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I don't think Down will be too bad. Lost 4 games in the league last year but only lost to Offaly by 3 and Kerry by 1. I'm not sure what their prep has been like this year and I understand that Trevor Fletcher joined their backroom recently enough. Laois should win but wouldn't totally dismiss Down. Often the so-called inferior teams do well in the early stages of the league (when pitches are heaviest and especially if they have a good block done pre-Christmas and some games played after it) and do less well later in the year.

Hope it goes well for him and he can balance the workload. Not an easy task in the context of him managing a League of Ireland Football Club as well.

Eamon Kelly put decent structures in place around S & C, Nutrition, Team Doctor, Rehab Physio, occasional sessions with a sports psychologist and so on. In winter 2017 to spring 2018 they put in a serious block of S & C and only for it probably would not have stayed in 1B. From what I know it was new to most of the panel at the time. I'm not sure it is fair to say that a professional gave questionable advice. The S & C / Nutritionist (at least the one that finished the season in 2018) is very well qualified and well thought of in Leinster/National GAA circles.  Brennan definitely built on this the following year. The fellas that have stayed on the panel throughout (and true some of these are the best players) have seen the benefit. The problem as has been eluded to is the guys that hurl at that level every other year. Its almost impossible to make the gains necessary to compete at the top level if you don't stay at it. Consistency is the key.

I know of hurling coach, living in Co Laois. Has won club championships in his native county at Senior, u20, minor level. Has intercounty experience coaching at senior and u20 level. Wrote to county board a couple of years back saying he was willing to help out with a team but never got a reply.

Isn't Clough-Ballacolla an amalgamation? They don't seem to be doing too bad to me....

Well known, as a good hurling coach among hurling people. Former Tipp minor captain. Beyond Tipp Minor, Tipp u21 he was a selector under Derek McGrath in Waterford in 2014. Managed Cuala to 2 Dublin titles back to back in 2019 and 2020. Has been linked with Tipp and Dublin jobs in the past but has been overlooked. Currently with Bennettsbridge in Kilkenny and they seem to be going fine under him. Hes young (43) and has a good reputation as a coach. Can't comment on inter-county management ability but Laois could do much worse that Willie Maher in my view.

should read Dublin 8 and Clare 8 in that last post...not sure where the sunglasses came from....!

Totally agree. No way Brennan will be back in Laois from both perspectives I'd say. He had a very good first year getting a bounce with the team, winning the Joe Mc and v Dublin in Portlaoise and Tipp in Croke Park. Average year 2. In the league : Lost to Wex (11), Dub (, Clare (, KK (9), beating only Carlow (1). Lost in Championship to Dublin (14). One decent performance in qualifiers v Clare where Laois ran them to a point. Clare had a man sent off and stopped hurling if memory serves me.
It didn't go to plan in Cuala.

For now Cheddar is in charge of Laois and the entire group needs our support, now more than ever. Crucial that they can get as many as the lads as possible fit and ready to go v Westmeath. Very important to stay up so that the new man coming in (if there is one) has something to build towards.

Poor stuff. Laois far more competitive in the league under Brennan and Eamonn Kelly. Yes Kelly. I remember going and seeing decent performances away to Limerick in 2018 (who went on to win All Ireland), home to Galway under lights a few weeks later ( All Ireland champions at the time) when they should have beaten them. Good pattern to their play and very competitive. Yes the Joe McDonagh was poor under him but Laois have been decent enough in the League for the past 5/6 years. At least competitive, this was terrible. A big reaction needed by the entire group the next day out.

It would be a little easier if they are still missing their 4 best hurlers the next day - Prunty, De Burca, Barron and O'Mahony.

Have to agree with Joey, the first half performance came from nowhere in terms of recent form. Played at a different level to anything we've seen this year. And they were set up better from the off as well. Well done to the players and management who reacted well to a very heavy Wexford defeat.
A good performance the next day v Clare, Cork or whoever and carry that display into WM. Would be a positive way to end a difficult season.

Laois tactics last weekend were nothing short of nuts. Giving up possession (and try to play on the break) against the team with the most mobile, running style in the country. And to persist with it was nearly as bad. It never gave our team a hope. Someone in the 'young,vibrant, impressive' management team weren't doing their job or if they did, it wasn't heeded. Wexford on the other hand clearly took on board Niall Corcorans insight and targeted certain Laois players and sectors. The difference was stark.

Shocking is right but not unexpected. Carried the terrible league form into the championship. Only hope now is to get one decent performance this year v Antrim to try and retain championship status. That would give Laois another game as prep to try and retain league status v Westmeath.

Not sure I'd be as optimistic as some are on a few of the names for the backroom that are being bandied about, Fran Forde excepted. Hard to see two keepers working together either if both PJ Ryan & Cummins are involved as has been indicated here. But I guess you'd never know and it is all speculation at this stage. It will take time for Cheddar to gel it together and time (with the squad) is going to be a scarce resource in 2021 if the GAA stick to proposed calendar and return to activity doesn't start until, say March. At least everyone will be in the same boat...

History? Jesus H C...! Who wants history....we need forward- looking, future-looking, innovative people involved. Did Mickey Harte have history behind him, or Jim McGuinness? We only need a handful (with the right structures in place) and things can improve quickly. A few like John Kiely would be great. (he had no history behind him), but they are hard to come by for sure.
You cant stop trying - Cavan & Tipp footballers didn't anyway and they are provincial champions this year. We cant settle for the status quo even if many would like to see it preserved.
We have to strive for improvement and to better ourselves at all levels.