Laois SHC 2023

[SpeculativeEffort]

Definitely some reason for optimism after those two cracking semi finals.

Brilliant to see new teams coming to the table with Abbeyleix, Castletown and The Harps showing green shoots this year. Its a real pity that BK have gone off the boil. If we had C/B,R/E, Abbeyleix, Camross, Castletown, The Harps, Borris Kilcotton, Rosenallis and maybe even Portlaoise all contending surely it would only be good for hurling within the county.

Hard luck to C/B. Super club, great champions but all things come to an end eventually.

[Laois Rising]

The partnership between Ballyroan and Abbeyleix over the last number of year has served both clubs well and starting to pay rich dividends at senior level. By having lads from Abbeyleix playing football with Ballyroan and lads from Ballyroan having the option of hurling with Abbeyleix its has resulted in clubs having big numbers and competitive teams coming up through the juvenile ranks, created bonds between players who have had a taste for success and now a desire to bring that to senior level.

Some of the lads coming through with Abbeyleix have been involved in excellent underage set ups for both football and hurling. I think this model also shows the benefits of having kids regularly in the field (be it football or hurling) creating strong bonds and forging friendships. These bonds will carry through to the senior team and you have no doubt that Abbeyleix players will give it their all for one another on the field of play. Lads like Ciaran Byrne, Lawson Obulor, Shaun Fitzpatrick and two or three others have won U20 titles together in both football and hurling. They may fall short against Camross but this does not feel like a flash in the pan for this Abbeyleix side. They are also a youthful side who can only improve over next couple of years.

Surely this model that Abbeyleix and Ballyroan could be replicated by other clubs. The benefits are there for all to see. I'm thinking a club like Ballinakill who do at times struggle numbers wise would benefit from forging a similar type partnership with a strong football only club and give it the time to develop. Both clubs would benefit from the influx of players. The players would benefit from having the higher numbers which would improve the standard of training. The extra coaching in both football and hurling would benefit the development of the children's skillsets etc.   I remember Ballinakill and Crettyard amalgamating at underage level once upon a time under some Gaels name and winning a few underage football titles before it fell apart. In hindsight they should have remained separate entities but worked in partnership over a number of years to introduce kids from Crettyard to playing hurling and playing with Ballinakill while the Ballinakill kids playing football with Crettyard. It would take a little hard work and organisation but it could have benefitted both clubs hugely. Imagine having Evan O'Carroll as a hurler and Ciaran Burke lining out for Ballinakill instead of The Harps.

   

[Laois man]

Any update on who our senior intercounty hurling backroom team is yet?

[Blow-in]

Any update on who our senior intercounty hurling backroom team is yet?

I have heard they can't get anyone. Don't know how true but very disappointing if it is true.

[Spiritof1915]

Best wishes to both teams this Sunday and indeed the minor hurlers.
Big day for Abbeyleix. Hopefully we'll get a good exhibition of hurling
Camross by 5 for me

[Verbal]

What a day for Trumera.
There must be some pride in rigging out in a final against a combined Colt/Shanahoe side.
The three battled away in the 1990s at Junior & Intermediate.
Things swung one way & another.
They have battled on throughout.

Tomorrow - Abbeyleix have a huge amount going for them. I've been saying that for the last two months.
They have really surprised me in this year's championship. But they are here to stay.
Camross should manage the situation as they have shown they are able to unlike most others. Expect agression & hits early on.
Camross' bench won the semi final for them. It'll make a difference here too.
Camross by 6.

[burdizzo]

Maybe Abbeyleix will be here to stay, and maybe the nerves of a first county final got to them, but they've a good bit of learning to do. Camross just did the basics well. Nothing too fancy - except Mossy Keyes, 3-6 from play! Not bad. Abbeyleix missed a rake of chances in the first half, some from easy frees. It was a pity to see them go down so tame, and I fancy Camross will be beat by Naas in the Leinster championship. Still, you have to admire Camross. Some say they should never have beaten C/B, but they did, and here we are.

[G@@]

The Harps and Abbeyleix served up some minor final today, eleven goals really gave great entertainment. Can see these two squads dominating for a few years yet.
It wasn't to be Abbeyleix's day and kinda bit deflating for them to lose both games by margins of 12pts and 16pts.
Thought Camross were very commanding in the senior final and the hooking, harrying and passing from them was clinical. I thought that they fine weather would have suited Abbeyleix more but the first touch, wasted wides and wayward passing killed their ambitions.
Whilst disappointed today one would hope that the Abbeyleix squad will want to go harder next year and get back into the final to redeem themselves. Abbeyleix have a window of a few years to grab a title as the top teams are regressing and the younger teams are progressing.

[Laois man]

Camross had game over after 15 mins shocking poor final Aleix way off the pace

[redsetanta]

Tough on Abbelyleix. All the talk was on them before the final and nothing about Camross as such. The Abbeyleix lads will be feeling like shite today i'd say. Never turned up and were well neaten in a very one sided final.

[Spiritof1915]

Camross were never going to lose that game, especially after last year's no show.
Abbeyleix were poor. Game was effectively over after 5 mins. Was it nerves or being over hyped. Maybe a bit of both. 

[Helix.]

Camross were never going to lose that game, especially after last year's no show.
Abbeyleix were poor. Game was effectively over after 5 mins. Was it nerves or being over hyped. Maybe a bit of both. 

Just watched back the final on Clubber. Camross were fairly ruthless and game was over after 10-15 mins realistically. Abbeyleix will hopefully learn quickly for their sake and will be first of many senior finals over next few years.
Heard the minor final was very entertaining as curtain raiser.
Abbeyleix will probably be more likely to win an intermediate title than a senior over next 2-3 years with crop coming through and a decent side regardless.

Has there been any more talk on a hurling revamp to 10 teams at senior and below or is it just mere pub talk?

Ballyfin Portlaoise will be a close game in Premier Intermediate though will do very little once promoted.

[burdizzo]

Heard the minor final was very entertaining as curtain raiser.


Ballyfin Portlaoise will be a close game in Premier Intermediate though will do very little once promoted.

Yes, the minor final was entertaining, but some of the defending was atrocious - and the goalkeeping (on both sides) pretty shaky, too.

I'd say Portlaoise would be better able for senior ranks. Hopefully give a boost to hurling in the town.

[Verbal]

Colt Shanahoe v Trumera
You'd imagine that Colt Shanahoe should have too much at the second time of asking. Is Keyes around does anyone know?
Trumera keep surprising us.

Ballyfin v Portlaoise
An interesting one here. Portlaoise like to dictate things and play in a very set manner. Interesting to see if they can get into their groove next Sunday.
They are hard to stop once the scores start rolling. They look well prepared and have an intent in how they wish to go about things.
Ballyfin are quite dogged, look well set up too and will certainly get in amongst Portlaoise.
Finn, Lanham, Lyons, Darragh Connolly all bring a high level of aggression and physicality.

It will come down to whether Portlaoise can get it going moving the ball from line to line with runners and short stick passes. Or can Ballyfin disrupt this.
The weather could play a part in answering this question too.

[Spiritof1915]

Colt Shanahoe v Trumera
You'd imagine that Colt Shanahoe should have too much at the second time of asking. Is Keyes around does anyone know?
Trumera keep surprising us.

Ballyfin v Portlaoise
An interesting one here. Portlaoise like to dictate things and play in a very set manner. Interesting to see if they can get into their groove next Sunday.
They are hard to stop once the scores start rolling. They look well prepared and have an intent in how they wish to go about things.
Ballyfin are quite dogged, look well set up too and will certainly get in amongst Portlaoise.
Finn, Lanham, Lyons, Darragh Connolly all bring a high level of aggression and physicality.

It will come down to whether Portlaoise can get it going moving the ball from line to line with runners and short stick passes. Or can Ballyfin disrupt this.
The weather could play a part in answering this question too.

Good summary. I think ballyfin will be hard to break down. They have a very formidable back line.