn't - especially after their corner-forward went down and tried to get a Ballacolla lad sent off for the slightest jostle. Terrible. Mind you, Willie Dunphy was at the same crack. However, C/B had by far the better performers and put together better plays. The stop-start nature of proceedings was annoying, with PLENTY of frees, and it wasn't much of a spectacle.
What's the story w/ Eoin Gaughan - why wasn't he starting? And for a lad who's often touted as a potential Laois player, Ciaran Collier had a quiet enough night.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Blow-in on September 08, 2019, 05:36:32 PM
Who reffed it? Had to leave after the first game yesterday. Thought Stapleton was so slow getting around the field.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on September 08, 2019, 06:50:37 PM
Quote from: Batman!!! on September 08, 2019, 05:36:32 PM
Who reffed it? Had to leave after the first game yesterday. Thought Stapleton was so slow getting around the field.

Very harsh. He couldn't have been because he didn't budge from the middle of the field!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Blow-in on September 08, 2019, 07:15:47 PM
I'll take it back so!  ;)
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: steven seagal on September 08, 2019, 08:24:46 PM
Four very poor games over the weekend, the Rathdowney-Errill v Portlaoise and Borris-Kilcotton v Abbeyleix games were complete non-events. The other two were a bit more competitive but not still not particularly good games. Hopefully things improve in the knockout stages.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Silkyskillssunshinee on September 08, 2019, 08:30:46 PM
I'd say Castletown will be kicking their lips at playing their rivals Camross, who aren't hurling well so far. Borris-Kilcottom will take care of Ballinakill fairly easily I'd imagine.

The real championship probably won't start until the semi-final stage though.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on September 09, 2019, 09:55:50 AM
Quote from: Silkyskillssunshinee on September 08, 2019, 08:30:46 PM
I'd say Castletown will be kicking their lips at playing their rivals Camross, who aren't hurling well so far. Borris-Kilcottom will take care of Ballinakill fairly easily I'd imagine.

The real championship probably won't start until the semi-final stage though.

This is what I meant by shadow boxing. I believe that you will see a different Camross by the semis. Not that they weren't trying against C/B or B/K but they were a mile away from the intensity they normally show. Can't see Castletown getting anywhere near them in the quarters.

How do the semi draws work? I assume it has to be an open draw if Camross and B/K prevail as both have played Ballacolla already?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on September 09, 2019, 10:05:33 AM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on September 09, 2019, 09:55:50 AM
Quote from: Silkyskillssunshinee on September 08, 2019, 08:30:46 PM
I'd say Castletown will be kicking their lips at playing their rivals Camross, who aren't hurling well so far. Borris-Kilcottom will take care of Ballinakill fairly easily I'd imagine.

The real championship probably won't start until the semi-final stage though.

This is what I meant by shadow boxing. I believe that you will see a different Camross by the semis. Not that they weren't trying against C/B or B/K but they were a mile away from the intensity they normally show. Can't see Castletown getting anywhere near them in the quarters.

How do the semi draws work? I assume it has to be an open draw if Camross and B/K prevail as both have played Ballacolla already?
No Zane, no party.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: redsetanta on September 09, 2019, 11:01:55 AM
What date the semi finals?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Helix. on September 09, 2019, 11:59:15 AM
Quote from: Don Draper on September 09, 2019, 10:05:33 AM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on September 09, 2019, 09:55:50 AM
Quote from: Silkyskillssunshinee on September 08, 2019, 08:30:46 PM
I'd say Castletown will be kicking their lips at playing their rivals Camross, who aren't hurling well so far. Borris-Kilcottom will take care of Ballinakill fairly easily I'd imagine.

The real championship probably won't start until the semi-final stage though.

This is what I meant by shadow boxing. I believe that you will see a different Camross by the semis. Not that they weren't trying against C/B or B/K but they were a mile away from the intensity they normally show. Can't see Castletown getting anywhere near them in the quarters.

How do the semi draws work? I assume it has to be an open draw if Camross and B/K prevail as both have played Ballacolla already?
No Zane, no party.

Camross intermediates were decent yesterday against Clough Ballacolla which was the most entertaining game I'd say over the weekend. Oisin Bennett would be pushing to be involved with seniors but not till after intermediate final. Think he got about 2:4 from play and got on savage amount of ball. Matthew Collier surely will go up aswell once that's over. Been very decent for the games I've seen to date.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on September 13, 2019, 08:23:21 AM
this is a great championship and it is wide open. camross,b/k, c/b and r/e all have a chance and its hard to call and castletown have a good young team coming through again but i think its a bit early for them this year. ballinakill are safe but i cant see them upsetting the odds
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on September 20, 2019, 09:19:53 AM
any1 got any update on zane keenan for the weekend
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on September 20, 2019, 01:00:16 PM
Quote from: Neutralobserver on September 20, 2019, 09:19:53 AM
any1 got any update on zane keenan for the weekend

Apparently well-ahead of schedule.
I'd be hopeful that he'll be fit to take some part.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on September 21, 2019, 09:38:49 AM
No sign of Zane but signs of progress for Camross.
They were stunned in the first half but utterly dominant in the second. To be fair to the Camross management, they have improved noticeably in the second half of games against BK, Abbeyleix and now Castletown. That'll stand them in good stead in a semi-final where they may go in as slight outsiders, especially if they draw Rathdowney/Errill.

Can only see a pretty comfortable BK win tomorrow. I can't see how Ballinakill will have the legs in defence to live with the BK forwards.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on September 21, 2019, 12:18:27 PM
Teams will regret not having killed off Camross by now
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on September 21, 2019, 01:08:56 PM
Don't really know what happened Castletown in the second half - fumbling, over-hit passes, poor decisions. Didn't score for something like the last 15 mins. Lighter and younger than Camross, who dominated the physical stakes in the second half.
Stapleton not too whistle-happy, which I'd consider a good thing, even if a few fouls were missed. Much rather it that way than the other.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Blow-in on September 21, 2019, 09:37:53 PM
He then thought the car park was a boxing ring. Another shameful evening for laois gaa referees again. When will they learn?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on September 22, 2019, 11:12:25 AM
Castletown on the up again. Give them few years and they will be competing again
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Helix. on September 22, 2019, 07:22:15 PM
Quote from: Neutralobserver on September 22, 2019, 11:12:25 AM
Castletown on the up again. Give them few years and they will be competing again
Young team that'll surely kick on in a few years. Portlaoise back down to senior B again. Horrible conditions in Colt. Abbeyleix got the goals at the right time. Just about deserved the win. Yo yo ing up and down frustrating to see where Portlaoise will go next.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on September 23, 2019, 09:08:35 AM
semi finals as perdicted. now the real stuff starts
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: les Antiques on September 23, 2019, 12:26:09 PM
Quote from: Batman!!! on September 21, 2019, 09:37:53 PM
He then thought the car park was a boxing ring. Another shameful evening for laois gaa referees again. When will they learn?

😂 shameful evening for laois referees ?  It wasn't that bad Batman . 
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Spiritof1915 on September 23, 2019, 01:15:41 PM
Sad to see Portlaoise dropping down again. In the absence of tommy and Healy no leaders showed.
I fear for them going forward.
With the exception of the u15s their competing at B level underage so the future is not promising.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on September 23, 2019, 02:58:21 PM
Quote from: Spiritof1915 on September 23, 2019, 01:15:41 PM
Sad to see Portlaoise dropping down again. In the absence of tommy and Healy no leaders showed.
I fear for them going forward.
With the exception of the u15s their competing at B level underage so the future is not promising.

Portlaoise at Juvenile level aren't even competitive in the B in most age grades bar minor,didn't even bother to enter a Feile team this year.

Said it before and will say it again,Juvenile hurling in Portlaoise is in crisis.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on September 23, 2019, 10:02:40 PM
Was away and missed the games at the weekend.

Sounds like Camross are building.
Castletown possibly building, but these kind of defeats can leave scars.
Ballinakill look finished to me.
Borris Kilcotton will hardly have learned anything?
Portlaoise are in a very strange place. I wouldn't have them as favourites to win Senior A next year.

I think Rathdowney Errill will have gotten the draw they really wanted. This will surely focus their minds and help offset the cobwebs that may have settled over the last 2/3 months. I reckon Camross would have loved anyone bar R/E. I cannot see them having the legs.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on October 01, 2019, 12:56:59 PM
any taughts for weekend

clough ballacolla for the first one

depending on zane keenan for the second, any1 any update on him?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on October 01, 2019, 01:09:59 PM
They reckoned he'd be ready for the semi-final. Mind you, I don't think his presence alone will swing it for them.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Zooming around on October 01, 2019, 01:18:07 PM
Quote from: Neutralobserver on October 01, 2019, 12:56:59 PM
any taughts for weekend

clough ballacolla for the first one

depending on zane keenan for the second, any1 any update on him?

Borris and Rathdowney/Errill for me. Both teams have good scoring potential. The conditions will make a bollix of it though.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Silkyskillssunshinee on October 01, 2019, 01:35:51 PM
I think Camross will get a lot closer to R/E than the form lines would indicate. Still, R/E have quality everywhere and I expect them to come through.

Borris-Kilcotton and Clough-Ballacolla is more difficult to call. Neil Foyle and Aaron Dunphy need to take some of the scoring mantle off PJ Scully. If they can perform, Borris-Kilcotton might just edge it.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on October 04, 2019, 08:17:06 AM
The sodden pitches might help the outsiders this weekend.
Bookies siding with RE and BK and I think that's fair giving what we know about all 4 teams. Injuries might be telling and I think 3 of the 4 might be short players from the semi-finals.

CB are playing to a very defined system and are getting huge numbers into the middle third. They've been intelligent with their use of the ball but the pressures of a semi-final and the conditions will challenge them. Still, they'll bring a physicality that BK won't enjoy and the message will be to keep goals out.
BK haven't caught fire yet and with the exceptions of Scully and Campion, their forwards have been pretty lacklustre. Its hard to imagine they don't have a sting in the tail and I just think individually, they might have the edge.
BK by 3.

RE should win this. All form lines tell us that but the question is, how prepared are they for the battle they are facing. RE are going to play a semi-final; Camross are going to war. I dont think Camross are going anywhere near as well as they have been but if Zane is back, he could reignite things.
RE, however, have physicality and pace in all the right areas and I just cant see them not getting in for a couple of goals.
They've been the team to beat all year and I think this match will sharpen their focus and set them up for a Final berth as worthy favourites and dark horses for Leinster.
RE by 7.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on October 04, 2019, 09:38:22 AM
conditions are to improve over the weekend but if they suit any1 best i think it will be camross although they are also good hurlers in their own right
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on October 04, 2019, 10:13:14 PM
Quote from: Neutralobserver on October 04, 2019, 09:38:22 AM
conditions are to improve over the weekend but if they suit any1 best i think it will be camross although they are also good hurlers in their own right

You are like some sort of saviour that has been sent to lead us out of the darkness of abusing and insulting people, and into the light.
Is it at least comfortable on that fence?!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on October 05, 2019, 08:43:24 AM
English writing not my best but I do apologise if this caused offense. I was trying to say camross good hurlers as they proved already this year and conditions are always discussed in games and my opinion is camross will benefit most. I don't think there is abuse anywhere within it and if there is again apologies
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on October 05, 2019, 10:04:27 AM
Your English writing is absolutely fine, but you could do a bit of work on your comprehension!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on October 05, 2019, 10:23:30 AM
 Sorry neutral observer, I was only joking and certainly wasn't suggesting that you were abusing anybody! If anything, the opposite. You seem to be very intent on not offending anybody, unlike many of us here! And I certainly wasn't commenting on your level of English or writing. All should be welcome here, it was just "banter" (But seriously get off the fence!)

On the games themselves Camross surely won't be able To lift their game sufficiently to match the free-flowing hurling ability of RE.
Or will they! Even though the weather is forecast to pick up on Sunday this week is heavy rain will surely take its toll on a totally over used pitch. No matter what anybody says this heavier stickier more difficult pitch will definitely suit Camross in terms of hurling styles, legs, and General attitude.
Zane or no Zane I cannot see Camross having the same scoring threat as RE. I said it here from early this year that I don't think Rathdowney Errill will be beaten, especially not by this Camross team who are owed one.  Leaving last years controversial county final aside they have a very good record against cameras over the last 15 years. There is no lingering sense of doubt/fear or whatever. Maybe I am crazy but I don't think that RE's easy run To the semi-final is a negative for them. They have had so many players playing at such a high level all year that I think the break or drop off in the intensity will turn out to have been a blessing. It suits them to be playing camera us as that extra little bit of motivation will help to offset any cobwebs that may have set in.

The first game is more difficult to call. In fairness to Ballacolla They have successfully reinvented themselves this year. I am a little surprised at how well it has gone. The only thing that may come against them is that BK (and others) are now well aware of the style They are attempting to play. If any team is equipped to counter this by playing the ball out from the back, shooting from distance, and cleverly using the ball then I think that BK are that team.
I would change things slightly playing one of the Dunphies and Scully further out shooting from distance with Foyle inside winning ball when they have to go direct to counter the crowded middle third that Ballacolla will bring. Foyle  is particularly hot and cold. His form could turn out to be the deciding factor. I think BK are justified favourites particularly if the unfortunate injury news from CB turns out to be accurate. BK have serious experience on the line and it will be interesting to see What they have learned from the earlier encounter. As we have seen from teams like Limerick play out reasonably similar style to CB, teams eventually Come up with a way of countering your style.

For me it's BK by five points and RE by seven points.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Ogie on October 06, 2019, 09:58:55 AM
Borris Kilcotton & Rathdowney Errills forwards to shoot them through to the final
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on October 06, 2019, 06:54:01 PM
First game very predictable really. BK hurled around CB's system rather than straight into it.
In the second game RE were absolutely steeped. Looked totally lifeless and while it was an unbelievable finish, they scarcely deserved the goal to win it.
BK's squad looks a lot deeper than RE's going on today.
It's no surprise that it has come down to these two, and if I had to call it this evening I'd side with BK. Interesting build up to come!

Will BK finally invest in a new set of jerseys?!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on October 06, 2019, 06:56:57 PM
Inivediable Roddy would produce that after last years controversy.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Helix. on October 06, 2019, 06:58:01 PM
Camross left that semi final behind them but credit to Rathdowney Errill and some finish from Ross  King. Some justice after last year for him even though he said himself afterwards that he had a poor game.

PJ Scully on fire today and will be a tasty enough final in 2 weeks time.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on October 06, 2019, 07:20:57 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on October 06, 2019, 06:54:01 PM
First game very predictable really. BK hurled around CB's system rather than straight into it.
In the second game RE were absolutely steeped. Looked totally lifeless and while it was an unbelievable finish, they scarcely deserved the goal to win it.
BK's squad looks a lot deeper than RE's going on today.
It's no surprise that it has come down to these two, and if I had to call it this evening I'd side with BK. Interesting build up to come!

Will BK finally invest in a new set of jerseys?!
What's wrong with their jerseys?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on October 06, 2019, 07:37:33 PM
You must have nearly ran out of ppl at this stage?
Although, amalgamations often produce horrendous jerseys, don't they Don?  ;)
Hope I didn't offend the young ppl of Borris. Will they sleep tonight.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on October 06, 2019, 07:39:21 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on October 06, 2019, 07:37:33 PM
You must have nearly ran out of ppl at this stage?
Although, amalgamations often produce horrendous jerseys, don't they Don?  ;)
Hope I didn't offend the young ppl of Borris. Will they sleep tonight.
I doubt anyone was offended, I was curious as to what was wrong with their jerseys.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on October 06, 2019, 07:40:37 PM
Is JOL still hurling Senior with Brigid's? I see they're in a Senior final against Cuala
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Helix. on October 06, 2019, 07:47:06 PM
Quote from: Don Draper on October 06, 2019, 07:40:37 PM
Is JOL still hurling Senior with Brigid's? I see they're in a Senior final against Cuala

Don't think so Don he wasn't in match programme. Dublin gaa Twitter is the link.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on October 06, 2019, 07:48:42 PM
Quote from: Helix. on October 06, 2019, 07:47:06 PM
Quote from: Don Draper on October 06, 2019, 07:40:37 PM
Is JOL still hurling Senior with Brigid's? I see they're in a Senior final against Cuala

Don't think so Don he wasn't in match programme. Dublin gaa Twitter is the link.
You'd imagine he'd be well fit for it.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Don Draper on October 06, 2019, 07:49:24 PM
Roddys goal today, delighted for him on a personal level, that must have been sweet.

https://youtu.be/MuPrjDu2_kw
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: The PRO on October 06, 2019, 08:02:58 PM
How on earth did he not get in the faces of some of the snapchat heroes from last year after the final whistle?! He's a bigger man than the whole lot of them put together. 
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on October 06, 2019, 09:10:51 PM
Quote from: The PRO on October 06, 2019, 08:02:58 PM
How on earth did he not get in the faces of some of the snapchat heroes from last year after the final whistle?! He's a bigger man than the whole lot of them put together.

Commendable restraint shown by him all right for once, one of the good guys proved that revenge is a dish best served cold
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on October 06, 2019, 09:12:31 PM
RE didn't hurl well today but will be elated to have beaten Camross after everything that happened last year. It was their first competitive match this year and it showed. BK much better than CB in the first and will be favourites in the final.

Roddy is a class act. Had a very poor game but came up wit the goods when it mattered.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Zooming around on October 06, 2019, 10:09:08 PM
Good things come to those who wait
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Leixlad on October 07, 2019, 08:13:46 AM
Wasnt at the game so cant comment on how it went - but as a neutral  delighted for Roddy to get winning goal. Fair play to him he showed real class the last 12 months and after scoring the goal. What goes around comes around.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: LOVEGAA on October 07, 2019, 09:28:49 AM
Quote from: clonadmad on October 06, 2019, 09:10:51 PM
Quote from: The PRO on October 06, 2019, 08:02:58 PM
How on earth did he not get in the faces of some of the snapchat heroes from last year after the final whistle?! He's a bigger man than the whole lot of them put together.

Commendable restraint shown by him all right for once, one of the good guys proved that revenge is a dish best served cold
/quote]


This !
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on October 07, 2019, 10:23:34 AM
Delighted for Ross. What a moment. An incredible finish.

On the whole, the standard wasn't hectic. Not that BK or RE will care. It has the makings of a brilliant final.

BK were deserving winners in the first game. CB were game and there was no capitulation but once BK got on top in the second half, there was no feeling that they had a counter-punch in them. To be fair, the loss of Cleere and Picky were big but I still feel BK had the winning of the game regardless.
Scully was superb on places balls and never looked like missing. Even the sideline he scored, I almost felt it was inevitable. Him aside, however, the BK forwards are still not clicking. Stephen Dunphy was better than he has been but they'll need more from Aaron, Campion and Foyle.

The second game wasn't a great spectacle either and RE sleep-walked into a game they really should have lost. Their big players didn't deliver and the game was slow and pedestrian. In the end, it was a moment of individual brilliance that decided things but they'll need a hell of a lot more the next day.

On the final, I'm not sure who RE will put on Scully. Darren Maher had a fine game on him yesterday but I'm not sure who for RE could replicate it. Perhaps Jack Kelly might need to be redeployed with Corrigan coming out.
At the other end, I think RE will ask greater questions of the BK rearguard. CB didn't commit bodies forward whereas I think RE will really go for it.
I've fancied RE all year but on yesterday's showing, I'd be inclined to lean against them.

From a county perspective, there were a couple of players who put their hands up.
Scully would be an addition but his lack of physicality remains an issue and if he's not a starter, he's not going to stick around as a panelist. Defensively, I thought Stephen Phelan and Diarmuid Conway were excellent and look like they could have something to offer.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on October 07, 2019, 10:31:12 AM
Quote from: merman on October 07, 2019, 10:23:34 AM
Delighted for Ross. What a moment. An incredible finish.

On the whole, the standard wasn't hectic. Not that BK or RE will care. It has the makings of a brilliant final.

BK were deserving winners in the first game. CB were game and there was no capitulation but once BK got on top in the second half, there was no feeling that they had a counter-punch in them. To be fair, the loss of Cleere and Picky were big but I still feel BK had the winning of the game regardless.
Scully was superb on places balls and never looked like missing. Even the sideline he scored, I almost felt it was inevitable. Him aside, however, the BK forwards are still not clicking. Stephen Dunphy was better than he has been but they'll need more from Aaron, Campion and Foyle.

The second game wasn't a great spectacle either and RE sleep-walked into a game they really should have lost. Their big players didn't deliver and the game was slow and pedestrian. In the end, it was a moment of individual brilliance that decided things but they'll need a hell of a lot more the next day.

On the final, I'm not sure who RE will put on Scully. Darren Maher had a fine game on him yesterday but I'm not sure who for RE could replicate it. Perhaps Jack Kelly might need to be redeployed with Corrigan coming out.
At the other end, I think RE will ask greater questions of the BK rearguard. CB didn't commit bodies forward whereas I think RE will really go for it.
I've fancied RE all year but on yesterday's showing, I'd be inclined to lean against them.

From a county perspective, there were a couple of players who put their hands up.
Scully would be an addition but his lack of physicality remains an issue and if he's not a starter, he's not going to stick around as a panelist. Defensively, I thought Stephen Phelan and Diarmuid Conway were excellent and look like they could have something to offer.

Completely agree with your assessment of the matches. On the Scully question, he does the vast amount of his damage from placed balls so marking him won't keep his score down. Discipline more important especially with a fussy ref (e.g. Alan 'blow the whistle every 5 seconds' Doheny). Aaron Dunphy wasn't great yesterday but is very dangerous. C/B put alot of resources on him yesterday. Scully needs to offer more from play to warrant an intercounty berth. 
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on October 07, 2019, 11:00:51 AM
To be fair to Scully, a lot of the frees he scored are the result of his own work. He gets special attention because he is such a prolific finisher.
I think it was telling that the CB foul-count was so high in spite of the referee trying to let things go; certainly moreso than in the second game. The final will be a more open game and I think that might suit BK.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: oneflewoverthecuckoonest on October 07, 2019, 03:35:19 PM
there was certainly a sense of poetic justice about roddys winner yesterday. if you study that youtube clip of the decisive goal, the justice is magnified when you identify the camross player closest to roddy when he strikes....the karma.

on the balance rathdowney were lucky, but you take the breaks in all sports.

c/b are the great underachievers of this era, far too profligate in the first half when they had the upperhand....if they had a free taker like scully, they would have triumphed.

no sure on the final, all here so far are saying B/K are favs, the bookies disagree and powers/boyles are 4/7 rathdowney, 6/4 bk.  Not one I would call.

best player in the two games yesterday was joe campion, great to see him back to his best, and ideal centre forward material was Laois hurlers in 2020.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: LOVEGAA on October 07, 2019, 03:52:13 PM
I think the final is going to be very close and will possibly come down to which free taker is on top form on the day
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on October 07, 2019, 05:52:19 PM
Does Midlands Radio ever broadcast club finals?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: steven seagal on October 07, 2019, 06:07:19 PM
They do Mossy, you could be nearly guaranteed there will be live commentary on it. Rathdowney-Errill and Borris-Kilcotton met in the 2016 final and it was one of the best games of hurling I've ever seen, here are the highlights from the game, worth a look!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2LKf77iCMo

The only down side from your point of view would be that, if The Harps win tonight, the Senior B final probably won't be broadcast.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: The PRO on October 07, 2019, 06:12:20 PM
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on October 07, 2019, 05:52:19 PM
Does Midlands Radio ever broadcast club finals?
Yes, but if there's a junior b camogie final on in Offaly, it might just be a few reports every 15 minutes...
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on October 07, 2019, 06:13:39 PM
Quote from: The PRO on October 07, 2019, 06:12:20 PM
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on October 07, 2019, 05:52:19 PM
Does Midlands Radio ever broadcast club finals?
Yes, but if there's a junior b camogie final on in Offaly, it might just be a few reports every 15 minutes...
Haha! That's what I figured.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Unlaoised on October 07, 2019, 10:56:15 PM
Two disappointing games of hurling to stay in line on a disappointing championship after all the hype about our hurlers in the summer .

Hopefully the final can bring an improved standard
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: TheGiantSquid on October 08, 2019, 09:21:52 PM
A very whistle happy referee picked for the final, hope it doesnt spoil what should be a cracker.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on October 08, 2019, 09:57:39 PM
They tend to be whistle-happy in this county, a lot of them.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on October 09, 2019, 02:46:38 PM
i think it will be a more open game of hurling as what we saw in both semi finals as camross and c/b pretty defensive minded. again depends on underfoot and overhead conditions
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Zooming around on October 09, 2019, 04:54:43 PM
Hopefully we'll get a repeat of the classic from a few years ago.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mad Mentor on October 09, 2019, 05:46:22 PM
Quote from: Zooming around on October 09, 2019, 04:54:43 PM
Hopefully we'll get a repeat of the classic from a few years ago.
Hopefully with a different result. ;D
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on October 09, 2019, 05:54:39 PM
Quote from: steven seagal on October 07, 2019, 06:07:19 PM
They do Mossy, you could be nearly guaranteed there will be live commentary on it. Rathdowney-Errill and Borris-Kilcotton met in the 2016 final and it was one of the best games of hurling I've ever seen, here are the highlights from the game, worth a look!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2LKf77iCMo

The only down side from your point of view would be that, if The Harps win tonight, the Senior B final probably won't be broadcast.
I'm not sure how I missed you post, here, but I did. Thanks for this link to the 2016 highlights!

Yeah, I figured anything other than a Senior final would not get broadcast.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on October 10, 2019, 12:57:11 PM
Quote from: TheGiantSquid on October 08, 2019, 09:21:52 PM
A very whistle happy referee picked for the final, hope it doesnt spoil what should be a cracker.

Strong chance it will destroy the game. It will be all about free takers.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on October 14, 2019, 05:40:30 PM
Really looking forward to the game this Sunday.
I'm hopeful of a good game; my two concerns are the weather and the referee. We've no control over the former and to be fair, there weren't a lot of alternatives for the latter. I hope the game is let develop and isn't decided by frees.

Anyway, the two best teams are meeting in the final; I'm pretty certain of that.
Clough/Ballacolla and Camross are in this same bracket but through injuries (Keenan, Mortimer, Dunphy, Maher and Cleere), they just don't have the same strengths as RE and BK. Injuries aside, I still think both of RE and BK are slightly ahead at this moment anyway.

RE have been my team to beat since the summer. Their county contingent came bouncing back from a great year with Laois and they had the experience and nous to navigate the problems associated with an 'easy draw'. They were very nearly pipped by Camross...but they weren't. And it was telling the way that winning goal clinched it. James Ryan had the ball but he understood his role; a 'provider' for a 'finisher'. And that's what RE have in abundance, they have finishers in King, Purcell and Kavanagh and they have providers/workers in Ryan (pun avoided), Keane, McCane and Dollard. The balance looks really good and they'll be heartened to have gotten over the Camross test without their key marksmen having great performances. I think they'll target the BK full-back line and that could well be the winning and losing of this game.

For BK, I was actually impressed with their dismissal of CB. They learnt their lessons from the group game and completely nullified the CB goal-threat after the first 20 mins. They have become a little reliant on Scully but there have been signs that Campion and the Dunphys are coming into a bit of form. I disagree that Scully doesn't need special attention; it was noteworthy how close Darren Maher followed him the last day. CB were willing to take him out of the full-back spot and that in itself caused issues for them. Do RE have someone to do a similar job? I'm not sure.
Similarly, Aaron was man-marked by young Conway who had the speed to stick with him. If both Scully and Aaron start in the full-forward line, it will really test RE. I wouldn't be surprised to see Jack Kelly or Eric Killeen dropped back in such a scenario. Those match-ups will be interesting; if either side get the right players isolated 1v1 in their full-forwad line; I could see them going for goals early and often.

Midfield is another interesting area to keep an eye on. I think we have seen a lot of teams seeking to flood that middle area and it could turn into a bit of a battle. BK will have come up against that in 3 Championship games whereas RE struggled to assert themselves in the final having been untested beforehand. RE should come on from that semi-final, they'll need to.

As regards a prediction, I'm loathe to change horses mid-race but I do have a feeling that BK might just edge this. Scully won't miss from frees and that guarantees them a decent starting-point. I think both teams have chinks in their armour in the full-back line and I'd imagine a lot of thought and planning will have gone in to how best to target, exploit and protect same.
I think it'll be high-scoring and I'm going to go with BK to edge it by the minimum: BK 2.22 - 1.24 RE

From a county perspective, I think we have seen a few players come into consideration even though I dont think the championship has been brilliant. Most of the names are from the semi-finalists and finalists and that's probably as much an issue with recency-bias as anything else.

Definites for me:
Joe Campion (Would be an automatic starter for me)
Diarmaid Conway (Looks like he will be in a couple of years)

Strongly Like to See:
Stephen Phelan
James Ryan
Ronan Broderick
Aidan Corby
Paddy Whelan
PJ Scully
Sean Downey
Garoid Bourke
Dwane Palmer

Wildcards:
Brian Corby
Robbie Phelan
Conor Kilbane
Jordan Walshe
Podge Lalor
Steven Finan

I've probably forgotten a few players but I dont think that would be a bad bunch to start with in looking to reinforce our panel. I'm also aware that a lot of the above have been asked in before and either declined outright or were in and left. Just throwing the names out for discussion I suppose.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on October 15, 2019, 07:55:07 AM
I think there's too much commitment for some of them, but certainly would love to see Diarmuid Conway, Geroid Burke and Joe Campion involved. There'd also be a few in the senior B.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on October 15, 2019, 08:30:20 AM
thinking both games will be close enough on sunday and im going to go for both underdogs in borris/kilcotton and rosenallis
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on October 17, 2019, 01:13:39 PM
Met Eireann giving a bright but quite cold afternoon in Portlaoise on Sunday. Not much of a breeze either. Not a massive amount of rain in next few days which should help the pitch. Would be a shame to see the weather ruin the match.

B/K seem slight favourites among those who express opinions. Boyle Sports have Rathdowney Errill at 8/13 with BK at 6/4. Could go any way. If REs county players play to their ability I can see them shading it.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Unlaoised on October 17, 2019, 02:37:49 PM
Fancy Borris strongly
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Ogie on October 19, 2019, 11:54:42 AM
Should be two good games in O Moore Park tomorrow, great match up in the Senior Final,
I think Borris Kilcotton will get goals that will win the game for them.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on October 19, 2019, 10:33:07 PM
The two best teams in the county are in the final. At times they stuttered this year (RE in the semi final & BK in the group stages v CB), but there is no doubting their pedigree or their potential. RE in particular were unimpressive in their first real test in the semi final, but semi finals are about winning and winning only.

Both sides have everything you would want;
Youth
Experience in key spots
Legs
Scoring forwards
Man markers
Ball winning forwards
Ace freetakers

RE have always delivered in finals (with the 2016 replay being a bit of an outlier), leaving the second half of last years final aside. They didn't look at their ease in the semi final and it will be interesting to see if they have eased off a little in the build up for this weekend. The only big concern I have is whether or not they decide to go with match ups, I don't think they really did against Camross. The BK forwards all require very different individual approaches.
If RE go with match ups could we see Campion in the half back line and Joe Fitz at full/corner back at some stage?
I honestly don't think it's in these players nature, and I'm not sure their management will go with a plan to suit the opposition like that. It will be the winning and losing of the game in my opinion.

It's hard to point out any one thing the RE management did in the semi final to attempt to turn the game, you could say the same about last year's county final. Maybe they will surprise me.

The other thing worth noting is Fleming in goals. He really is top class. Young Madden is a decent keeper, lacking a little in experience, but his counterpart is class.

I've said RE all year, but I think a combination of cleverness on the line and the upper hand they have between the sticks could well see BK through.

On one final note, the sense of "closure" that came with Ross King's winner the last day could well knock a vital edge of RE going into tomorrow. There is no wrong left to right as such, is that a few tiny grains of rice gone that could well have tipped the scales (as Paidi famously put it)? On the other side you have Scully, "dropped" by the county earlier in the year and he hasn't lit it up from play yet this year. He is a seriously focused young man, and the opportunity that this occasion presents to prove a point to a few interested spectators won't have gone unnoticed.

Fleming and Scully to star, BK by 5.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: redsetanta on October 19, 2019, 11:54:38 PM
Going as a complete neutral tomorrow and don't have a favourite. It's been a very good year for Laois hurling and I hope our showpiece will be too. No repeat of last year or the aftermath. I do think that if R/E would do better in Leinster club championship.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on October 20, 2019, 12:34:03 AM
Weather is to be good, two very good teams, hopefully large crowd with better atmosphere than last week, setting up for a great final.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on October 20, 2019, 08:46:13 AM
The hurling final often seems to get a better crowd that the football.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: les Antiques on October 20, 2019, 11:02:14 AM
Looking forward to attending the final today . From an outsider perspective there seems to be a mutual respect for each other which is nit always evident in club hurling .
Borris by 2 .
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Zooming around on October 20, 2019, 11:04:09 AM
Quote from: burdizzo on October 20, 2019, 08:46:13 AM
The hurling final often seems to get a better crowd that the football.


I agree. It's probably because Portlaoise are in the football final every year and they have a small support. I doubt many neutrals went to a lot of those football finals either as they were over before the throw in. RE and BIOK both have big followings as do The Harps and Rosenallis. Also, I'd say a huge number of neutrals will be there too for what should be a right match.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: The PRO on October 20, 2019, 11:09:28 AM
Quote from: burdizzo on October 20, 2019, 08:46:13 AM
The hurling final often seems to get a better crowd that the football.
Nearly always. There's always a real sense of occasion about the hurling finals. And playing the senior B final as a curtain raiser is a big factor too. The minor A final is the football curtain raiser and wouldn't draw the same crowd.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on October 20, 2019, 08:37:52 PM
Huge crowd. Interesting match but no classic. Conditions underfoot very tough in fairness. Better team by far won easily enough for a finish. The big difference was the quality and toughness of the RE defence. None of the BK backs had a clear advantage over their marker. The RE forwards on the other hand gave the Borris Kilcotton backs a horrific time and seemed to get better and better. Roddy King was on fire for long spells. Hopefully they can give Leinster a good run. St. Rynaghs in 2 weeks in Portlaoise.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on October 21, 2019, 09:58:46 AM
game did not live up to expectations but there was some tough hitting out there and ground conditions were soft enough but best team won out.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Spiritof1915 on October 21, 2019, 12:42:48 PM
Well done to rathdowney/Errill. Leaders all over the pitch. That's what it takes to win County finals.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on October 21, 2019, 02:15:09 PM
st rynaghs came from the death in offaly to win yesterday so this will be an interesting game, be nice to see r/e getting a run in leinster,
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Unlaoised on October 21, 2019, 06:44:40 PM
Poor game as was most of the fair on show in this year's championship .
Maybe the year the county players had took it's toll.

Rathdowney Errill were full value for the win .
Their backs were more organised and a lot braver on the ball.
Hitting hard when they needed to .

Ross had a good game he is a joy to watch in full flight.

They had some support there it seems to grow no other team/teams brings bigger support in hurling or football than R/E
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on October 22, 2019, 04:18:27 AM
A question from an outlander who's only started following club-level hurling, this year:

So with the Laois hurling championship over, do most Laois hurling fans (regardless of club) tend to support the winning club as they progress through the Leinster-level matches or is it pretty much just the winning club's ongoing supporters that shout for them during the provincial matches?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on October 22, 2019, 10:49:27 AM
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on October 22, 2019, 04:18:27 AM
A question from an outlander who's only started following club-level hurling, this year:

So with the Laois hurling championship over, do most Laois hurling fans (regardless of club) tend to support the winning club as they progress through the Leinster-level matches or is it pretty much just the winning club's ongoing supporters that shout for them during the provincial matches?

I think it is generally fair to say that the county champions get good support from other clubs although progression in Leinster has been quite poor from Laois clubs in the last 10 years. This is not necessarily because the clubs have been weak but that they have typically come up against strong opposition. For example, Clough-Ballacolla ran Oulart close in 2015 when Oulart won Leinster. Rathdowney were very competitive in 2006 and 2008 against Rathnure of Wexford and a Ballyhale team filled with superstars. They had a hurtful loss in 2012 to Kilcormac-Killoughy who went on and won Leinster where they were the better team and missed a fairly easy goal chance to win the game on the death. Lost after extra time to Kilmacud crokes in 2014 in Parnell park. Borris lost to Cuala in 2016 who went on and won the All-Ireland. Camross didn't do so well out of Laois losing well to St. Eanna's last year and Mount Leinster rangers of Carlow previously. In terms of support there was a bad taste in the mouths of many Laois people regarding Camross last year so not many neutral Laois people turned out to watch them however when they won Leinster in 1996 I remember huge crowds going to see them. Similarly when Castletown were dominant in the 90s they had significant support from outside the club. Some of their matches against Birr were classics. Portlaoise also got to a Leinster final and were well supported.

Sorry for the long winded answer! If it is a fine day in Portlaoise in 2 weeks there will probably be a good Laois crowd to watch RE against Banagher. With all the county lads on board it would be nice to get a win and most likely a crack at Cuala.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on October 22, 2019, 05:04:33 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on October 22, 2019, 10:49:27 AM
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on October 22, 2019, 04:18:27 AM
A question from an outlander who’s only started following club-level hurling, this year:

So with the Laois hurling championship over, do most Laois hurling fans (regardless of club) tend to support the winning club as they progress through the Leinster-level matches or is it pretty much just the winning club’s ongoing supporters that shout for them during the provincial matches?
...

Sorry for the long winded answer! ...

Not at all. I appreciate the background information. Thanks, blueandwhite.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: redsetanta on October 22, 2019, 05:26:08 PM
Few observations from the game.

Backs on both sides were dominant overall. PJ is a very reliable free taker but doesn't give enough from open play as opposed to Mark Kavanagh say.

Paddy Purcell is a beast of a man. He took a few heavy hits, one that we could hear under the scoreboard and still came back for more. He's a great athlete.

King got some lovely points and it begs the question as to how the final might have gone last year if he played for the full game.

John Purcell was excellent I thought.

It was great to hear both PAddy Purcell and Roddy King speak about giving Leinster a right go as they will be representing Laois. This was just after the game so it shows the mindset. Fair play to them and I hope they can beat St Rynaghs. They definately are best placed to compete in the Leinster club game.

The ref wasn't too bad for the game although I though their were times he could have blown sooner when things were getting heated at times.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: redsetanta on October 23, 2019, 10:08:18 AM
I learned a new word on Sunday from an oul lad I was standing beside at the game.

He told me that B/K and R/E were both 'mangalated' teams.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on October 24, 2019, 12:06:21 PM
Quote from: redsetanta on October 23, 2019, 10:08:18 AM
I learned a new word on Sunday from an oul lad I was standing beside at the game.

He told me that B/K and R/E were both 'mangalated' teams.

Very successfully mangalated at that.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on October 29, 2019, 04:25:19 PM
AIB Leinster Club SHC 2019 Quarter Final

Sunday, 3 November 2019
Rathdowney Errill v St Rynagh's (Co. Offaly)
Portlaoise 2:30 PM

From: https://leinstergaa.ie/fixtures-results-2018/hurling/club/
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on October 29, 2019, 06:48:34 PM
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on October 29, 2019, 04:25:19 PM
AIB Leinster Club SHC 2019 Quarter Final

Sunday, 3 November 2019
Rathdowney Errill v St Rynagh's (Co. Offaly)
Portlaoise 2:30 PM

From: https://leinstergaa.ie/fixtures-results-2018/hurling/club/


What's the feeling on this

I see the bookies have R/E at 2/1
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Silkyskillssunshinee on October 29, 2019, 10:21:53 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on October 29, 2019, 06:48:34 PM
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on October 29, 2019, 04:25:19 PM
AIB Leinster Club SHC 2019 Quarter Final

Sunday, 3 November 2019
Rathdowney Errill v St Rynagh's (Co. Offaly)
Portlaoise 2:30 PM

From: https://leinstergaa.ie/fixtures-results-2018/hurling/club/


What's the feeling on this

I see the bookies have R/E at 2/1

If R/E play like they did in the county final, with maybe a bit more ruthlessness in front of goals, I think they win. St Rynagh's will be a very good test for them though. The Offaly champions tend to do well in this competition.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on October 30, 2019, 09:39:32 AM
I agree. If RE play well they should win. Rynaghs are well drilled and move the ball well but RE have better forwards. They will be confident after their county final win but I still think RE have more quality around the pitch. Weather supposed to be a bit like county final day but the sod should have recovered from the dry spell which would suit RE too. As was said, Offaly clubs have historically punched above their weight in this competition so it will be a battle. Hopefully there will be decent crowd.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: welcomehome on October 30, 2019, 11:48:15 AM
Hopefully r/e will get a big support from laois...
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: LooseCannon on October 30, 2019, 02:34:11 PM
RE should win. Bit of infighting in the Rynagh's camp, coupled with Diarmuid Horan gone back out foreign. He made an impact in the final and semi for them from the bench.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on October 30, 2019, 03:11:44 PM
Quote from: LooseCannon on October 30, 2019, 02:34:11 PM
RE should win. Bit of infighting in the Rynagh's camp, coupled with Diarmuid Horan gone back out foreign. He made an impact in the final and semi for them from the bench.

That sounds like the usual messaging from a team who want to be taken lightly!! These reported dis-harmonies tend to disappear suddenly when the ball is thrown in!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: The PRO on October 30, 2019, 06:02:23 PM
Quote from: LooseCannon on October 30, 2019, 02:34:11 PM
RE should win. Bit of infighting in the Rynagh's camp, coupled with Diarmuid Horan gone back out foreign. He made an impact in the final and semi for them from the bench.
:) Nice try! "RE should win"
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: LooseCannon on October 30, 2019, 10:40:42 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on October 30, 2019, 03:11:44 PM
Quote from: LooseCannon on October 30, 2019, 02:34:11 PM
RE should win. Bit of infighting in the Rynagh's camp, coupled with Diarmuid Horan gone back out foreign. He made an impact in the final and semi for them from the bench.

That sounds like the usual messaging from a team who want to be taken lightly!! These reported dis-harmonies tend to disappear suddenly when the ball is thrown in!

Not from Rynagh's. There was a couple of incidents among players. Verified by reliable club members.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on November 02, 2019, 10:54:10 PM
LaoisToday ranks the top 25 hurling clubs:
https://www.laoistoday.ie/2019/11/02/with-the-season-done-and-dusted-we-rank-laoiss-top-25-hurling-teams/
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on November 03, 2019, 10:31:55 AM
Best of luck to RE today.
I'll be travelling over feeling very confident. They've enough firepower to win this one and I think there are a couple of big performers in some of their star men.

Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on November 03, 2019, 04:20:02 PM
Well, I suppose R/E had got on top by the time of the sending off, and after that they did as they liked, really - putting together good moves and capping it off with three more goals. However, in the first half Rynagh's were dogged enough, and both sides were guilty of bad handling and poor first touch. I know the conditions were bad, but still... The ref. infuriated the Rynagh's crowd, but mostly he was spot on. Mind you, there were a couple of baffling decisions. I tell you, it would be great to get James Ryan in with Laois - he has the physique, and the skill.
St Mullin's from Carlow next, who had a surprise win over Cuala. Could be a Leinster final in them yet?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Giovanni on November 03, 2019, 07:52:55 PM
In fairness the conditions were pretty awful but I would agree that there is still more in R/E.

Thought John Purcell was very good in the full back line. Paddy
Purcell was outstanding again. All parts of the half forward line did well enough especially in the second half and Roddy improved as the game wore on. Thought there was good potential and good skill levels in Brandon McGinley and Paddy McCane. Still, Rynagh's really looked a poor enough team and I think there's more in R/E.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on November 03, 2019, 09:17:56 PM
Even when hurling poorly enough RE were a better outfit. Ryanaghs tried and had big support but didn't have a lot of quality. The current and former county players stood out for RE.

I thought the ref did RE a lot of favours with frees but don't think it mattered over the 60 minutes. Paddy McCane was lying on the ground for 5 minutes. When he got up his man hit him with the hurl off the ball and targeted his injured ankle. Filthy and got what he deserved.

St. Mullins will be a big step up. Anyone who thinks RE will be favourites haven't been watching Carlow hurling lately. Still, RE have enough class to compete. Will semi be in neutral venue?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: marty34 on November 03, 2019, 09:51:22 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 03, 2019, 09:17:56 PM
Even when hurling poorly enough RE were a better outfit. Ryanaghs tried and had big support but didn't have a lot of quality. The current and former county players stood out for RE.

I thought the ref did RE a lot of favours with frees but don't think it mattered over the 60 minutes. Paddy McCane was lying on the ground for 5 minutes. When he got up his man hit him with the hurl off the ball and targeted his injured ankle. Filthy and got what he deserved.

St. Mullins will be a big step up. Anyone who thinks RE will be favourites haven't been watching Carlow hurling lately. Still, RE have enough class to compete. Will semi be in neutral venue?

Big shock for Cuala - St. Mullins are a hardy team.  Conditions will be tough.  It'll be a close affair.

50/50 game but RE should have enough to get over the line.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on November 03, 2019, 10:17:33 PM
So do Provincial semi-finals tend to be televised? And what if they involve non-anointed hurling counties like Laois and Carlow?  :-\
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: LooseCannon on November 03, 2019, 10:26:23 PM
Quote from: LooseCannon on October 30, 2019, 02:34:11 PM
RE should win. Bit of infighting in the Rynagh's camp, coupled with Diarmuid Horan gone back out foreign. He made an impact in the final and semi for them from the bench.
Wasn't wrong!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: redsetanta on November 04, 2019, 12:15:27 AM
Game to be played in Carlow on 17th.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on November 04, 2019, 08:24:17 AM
Quote from: redsetanta on November 04, 2019, 12:15:27 AM
Game to be played in Carlow on 17th.

Thanks. Why Carlow I wonder?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on November 04, 2019, 08:47:58 AM
great win for r/e and after all the losses in leinster this will give them great confidence going forward although st Mullins will provide a stern test but they should come through it.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Blow-in on November 04, 2019, 10:51:09 AM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 04, 2019, 08:24:17 AM
Quote from: redsetanta on November 04, 2019, 12:15:27 AM
Game to be played in Carlow on 17th.

Thanks. Why Carlow I wonder?

It's also been home and away until the final
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: redsetanta on November 12, 2019, 10:31:36 AM
R/E game being televised. Hopefully the lads can perform and win this one. It's great to have Laois teams on the national broadcaster.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: TheGiantSquid on November 13, 2019, 07:18:30 PM
Now that the dust has settled on the Laois SHC. Id like to give a quick summary of the champo; team by team.

R/E: Deserved champions, inter county quality in every line. Achilles heel is still their goalkeeper. Came through the "soft" group with ease. Had a scare and a bit of fortune vs camross but blew B/KK away in the final.

B/KK: They have an awful flaw of peaking oo early in the group stages. In crunch games they rely too heavily on PJ to score every free and a few from play. Joe campion was immense. Need to find 2 or 3 more over the winter if they are to win Bob O Keefe again. One championship for this crop would be an underachievement.

C/ballacolla
A resurgence of sorts under Canice Coonan. Topped a very tough group. Injuries to Picky and Lee Cleere really hurt them. Saved their worst performance for the biggest game of the year.

Camross
Took several steps back this year and never looked like a 3 in a row team. There wasnt any toughness or steel you would associate with a Camross team. Will have to blood 5/6 of that intermediete team in and say goodbye to some great servants.

Castletown
Made great strides this year and several hurlers coming of age. definitely the best of the rest. Need to find a few more forwards and get a big scalp next year to progress.   

Ballinakill
Plodded along. Not much more expected of them. Like Arles Kilcruise in the football they do have to be admired for extracting everything on such limited resources. Rumours of Cha leaving for Austrailia could cripple them next year and leave them in a dogfight.

Abbeyleix
Very poor showing from Abbeyleix who have stagnated the last 2/3 years. Drawn in a bad group but never threatended in the group games,Will need to turn underage sucess into adult hurlers soon to avoid the drop in the next few years.

Portlaoise
What a fall from grace it has been for this former superpower. Key injuries to Tommy Fitz and Cahir didnt help but they have to find some hurlers QUICK or risk turning into a football town. 27000 population should equal a senior team. Will struggle to get back up.

Thoughts from the group?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on November 14, 2019, 12:04:21 PM
Quote from: TheGiantSquid on November 13, 2019, 07:18:30 PM
Now that the dust has settled on the Laois SHC. Id like to give a quick summary of the champo; team by team.

R/E: Deserved champions, inter county quality in every line. Achilles heel is still their goalkeeper. Not sure I agree. Damian Madden a fine shot stopper and accurate on the puck outs. Made a high profile mistake in the final but recovered from it. First year at senior and was a problem for RE that they now seem to have solved. I think their Achillies heel is the lack of quality subsCame through the "soft" group with ease. Had a scare and a bit of fortune vs camross but blew B/KK away in the final. Underage talent coming through? Not a lot to replace their older stars

B/KK: They have an awful flaw of peaking oo early in the group stages. In crunch games they rely too heavily on PJ to score every free and a few from play. Joe campion was immense. Need to find 2 or 3 more over the winter if they are to win Bob O Keefe again. One championship for this crop would be an underachievement. Their underage tap seems to be stuck in the off position, need to recover what they did when they were dominant at that level

C/ballacolla
A resurgence of sorts under Canice Coonan. Topped a very tough group. Injuries to Picky and Lee Cleere really hurt them. Saved their worst performance for the biggest game of the year. Same comment - not that impressive underage in recent years. A worry for Laois when some of the big areas are not producing strong pipelines

Camross
Took several steps back this year and never looked like a 3 in a row team. There wasnt any toughness or steel you would associate with a Camross team. Will have to blood 5/6 of that intermediete team in and say goodbye to some great servants. I would guess that 2019 was a blip for them. Some serious underage teams in the last few years. I think they are most likely to be the dominant team in the next 5 years

Castletown
Made great strides this year and several hurlers coming of age. definitely the best of the rest. Need to find a few more forwards and get a big scalp next year to progress. Have good talent coming through but I wonder have they enough. Small area to pick from. Would have helped if the Slieve Bloom amalgamation stuck.

All intermediate sides below with dubious futures in the next 5 years. The pick of them wouldn't compete with the top 4. Sorry.

Ballinakill
Plodded along. Not much more expected of them. Like Arles Kilcruise in the football they do have to be admired for extracting everything on such limited resources. Rumours of Cha leaving for Austrailia could cripple them next year and leave them in a dogfight.

Abbeyleix
Very poor showing from Abbeyleix who have stagnated the last 2/3 years. Drawn in a bad group but never threatended in the group games,Will need to turn underage sucess into adult hurlers soon to avoid the drop in the next few years.

Portlaoise
What a fall from grace it has been for this former superpower. Key injuries to Tommy Fitz and Cahir didnt help but they have to find some hurlers QUICK or risk turning into a football town. 27000 population should equal a senior team. Will struggle to get back up.

Thoughts from the group?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Laois Rising on November 14, 2019, 12:14:25 PM
There needs to be a hurling specific GDA employed within Portlaoise to work with the schools and club to reinvigorate hurling within the town. The club need a bottom up approach/strategy with meaningful long term goals-set clear/obtainable targets e.g have underage teams all playing at and competing for titles at A championship level by 2024. The demise of Portlaoise hurling is not a quick fix.

It is disappointing that a town of now well over 20,000 cannot supply one current inter-county hurler to starting county team or be at least competitive at senior level within Laois. Cahir is 34 next year and coming off serious injuries- he has been the last really noteworthy hurler that Portlaoise has produced.   
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on November 14, 2019, 01:38:19 PM
Quote from: Laois Rising on November 14, 2019, 12:14:25 PM
There needs to be a hurling specific GDA employed within Portlaoise to work with the schools and club to reinvigorate hurling within the town. The club need a bottom up approach/strategy with meaningful long term goals-set clear/obtainable targets e.g have underage teams all playing at and competing for titles at A championship level by 2024. The demise of Portlaoise hurling is not a quick fix.

It is disappointing that a town of now well over 20,000 cannot supply one current inter-county hurler to starting county team or be at least competitive at senior level within Laois. Cahir is 34 next year and coming off serious injuries- he has been the last really noteworthy hurler that Portlaoise has produced.

Fully agree.

Cian Taylor and Aaron Bergin are worth a mention though in terms of senior prospects. Both have plenty about them and would do well with a couple of years under Eddie Brennan.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on November 14, 2019, 02:31:31 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 14, 2019, 01:38:19 PM
Quote from: Laois Rising on November 14, 2019, 12:14:25 PM
There needs to be a hurling specific GDA employed within Portlaoise to work with the schools and club to reinvigorate hurling within the town. The club need a bottom up approach/strategy with meaningful long term goals-set clear/obtainable targets e.g have underage teams all playing at and competing for titles at A championship level by 2024. The demise of Portlaoise hurling is not a quick fix.

It is disappointing that a town of now well over 20,000 cannot supply one current inter-county hurler to starting county team or be at least competitive at senior level within Laois. Cahir is 34 next year and coming off serious injuries- he has been the last really noteworthy hurler that Portlaoise has produced.

Has the move from beside o moore park to well outside the town in rathleague affected  the club in anyway as now juveniles cannot get out unless they are driven by their parents and in this fast hectic society maybe parents cannot get out with the kids either,

beside o moore park it was within walking and cycling distance for them and now the senior teams are been affected?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: oneflewoverthecuckoonest on November 14, 2019, 03:28:37 PM
Giant Squid a very fair summary of the 2019 season.
my titbits
R/Errill....will remain the team to beat for the next 3 or 4 years.

B/Kilcotton...the single most important player in that side is Joe Campion...he had a very good 2019, bit others need to step up to the plate or they could be one hit wonders.

C/B...the hot and cold team, sad to see them limping out after a terrific group stage run....what is the problem, are they too cocky or alternatively lack belief?

Camross....tried to be a bit too smart this season, mixing the senior and intermediate squads, and had they held on against R/E in the semi, they would have won the county final...will be a factor for the next 2 or 3 years, years 5 to 10 down the line, they could be totally dominant in the senior grade given the raw material they have coming through as opposed to others.

Castletown...should be pleased with their year, almost maximising their resources. they have not got the forward firepower to win a title in the next 5 years, so I think they will be the Ballinakill(2012-18) of the next 4 or 5 years, reaching the odd semi final without ever threatening to win a championship.

Ballinakill...nosediving towards Senior B, and it will be a long time before they contest a Senior A semi final again.

Abbeyleix...will be happy to survive, if getting a kinder draw in 2020 it might energise them and I think they could be a surprise package in the coming years, and reach a semi final.

Portlaoise...a very poor 2019...no guarantees they can instantly bounce back in 2020.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on November 14, 2019, 04:16:05 PM
Quote from: Neutralobserver on November 14, 2019, 02:31:31 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 14, 2019, 01:38:19 PM
Quote from: Laois Rising on November 14, 2019, 12:14:25 PM
There needs to be a hurling specific GDA employed within Portlaoise to work with the schools and club to reinvigorate hurling within the town. The club need a bottom up approach/strategy with meaningful long term goals-set clear/obtainable targets e.g have underage teams all playing at and competing for titles at A championship level by 2024. The demise of Portlaoise hurling is not a quick fix.

It is disappointing that a town of now well over 20,000 cannot supply one current inter-county hurler to starting county team or be at least competitive at senior level within Laois. Cahir is 34 next year and coming off serious injuries- he has been the last really noteworthy hurler that Portlaoise has produced.



Has the move from beside o moore park to well outside the town in rathleague affected  the club in anyway as now juveniles cannot get out unless they are driven by their parents and in this fast hectic society maybe parents cannot get out with the kids either,

beside o moore park it was within walking and cycling distance for them and now the senior teams are been affected?

I think that was one of the findings of the review done last year on GAA participation in Portlaoise. I think there was a plan to set up a juvenile facility in the town for that purpose explicitly? In fairness, kids in rural clubs have to be driven to training etc. but you would have to think that there are huge advantages to having a club in walking distance to all the housing estates in Portlaoise and having a visible presence in the town. The reality seem to be that very few people in Portlaoise identify with the GAA, especially hurling. In almost every rural town and village there is a very strong GAA identity. Even when Portlaoise were strong in hurling it was the same families and faces you saw in the crowd (under the scoreboard).
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 14, 2019, 04:38:12 PM
The strategic review made a number of recommendations for portlaoise and hurling in particular.

None have been implemented.

There hasn't been an issue with numbers traveling out to Rathleague,the issue is mainly in getting hurling mentors on board to coach juvenile teams.

They had a powerful u15 team this year who won the A.

I'd fancy them to go well with the lads who won the minor b this year in the minor A next year and possibly win it in 2021.

It's at u13 and u11 where they are very weak.

And that's before you even address the town itself where probably 3/4% of the kids in any age group are actually playing hurling in any shape or form.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: merman on November 14, 2019, 08:45:23 PM
Rathdowney/Errill

Worthy champions. I'd give them a real chance on Sunday. I think they'll have a good following too.
Looking forward, a couple of players have a lot of miles in the legs but they have a core group right in their prime and they have decent depth just below their starting 15.
Will likely start next year as favourites again.

Borris/Kilcotton

Solid year but will feel they needed more from some of their star-forwards. Very reliant on PJ Scully and when teams shut down goals; they aren't scoring enough from play. Be interesting to see will their management team stay on as I know they're highly-regarded and this is still a group of players that have more championships in them.

Camross

Another league but an underwhelming year. They, alongside The Harps, have the best underage structures in place and the look like having a raft of players to break through over the next 3-5 years. I'm not quite as convinced that they are as strong in the immediate future and I think they're a little behind the top 2.

Clough/Ballacolla

Desperately unlucky to lose arguably their best defender and forward when push came to shove. Have struggled to put two solid performances back-to-back and worryingly, have struggled to put two good years together.
At the start of the year, I felt they were a team in decline and in transition; they had another kick in them. Maybe they have one more.

I'm afraid I pretty much agree with others that the next 4-8 teams (including the top Senior A sides) are just at a different level.
Castletown would be most-likely to break in but with the Championship Format and seeding as it is; it's hard to see anyone outside of the established 4 making a final.
Rosenallis will be a breath of fresh air and I think they'll stay up next year.

As others have alluded to, there is a legitimate concern about the sociological make-up of our county in relation to hurling. Areas like Ballinakill, Cullohill, Errill, Clough, Ballacolla, Killadooley, Camross, Killanure, Shanahoe, Trumera, Raheen are very small rural areas and are subject to cycles of population surges and declines; and I think far more the latter than the former moving forward.
They would all house relatively small primary schools with the majority of the large schools in our county in the urban areas where hurling is struggling.
Laois needs a specific plan to target hurling in the county. That might not be popular in some areas of the county but the way our strong hurling areas are contracting is a definite worry.
Clubs like Park-Ratheniska and Portarlington who are bucking the trend need to become the norm and not the exception.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on November 14, 2019, 09:21:52 PM
Great year-end commentary, here. Much appreciated.  :)
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Ogie on November 15, 2019, 06:27:21 PM
Merman, good report / comment as usual,
Just wondering why you think The Harps & Camross have the best underage structures in place?
I think both benefit from big populations coming through & definitely in Camross case Hurling is the only show in town
The Harps are having good success  at U13 level but I don't see much change in their coaching structure ?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Spiritof1915 on November 16, 2019, 07:37:01 AM
Quote from: Ogie on November 15, 2019, 06:27:21 PM
Merman, good report / comment as usual,
Just wondering why you think The Harps & Camross have the best underage structures in place?
I think both benefit from big populations coming through & definitely in Camross case Hurling is the only show in town
The Harps are having good success  at U13 level but I don't see much change in their coaching structure ?
Sorry to cut across Merman but
Camross winning 2 minors and an u20 in recent times and in todays u20 final, in addition to winning feile final this year.
The Harps won u11 (2 years in a row), u13 and minor this year. They won u19 last year and also got to minor and u21 finals.
Not too many clubs would turn that down.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mad Mentor on November 16, 2019, 07:17:44 PM
The run of minor finals and wins that Borris Kilcotton had, has only yielded one senior title so far. Rathdowney Errill by contrast, haven't won a minor for quite a while. We won the u21 a few years ago, and an u16 in 2016, but not much else. That u16 team lost out on a chance at minor when the age groups changed to the odd years, but of that squad of players, no one has yet hurled senior championship and only two have made any senior appearance. The senior squad has had no more than one or two added to it per year. There is a huge difference between minor and senior. Sometimes teams that have won all the way up through the grades just reflects the relative poor quality of the competition in that year. However this year's minor championship should be the most competitive in years, going by the same group of players from u15 two years ago.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 16, 2019, 07:32:32 PM
Quote from: Mad Mentor on November 16, 2019, 07:17:44 PM
The run of minor finals and wins that Borris Kilcotton had, has only yielded one senior title so far. Rathdowney Errill by contrast, haven't won a minor for quite a while. We won the u21 a few years ago, and an u16 in 2016, but not much else. That u16 team lost out on a chance at minor when the age groups changed to the odd years, but of that squad of players, no one has yet hurled senior championship and only two have made any senior appearance. The senior squad has had no more than one or two added to it per year. There is a huge difference between minor and senior. Sometimes teams that have won all the way up through the grades just reflects the relative poor quality of the competition in that year. However this year's minor championship should be the most competitive in years, going by the same group of players from u15 two years ago.

At the same time if you aren't putting out competitive teams who are winning the odd juvenile competition,it doesn't bode well for any clubs future either.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: on the hop on November 17, 2019, 01:46:54 PM
St Mullins strong in the air, especially in the forwards, this is going to be tight
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: redsetanta on November 17, 2019, 02:41:35 PM
Some point there from Mark Kavanagh there
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: redsetanta on November 17, 2019, 03:05:03 PM
Tough on R/E particularly Paddy Purcell with that last miss. St Mullins worthy winners though. 2 excellent points from Doyle to win it.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on November 17, 2019, 03:10:44 PM
Some scrappy match, there. Mark Kavanagh was phenomenal!

What a year of hurling in Laois!  :D
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: on the hop on November 17, 2019, 08:36:13 PM
hard luck to rathdowney, tried hard but st mullins were worthy winners. st mullins looked a bigger team and out muscled them at times especially in the forwards but rathdowney plugged away especially mark Kavanagh. have to wonder about some of the tactics at times which seemed to invite St. Mullins onto them. should campion taken a few of the puck outs to at least get the ball further down the field??, should they have chanced paddy Purcell in the forwards for a chance of another goal?? . real missed opportunity to get to a final.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mad Mentor on November 17, 2019, 11:58:23 PM
Gutted for the lads. The quality on show from both teams was exceptional. It pains me to say it but the better team won. We failed to keep close enough tabs on Kavanagh and Doyle - not an easy task - and they got loose too many times which mainly did the damage. I think Ballyhale will have their hands full and I can't see TJ scoring 2:14 off them. The ferocity of their tackling was a big contributor today with very little room for our lads. Their ability to win the high ball was excellent. Hopefully they can now go all the way.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on November 18, 2019, 12:23:01 AM
Hard luck to RE. A fine team who really should have made more of a mark outside the county by now.

I didn't see them the last day, but a couple of observations on today;

1. They were absolutely obliterated in the air in the middle third of the field. I don't know if TV viewers can appreciate just how dominant the Carlow half forward line were in this regard.


2. RE have extremely skillful hurlers with real talent and an exiting style. But....this is November. The number of times they chose a "flick" pass off the hurl instead of a hand pass, or the receiver chose to control the pass on his hurl rather than taking it in his hand. These things may seem inconsequential, but This time of the year all of this extra milliseconds become the rocks on which your ship
perishes.

Not criticizing or nit picking. They put in a real honest effort, just feel the above needs to be pointed out. Interesting times ahead for RE. There is going to be some transition, they have the unity to get through that without standards dropping.
A real pity that 2019 hasn't ended with a Laois team contesting a Leinster Final.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on November 18, 2019, 08:22:31 AM
good year for r/e and laois hurling in general.  i taught roddy did not get involved as much as he shoulr for such a talented hurler, mark kavanagh head and shoulders above every1 else.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: The PRO on November 18, 2019, 10:30:12 AM
A pity the ref didn't pick up on the winning point being preceded by fouling the ball. Extra time was the least RE deserved.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on November 18, 2019, 11:24:34 AM
It was always going to be heartbreaking for whatever side lost yesterday. They were so well matched. The quality of the hurling was top class in general. The speed and skill on show from both teams was exceptional. Ultimately, the St. Mullins ability to win aerial ball was the difference. I actually thought it was Rathdowney Errill's best performance all year so they will be devastated to have come up so agonizingly short.

You have to admire St. Mullin's and Carlow hurling in general. They have a tiny pick and a very competitive senior championship. The quality of the hurling and hurlers they produce would compete for championships in Laois, Kilkenny or Wexford. James Doyle looked like All-Star material yesterday.

For Rathdowney Errill, clearly the best team in Laois this year and put their hearts and souls into representing the county in the Leinster championship and so close to making a final. They have a fabulous spread of hurlers but will need a plan for when players like Joe Fitz, Brian Campion and Shane Dollard eventually retire and the likes of Ross King etc head towards their thirties.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: LOVEGAA on November 18, 2019, 11:26:30 AM
A great display from R/E. Great game for this time of the year

They will be bitterly disappointed with the way it ended but they have had a fantastic year and represented the county with honesty and hard work and great hurling. They are a joy to watch and to see a game from start to finish with not one dirty stroke is a testament to 2 great teams .

Best of luck to St Mullins in the final.



Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 11:36:23 AM
Thoughts on this lads

With Mullins and Carlow teams taking part in the KK leagues,is it something laois clubs should look at?

Partake in kk or Tipp leagues?

It seems to have paid off for the carlow clubs
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on November 18, 2019, 12:02:34 PM
The Harps were in KK leagues at underage for a while and didn't go so well.

Can't imagine that KK or Tipp would want a slew of Laois teams in their leagues - what's in it for them?

If we want players playing at a high level in Laois we need to look harder at permanently combining clubs at minor, Intermediate and Senior level. Easier then to focus high quality coaching at underage.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 11:36:23 AM
Thoughts on this lads

With Mullins and Carlow teams taking part in the KK leagues,is it something laois clubs should look at?

Partake in kk or Tipp leagues?

It seems to have paid off for the carlow clubs

What league do they take part in?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 12:40:56 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 11:36:23 AM
Thoughts on this lads

With Mullins and Carlow teams taking part in the KK leagues,is it something laois clubs should look at?

Partake in kk or Tipp leagues?

It seems to have paid off for the carlow clubs

What league do they take part in?

http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/fixtures?compGroupID=61407&orderTBCLast=Y
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 12:45:34 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 18, 2019, 12:02:34 PM
The Harps were in KK leagues at underage for a while and didn't go so well.

Can't imagine that KK or Tipp would want a slew of Laois teams in their leagues - what's in it for them?

If we want players playing at a high level in Laois we need to look harder at permanently combining clubs at minor, Intermediate and Senior level. Easier then to focus high quality coaching at underage.

I'm not saying it's done in isolation,but if we want to compete with the best,the more often we play them across all levels and age groups.

Laois hurling is a mile behind Tipp and KK when it comes to coaching and S&C

And it's not a "slew" of laois clubs,you'd swear we had 50/60 hurling clubs,

We don't

Put 4 clubs into kk,4 into mid and 4 into the north divisions in Tipp

Kk have already welcomed the likes of Naas and Carlow clubs in for the league,no harm in asking them.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:57:29 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 12:40:56 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 11:36:23 AM
Thoughts on this lads

With Mullins and Carlow teams taking part in the KK leagues,is it something laois clubs should look at?

Partake in kk or Tipp leagues?

It seems to have paid off for the carlow clubs

What league do they take part in?

http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/fixtures?compGroupID=61407&orderTBCLast=Y

Thanks.  Is that a junior league?

I was once told there are 4 senior hurling clubs in Carlow.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Laois Rising on November 18, 2019, 01:50:06 PM
A more realistic target would be a midlands league involving the top clubs in Laois, Offaly and Westmeath. If Naas of Kildare wanted to come in on board I would open invite to them as well. It would add interest to the club scene. I honestly cannot see Kilkenny or Tipperary opening their doors to adding Laois sides to their county leagues. There are too many sides in Laois as well to try fit into another counties model. 

It was interesting to note how the St. Mullin's players in on the county panel have improved significantly as players over the last 12 months. I would suggest that having serious summer championship games in Leinster against the likes of Dublin, Kilkenny and Galway has really stood to them this year as their confidence, touch and physicality seemed to have upped again since I saw them in Joe McDonagh last year. It's a pity that they won't get the opportunity to put that gained experience into use in the Leinster championship next year.

That is my fear for laois as well next year. Gain huge experience from being involved in four Leinster championship games but if they are relegated then an inevitable backward step has to be taken the following year and opportunity to progress and put any learning into place is sadly lost.

 
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 02:29:45 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:57:29 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 12:40:56 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 11:36:23 AM
Thoughts on this lads

With Mullins and Carlow teams taking part in the KK leagues,is it something laois clubs should look at?

Partake in kk or Tipp leagues?

It seems to have paid off for the carlow clubs

What league do they take part in?

http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/fixtures?compGroupID=61407&orderTBCLast=Y

Thanks.  Is that a junior league?

I was once told there are 4 senior hurling clubs in Carlow.

There are
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 03:33:54 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 02:29:45 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:57:29 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 12:40:56 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 11:36:23 AM
Thoughts on this lads

With Mullins and Carlow teams taking part in the KK leagues,is it something laois clubs should look at?

Partake in kk or Tipp leagues?

It seems to have paid off for the carlow clubs

What league do they take part in?

http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/fixtures?compGroupID=61407&orderTBCLast=Y

Thanks.  Is that a junior league?

I was once told there are 4 senior hurling clubs in Carlow.

There are

But do they play in the KK senior hurling league?  Seems the teams they are playing against are junior type teams.

Agree, a midlands league with Kildare, Laois, Carlow and Westmeath might work.  Time to think outside the box in terms of promoting hurling and making it stronger in the 'less favoured' counties.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: burdizzo on November 18, 2019, 03:43:16 PM
A Leinster League used to operate (and perhaps still does?), but interest in it seemed to dwindle. Of course, not having county panellists involved takes away from it, as well.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on November 18, 2019, 04:02:01 PM
Quote from: burdizzo on November 18, 2019, 03:43:16 PM
A Leinster League used to operate (and perhaps still does?), but interest in it seemed to dwindle. Of course, not having county panellists involved takes away from it, as well.

Leinster league is a strange affair as teams tend to opt in and out and some counties didn't have their stronger clubs. Leagues are hard enough to get games played as they are and in reality, they are just leagues. Does anyone ever truly develop from playing league matches? Rathdowney Errill plodded through the league but were a different animal in the championship. All they realistically do is help you to get fit for the summer and improve touch.

If we want to improve club hurling in Laois I think the answer is in coaching and permanently combining clubs from weaker areas. Mainly though, it is in the coaching from U8-U14. If a lad is not flying at U-14, he is probably never going to be a good senior hurler. They don't get made later by coaching or exposing them to better hurlers. Can anyone think of exceptions? I bet they are few.

Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 05:22:25 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 03:33:54 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 02:29:45 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:57:29 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 12:40:56 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 11:36:23 AM
Thoughts on this lads

With Mullins and Carlow teams taking part in the KK leagues,is it something laois clubs should look at?

Partake in kk or Tipp leagues?

It seems to have paid off for the carlow clubs

What league do they take part in?

http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/fixtures?compGroupID=61407&orderTBCLast=Y

Thanks.  Is that a junior league?

I was once told there are 4 senior hurling clubs in Carlow.

There are

But do they play in the KK senior hurling league?  Seems the teams they are playing against are junior type teams.

Agree, a midlands league with Kildare, Laois, Carlow and Westmeath might work.  Time to think outside the box in terms of promoting hurling and making it stronger in the 'less favoured' counties.

Midlands league is a waste of time,there's been no buy in

Also our clubs Playing club teams who are from counties below us in the hurling firmament?

We need to be thinking about making the jump to top 6/8 counties at this stage

Abbeyleix playing Thurles or The Harps against Comer in games that matter would improve all our club hurlers over time.

We are fighting against a culture of defeat and apathy in laois as much as anything else
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Zooming around on November 18, 2019, 05:36:25 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 05:22:25 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 03:33:54 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 02:29:45 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:57:29 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 12:40:56 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 11:36:23 AM
Thoughts on this lads

With Mullins and Carlow teams taking part in the KK leagues,is it something laois clubs should look at?

Partake in kk or Tipp leagues?

It seems to have paid off for the carlow clubs

What league do they take part in?

http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/fixtures?compGroupID=61407&orderTBCLast=Y

Thanks.  Is that a junior league?

I was once told there are 4 senior hurling clubs in Carlow.

There are

But do they play in the KK senior hurling league?  Seems the teams they are playing against are junior type teams.

Agree, a midlands league with Kildare, Laois, Carlow and Westmeath might work.  Time to think outside the box in terms of promoting hurling and making it stronger in the 'less favoured' counties.

Midlands league is a waste of time,there's been no buy in

Also our clubs Playing club teams who are from counties below us in the hurling firmament?

We need to be thinking about making the jump to top 6/8 counties at this stage

Abbeyleix playing Thurles or The Harps against Comer in games that matter would improve all our club hurlers over time.

We are fighting against a culture of defeat and apathy in laois as much as anything else

Our U12 hurlers hurling in Kilkenny was a good idea. Certainly our club reaped the benefits from it. It is physically a much different game. The tackling is harder. It's a pity that it wasn't continued.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: SpeculativeEffort on November 18, 2019, 05:48:53 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 18, 2019, 04:02:01 PM
Quote from: burdizzo on November 18, 2019, 03:43:16 PM
A Leinster League used to operate (and perhaps still does?), but interest in it seemed to dwindle. Of course, not having county panellists involved takes away from it, as well.

Leinster league is a strange affair as teams tend to opt in and out and some counties didn't have their stronger clubs. Leagues are hard enough to get games played as they are and in reality, they are just leagues. Does anyone ever truly develop from playing league matches? Rathdowney Errill plodded through the league but were a different animal in the championship. All they realistically do is help you to get fit for the summer and improve touch.

If we want to improve club hurling in Laois I think the answer is in coaching and permanently combining clubs from weaker areas. Mainly though, it is in the coaching from U8-U14. If a lad is not flying at U-14, he is probably never going to be a good senior hurler. They don't get made later by coaching or exposing them to better hurlers. Can anyone think of exceptions? I bet they are few.

This sums up the attitude. Too much picking and choosing about which games are important. If 2 lads went out in the yard and competed for a ball for an hour every evening are you saying that they wouldnt improve? People need to develop an attitude of team and self improvement.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 06:55:36 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 18, 2019, 04:02:01 PM
Quote from: burdizzo on November 18, 2019, 03:43:16 PM
A Leinster League used to operate (and perhaps still does?), but interest in it seemed to dwindle. Of course, not having county panellists involved takes away from it, as well.

Leinster league is a strange affair as teams tend to opt in and out and some counties didn't have their stronger clubs. Leagues are hard enough to get games played as they are and in reality, they are just leagues. Does anyone ever truly develop from playing league matches? Rathdowney Errill plodded through the league but were a different animal in the championship. All they realistically do is help you to get fit for the summer and improve touch.

If we want to improve club hurling in Laois I think the answer is in coaching and permanently combining clubs from weaker areas. Mainly though, it is in the coaching from U8-U14. If a lad is not flying at U-14, he is probably never going to be a good senior hurler. They don't get made later by coaching or exposing them to better hurlers. Can anyone think of exceptions? I bet they are few.

If lads aren't "flying" by u14,he won't be a good senior hurler!!!!

Laughable comment

I hope to god your not involved in juvenile coaching

And FYI

Here's 5 hurlers that I saw when they were juveniles who weren't rated

I think they turned out ok

James McGarry
Derek Lyng
Lar Corbett
Seanie McMahon
Gearoid McInerney
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Blow-in on November 18, 2019, 06:58:12 PM
Players need to be exposed to games of higher quality especially at younger levels. We really need to use the success of the county team this year to create a tradition but I dont see our county board doing anything, so could we as a group come up with something realistic and simple. We currently have no hurling specific GDA in the county and the 2 supposed dual guys are certainly far from it.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 07:05:22 PM
Quote from: Zooming around on November 18, 2019, 05:36:25 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 05:22:25 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 03:33:54 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 02:29:45 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:57:29 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 12:40:56 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 11:36:23 AM
Thoughts on this lads

With Mullins and Carlow teams taking part in the KK leagues,is it something laois clubs should look at?

Partake in kk or Tipp leagues?

It seems to have paid off for the carlow clubs

What league do they take part in?

http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/fixtures?compGroupID=61407&orderTBCLast=Y

Thanks.  Is that a junior league?

I was once told there are 4 senior hurling clubs in Carlow.

There are

But do they play in the KK senior hurling league?  Seems the teams they are playing against are junior type teams.

Agree, a midlands league with Kildare, Laois, Carlow and Westmeath might work.  Time to think outside the box in terms of promoting hurling and making it stronger in the 'less favoured' counties.

Midlands league is a waste of time,there's been no buy in

Also our clubs Playing club teams who are from counties below us in the hurling firmament?

We need to be thinking about making the jump to top 6/8 counties at this stage

Abbeyleix playing Thurles or The Harps against Comer in games that matter would improve all our club hurlers over time.

We are fighting against a culture of defeat and apathy in laois as much as anything else

Our U12 hurlers hurling in Kilkenny was a good idea. Certainly our club reaped the benefits from it. It is physically a much different game. The tackling is harder. It's a pity that it wasn't continued.

I have seen laois u12 and u14 clubs playing challenge games against Tipp and kk opposition and being like rabbits in the headlights at the bite and intensity of these teams and how hard they hit (fairly in most cases,i might add)

But do you know what

By the time they have played a second or third game against teams from these counties in quick succession,they get conditioned and adapt

If you want to be the best,you test yourself against the best
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on November 19, 2019, 08:30:09 AM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 06:55:36 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 18, 2019, 04:02:01 PM
Quote from: burdizzo on November 18, 2019, 03:43:16 PM
A Leinster League used to operate (and perhaps still does?), but interest in it seemed to dwindle. Of course, not having county panellists involved takes away from it, as well.

Leinster league is a strange affair as teams tend to opt in and out and some counties didn't have their stronger clubs. Leagues are hard enough to get games played as they are and in reality, they are just leagues. Does anyone ever truly develop from playing league matches? Rathdowney Errill plodded through the league but were a different animal in the championship. All they realistically do is help you to get fit for the summer and improve touch.

If we want to improve club hurling in Laois I think the answer is in coaching and permanently combining clubs from weaker areas. Mainly though, it is in the coaching from U8-U14. If a lad is not flying at U-14, he is probably never going to be a good senior hurler. They don't get made later by coaching or exposing them to better hurlers. Can anyone think of exceptions? I bet they are few.

If lads aren't "flying" by u14,he won't be a good senior hurler!!!!

Laughable comment

I hope to god your not involved in juvenile coaching

And FYI

Here's 5 hurlers that I saw when they were juveniles who weren't rated

I think they turned out ok

James McGarry
Derek Lyng
Lar Corbett
Seanie McMahon
Gearoid McInerney

Players that weren't rated is very very different from players that weren't good enough. I'll bet you every one of the players above had all the skills of the game at 15 or 16 years of age. If you look at each of them in fact you will find that they were successful underage hurlers. Yes, I have been heavily involved in underage hurling coaching and still am occasionally. This is why I am so passionate about the fact that if a lad doesn't have all the skills at U14 then the only real development they do afterwards in physical and they add cuteness. If a chap can't strike a ball on the run from both sides at 14 or rise a ball at speed in a ruck then they won't in later life. Their skills have become embedded by then and where they might get a bit sharper they don't fundamentally improve. Pat Critchley said the same himself a few years ago managing Laois minor teams. All the coaching in the world from 16-18 won't fix what wasn't right earlier. Paudie Butler, who oversaw Tipp's underage system for years said the same when he came to Laois.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 19, 2019, 08:51:14 AM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 19, 2019, 08:30:09 AM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 06:55:36 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 18, 2019, 04:02:01 PM
Quote from: burdizzo on November 18, 2019, 03:43:16 PM
A Leinster League used to operate (and perhaps still does?), but interest in it seemed to dwindle. Of course, not having county panellists involved takes away from it, as well.

Leinster league is a strange affair as teams tend to opt in and out and some counties didn't have their stronger clubs. Leagues are hard enough to get games played as they are and in reality, they are just leagues. Does anyone ever truly develop from playing league matches? Rathdowney Errill plodded through the league but were a different animal in the championship. All they realistically do is help you to get fit for the summer and improve touch.

If we want to improve club hurling in Laois I think the answer is in coaching and permanently combining clubs from weaker areas. Mainly though, it is in the coaching from U8-U14. If a lad is not flying at U-14, he is probably never going to be a good senior hurler. They don't get made later by coaching or exposing them to better hurlers. Can anyone think of exceptions? I bet they are few.

If lads aren't "flying" by u14,he won't be a good senior hurler!!!!

Laughable comment

I hope to god your not involved in juvenile coaching

And FYI

Here's 5 hurlers that I saw when they were juveniles who weren't rated

I think they turned out ok

James McGarry
Derek Lyng
Lar Corbett
Seanie McMahon
Gearoid McInerney

Players that weren't rated is very very different from players that weren't good enough. I'll bet you every one of the players above had all the skills of the game at 15 or 16 years of age. If you look at each of them in fact you will find that they were successful underage hurlers. Yes, I have been heavily involved in underage hurling coaching and still am occasionally. This is why I am so passionate about the fact that if a lad doesn't have all the skills at U14 then the only real development they do afterwards in physical and they add cuteness. If a chap can't strike a ball on the run from both sides at 14 or rise a ball at speed in a ruck then they won't in later life. Their skills have become embedded by then and where they might get a bit sharper they don't fundamentally improve. Pat Critchley said the same himself a few years ago managing Laois minor teams. All the coaching in the world from 16-18 won't fix what wasn't right earlier. Paudie Butler, who oversaw Tipp's underage system for years said the same when he came to Laois.


"They were successful underage hurlers"

Actually they weren't because none of them got with an asses roar of county minor panels when they were eligible.

Lads develop at different stages and need to be keep within the respective club systems and not discarded at 14

You'd swear we were so flush with hurlers in Laois that we could do this when the opposite is the case.

The reality here is that in juvenile coaching and development isn't at the level that it's at in the top 8 counties.

Witness our county champions killing the ball on the Hurley last Sunday when it should be in the hand every time
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: marty34 on November 19, 2019, 09:27:01 AM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 19, 2019, 08:51:14 AM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 19, 2019, 08:30:09 AM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 06:55:36 PM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 18, 2019, 04:02:01 PM
Quote from: burdizzo on November 18, 2019, 03:43:16 PM
A Leinster League used to operate (and perhaps still does?), but interest in it seemed to dwindle. Of course, not having county panellists involved takes away from it, as well.

Leinster league is a strange affair as teams tend to opt in and out and some counties didn't have their stronger clubs. Leagues are hard enough to get games played as they are and in reality, they are just leagues. Does anyone ever truly develop from playing league matches? Rathdowney Errill plodded through the league but were a different animal in the championship. All they realistically do is help you to get fit for the summer and improve touch.

If we want to improve club hurling in Laois I think the answer is in coaching and permanently combining clubs from weaker areas. Mainly though, it is in the coaching from U8-U14. If a lad is not flying at U-14, he is probably never going to be a good senior hurler. They don't get made later by coaching or exposing them to better hurlers. Can anyone think of exceptions? I bet they are few.

If lads aren't "flying" by u14,he won't be a good senior hurler!!!!

Laughable comment

I hope to god your not involved in juvenile coaching

And FYI

Here's 5 hurlers that I saw when they were juveniles who weren't rated

I think they turned out ok

James McGarry
Derek Lyng
Lar Corbett
Seanie McMahon
Gearoid McInerney

Players that weren't rated is very very different from players that weren't good enough. I'll bet you every one of the players above had all the skills of the game at 15 or 16 years of age. If you look at each of them in fact you will find that they were successful underage hurlers. Yes, I have been heavily involved in underage hurling coaching and still am occasionally. This is why I am so passionate about the fact that if a lad doesn't have all the skills at U14 then the only real development they do afterwards in physical and they add cuteness. If a chap can't strike a ball on the run from both sides at 14 or rise a ball at speed in a ruck then they won't in later life. Their skills have become embedded by then and where they might get a bit sharper they don't fundamentally improve. Pat Critchley said the same himself a few years ago managing Laois minor teams. All the coaching in the world from 16-18 won't fix what wasn't right earlier. Paudie Butler, who oversaw Tipp's underage system for years said the same when he came to Laois.


"They were successful underage hurlers"

Actually they weren't because none of them got with an asses roar of county minor panels when they were eligible.

Lads develop at different stages and need to be keep within the respective club systems and not discarded at 14

You'd swear we were so flush with hurlers in Laois that we could do this when the opposite is the case.

The reality here is that in juvenile coaching and development isn't at the level that it's at in the top 8 counties.

Witness our county champions killing the ball on the Hurley last Sunday when it should be in the hand every time

All young lads want is regular hurling games - regardless of opposition and where it's played. Give them a match every week.  That's where the learning comes from.

Players develop at different ages - most important thing to give them games.  More chance of them staying at it if they are getting regular games.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: blueandwhite1 on November 19, 2019, 09:38:53 AM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 07:05:22 PM
Quote from: Zooming around on November 18, 2019, 05:36:25 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 05:22:25 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 03:33:54 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 02:29:45 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:57:29 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 12:40:56 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 11:36:23 AM
Thoughts on this lads

With Mullins and Carlow teams taking part in the KK leagues,is it something laois clubs should look at?

Partake in kk or Tipp leagues?

It seems to have paid off for the carlow clubs

What league do they take part in?

http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/fixtures?compGroupID=61407&orderTBCLast=Y

Thanks.  Is that a junior league?

I was once told there are 4 senior hurling clubs in Carlow.

There are

But do they play in the KK senior hurling league?  Seems the teams they are playing against are junior type teams.

Agree, a midlands league with Kildare, Laois, Carlow and Westmeath might work.  Time to think outside the box in terms of promoting hurling and making it stronger in the 'less favoured' counties.

Midlands league is a waste of time,there's been no buy in

Also our clubs Playing club teams who are from counties below us in the hurling firmament?

We need to be thinking about making the jump to top 6/8 counties at this stage

Abbeyleix playing Thurles or The Harps against Comer in games that matter would improve all our club hurlers over time.

We are fighting against a culture of defeat and apathy in laois as much as anything else

Our U12 hurlers hurling in Kilkenny was a good idea. Certainly our club reaped the benefits from it. It is physically a much different game. The tackling is harder. It's a pity that it wasn't continued.

I have seen laois u12 and u14 clubs playing challenge games against Tipp and kk opposition and being like rabbits in the headlights at the bite and intensity of these teams and how hard they hit (fairly in most cases,i might add)

But do you know what

By the time they have played a second or third game against teams from these counties in quick succession,they get conditioned and adapt

If you want to be the best,you test yourself against the best

It doesn't hurt to get these exposures from time to time to measure where a team are. I still don't believe it is practical or even desirable long term for some Laois clubs to be playing their hurling in other counties. For a start, what about the rest? Addressing our problems can't come down to outsourcing to a rival county. What if it works - are the host county likely to want to continue to help?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 19, 2019, 10:40:03 AM
Quote from: blueandwhite1 on November 19, 2019, 09:38:53 AM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 07:05:22 PM
Quote from: Zooming around on November 18, 2019, 05:36:25 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 05:22:25 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 03:33:54 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 02:29:45 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:57:29 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 12:40:56 PM
Quote from: marty34 on November 18, 2019, 12:07:42 PM
Quote from: clonadmad on November 18, 2019, 11:36:23 AM
Thoughts on this lads

With Mullins and Carlow teams taking part in the KK leagues,is it something laois clubs should look at?

Partake in kk or Tipp leagues?

It seems to have paid off for the carlow clubs

What league do they take part in?

http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/fixtures?compGroupID=61407&orderTBCLast=Y

Thanks.  Is that a junior league?

I was once told there are 4 senior hurling clubs in Carlow.

There are

But do they play in the KK senior hurling league?  Seems the teams they are playing against are junior type teams.

Agree, a midlands league with Kildare, Laois, Carlow and Westmeath might work.  Time to think outside the box in terms of promoting hurling and making it stronger in the 'less favoured' counties.

Midlands league is a waste of time,there's been no buy in

Also our clubs Playing club teams who are from counties below us in the hurling firmament?

We need to be thinking about making the jump to top 6/8 counties at this stage

Abbeyleix playing Thurles or The Harps against Comer in games that matter would improve all our club hurlers over time.

We are fighting against a culture of defeat and apathy in laois as much as anything else

Our U12 hurlers hurling in Kilkenny was a good idea. Certainly our club reaped the benefits from it. It is physically a much different game. The tackling is harder. It's a pity that it wasn't continued.

I have seen laois u12 and u14 clubs playing challenge games against Tipp and kk opposition and being like rabbits in the headlights at the bite and intensity of these teams and how hard they hit (fairly in most cases,i might add)

But do you know what

By the time they have played a second or third game against teams from these counties in quick succession,they get conditioned and adapt

If you want to be the best,you test yourself against the best

It doesn't hurt to get these exposures from time to time to measure where a team are. I still don't believe it is practical or even desirable long term for some Laois clubs to be playing their hurling in other counties. For a start, what about the rest? Addressing our problems can't come down to outsourcing to a rival county. What if it works - are the host county likely to want to continue to help?

They wouldnt be playing all their hurling outside the county,just the league

Clubs wouldnt be playing their leagues outside the county every year,they could do it every second year.

Bottom Line

A radical rethink of where we want Laois hurling to go is needed,the same old same old hasnt worked in the past 125 years,I wont work for the next 125.

some outside the box thinking is required
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Neutralobserver on November 23, 2019, 08:44:53 AM
Do the harps take part in this kk league?  If sois it doing them any good as they cant seem to make the next step up at senior or is it just a bit soon for them players?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on November 27, 2019, 03:16:33 PM
Personally, I don't think looking to KK or Tipp leagues is the answer to our problems. Coaching standards in the clubs, followed by deciding on a Development Squad model that best fits our situation are the two key factors.
There is a need to facilitate dual players at least as far as U16 in county squads. It shouldn't be left to the whim of county managers from code to code or year to year.

We need strong underage teams, competing in the A where possible.
But we also need a decent number of teams competing. Where clubs are viable entities underage (in general) they should be discouraged from bed hopping at selected grades to make themselves stronger. Drop back to the B for that year/grade. If the club is that small that it finds itself in this position, the stronger players will most likely be playing up a grade anyways and get exposure that way.
We can't keep shrinking under the guise of "improving the standards in the county". Do we want to end up like Carlow? Or camogie in Laois?

The Development Squads issue is of huge importance. We need to establish what our culture, playing style and operational values are. At least for each code if not as a county. Is there anybody (or group of people) tackling this issue. Other counties have excellent people in a role like this. Overseeing those at each grade level. Have we?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: clonadmad on November 27, 2019, 04:10:35 PM
Quote from: Keyser Söze on November 27, 2019, 03:16:33 PM
Personally, I don't think looking to KK or Tipp leagues is the answer to our problems. Coaching standards in the clubs, followed by deciding on a Development Squad model that best fits our situation are the two key factors.
There is a need to facilitate dual players at least as far as U16 in county squads. It shouldn't be left to the whim of county managers from code to code or year to year.

We need strong underage teams, competing in the A where possible.
But we also need a decent number of teams competing. Where clubs are viable entities underage (in general) they should be discouraged from bed hopping at selected grades to make themselves stronger. Drop back to the B for that year/grade. If the club is that small that it finds itself in this position, the stronger players will most likely be playing up a grade anyways and get exposure that way.
We can't keep shrinking under the guise of "improving the standards in the county". Do we want to end up like Carlow? Or camogie in Laois?

The Development Squads issue is of huge importance. We need to establish what our culture, playing style and operational values are. At least for each code if not as a county. Is there anybody (or group of people) tackling this issue. Other counties have excellent people in a role like this. Overseeing those at each grade level. Have we?

I wasn't suggesting that going to Tipp or Kk would be the magic bullet to cure all our illsbut it would be an eye opener as to where we need to be in terms of developing our younger players.

We need to have everyone hurling that we can in every club and bring along and not lose anyone

Short term amalgamations need to be stopped

A juvenile division should have 15 players,13 if both teams agreeable and those numbers there

B division similar rules

C division have rule for 13 players and 11 min if both teams agreeable and teams are caught for numbers


The C division and it doesn't have to be called the C division (call the division's after 3  of our notable players) is there to facilitate 2nd teams from the bigger clubs and first teams from the smaller clubs

In Tipp it goes as low as an E division

Ballyhale hurl juvenile in C in kk,which 11/13 a side due to their numbers

It hasn't done them any harm

We need to have everyone regardless of their current ability playing meaningful games all the time.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Keyser Söze on November 27, 2019, 11:26:09 PM
I agree with a lot of that.
For example (and I don't want to be talking about them all the time) but was it better that Clough Ballacolla/Mountrath joined and won a Minor A last year, or would it have been better that both those clubs cobbled together 15 for the A or worse case scenario put out 13 a side teams in the B? I think this is a key question, and this was a real test case.
I don't think their coming together identified any new talent or brought anyone on leaps in bounds. A huge number of their starting 15 were already in with Development Squads. It's nothing against the two clubs involved, it's the principle of what happened, and an examination of what our values are as clubs, and as a county. I know people have posted here before that they were very short in numbers etc. But there are obvious solutions- your under 15s/16s and worse case, drop back to 13 a side B. Hell, there is always the option of trawling the parish, and finding a few fellas to make up 13/15. I know of a club who have gained access (through a cooperative principal) to old primary school roll books to check if they were missing out on anyone.
It's highly unlikely that any of these coerced fellas will go on to be stars, but if it maintains (or increases) the number of competitive juvenile teams in the county they are fulfilling a vital role.

Again, what is the stated ethos of our underage development squads? Is there a definite structure to how they are run? Or is it up to me if I get the job as U15 Hurling Manager to decide how I run my squad. Thus, my attitude and organisation has a lasting effect on the minor squad in two years time, whether positive or negative. Do I pick a small panel and decide they are the 2022 minor team? Some foresight!
I'm not suggesting people have no freedom as management teams. But if we are asking people who are applying for these jobs (or being proposed for them) to lay out their plan we have it backwards.
A steering group should be in situ who lay out how our various development squads should operate. Panel sizes, what tournaments we enter and how many teams. When (if at all) panels are cut.
If a steering group comprising people of the calibre of Cheddar, Pat, Jackman etc decide on a plan and best course of action, aspiring management teams should be bound to these in some way.
Obviously the above would be ideal candidates for such a group, but this group should exist as a key strategic element of our future proofing, there are plenty of experienced and respected people who could sit on it.
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on November 28, 2019, 01:59:40 AM
I'm trying to decide whether or not to get up at 5:30 am this Sunday morning, here, to watch the Leinster Club Senior Hurling Final. Will it be a crackin' match or will it be a score of doe-eyed lads running head-long into a buzz saw?
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: LOVEGAA on November 28, 2019, 12:36:51 PM
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on November 28, 2019, 01:59:40 AM
I'm trying to decide whether or not to get up at 5:30 am this Sunday morning, here, to watch the Leinster Club Senior Hurling Final. Will it be a crackin' match or will it be a score of doe-eyed lads running head-long into a buzz saw?


Mossy it will be worth getting up at that time just to see TJ Reid in action
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: Mossy Bruce on November 28, 2019, 04:34:56 PM
Quote from: LOVEGAA on November 28, 2019, 12:36:51 PM
Quote from: Mossy Bruce on November 28, 2019, 01:59:40 AM
I'm trying to decide whether or not to get up at 5:30 am this Sunday morning, here, to watch the Leinster Club Senior Hurling Final. Will it be a crackin' match or will it be a score of doe-eyed lads running head-long into a buzz saw?


Mossy it will be worth getting up at that time just to see TJ Reid in action
I didn't think about that. You're right!
Title: Re: Laois Senior Hurling Championship 2019
Post by: South Laois man on November 28, 2019, 05:47:10 PM
The hurling on Sunday is not been shown live. It's been shown deferred.