Messages

[Name that player]

Very same as David Conway last week, cowardly diving trying to get players sent off. Name that player, let everyone know who is at this disgusting and cowardly behavior and that might help to cut out this stuff.
Referees are going to have to wise up to this "tactic" and start punishing the real perpetrators. If we name these guys we will build up a black list that no player will want to join.
We already have last weeks sending off overturned by appeal which proves that Conway took a dive so if this case deserves to be appealed let Port do it and out these divers for once and for all before it spreads like a virus in the county.

Ease up there on the self righteous judge and jury act. Seriously. Bottom line appears to be in these cases- don't raise your hands to strike someone!
Not condoning feigning injury, but don't anonymously post on internet discussion boards baying for blood and looking to name and shame amateur players for petty enough stuff.

[It's more a walkover]

Castletown Slieve Bloom pulled out causing that bye. It's more a walkover technically!

Slieve Bloom Castletown technically!

Castletown Slieve Bloom pulled out causing that bye. It's more a walkover technically!

Phew!

[Losers side: O'Dempseys (Bye)]

Laois Shopping Centre JFC draw: Winners side: Barrowhouse v Rosenallis; St Joseph's v Park/Rath; B'roan Abbey v Port; The Heath v Ballylinan Losers side: O'Dempseys (Bye); Mountmellick v Portlaoise; The Rock v Graiguecullen; The Harps v Stradbally

Is this a Bye I see?
In the 2nd Round is it?

Am I missing something?! 

B/K surprised me tonight I would have to say.
Very mature performance.

I can see quarter final wins for R/E and Ballinakill.
Leaving semi finals of Camross v R/E and B/K v Ballinakill.
Hard not to see a third meeting between R/E & B/K before the year is out!

Thats the league basically, every county has a league and a championship. I mean 1 or 2 day tournaments, with teams from various counties like they had in the 60s and 70s.
Just a thought is all!

Good idea. And would ye be wanting county players made available for this?!

Its across the board.

I'd imagine that it's totally unrealistic to think that the age old tradition of minor championships being U18 is going to be changed in the next 3/4 months.

[better looking]

Chris Conway?

Billy Sheehan?

Need someone a bit older, wiser and better looking.

Ah I get you now, but I dunno can we afford him.......http://inpho.ie/media/6-RPNGrhD7OzphkpaFIUmw..a?wosid=4wGNxzzekGkVUX7yIva2pg&woinst=5&ts=VzCfbStQuCmuKYbVMYdDq-NEPBbeTdDjfQBuPPjwd-c.a

i think there should be more tournaments for adult teams to enter like there was back in the day. that would give the likes of Ballyfin/Colt/Clonaslee a chance at good hard games of a higher grade and be up against teams from other counties.

Isn't the Palmer Cup for this sort of thing? There were more walkovers than games this year!

[getting the best out of what he has]

It has to be a man that knows Laois football, not someone high profile, someone who has experience getting the best out of what he has. Preferably someone who's played the game and knows the score. To get the best out our attacking options he should have played as an attacker. A skillful, stylish corner forward who was strong and powerful would be perfect.
Only one man for the job.

Billy Sheehan?

Good points Uisce.


BUT as I stated earlier the current Top 9 are going to remain as the teams that make up the SHC participants and the SHC 'A' (when was this rebranded?) winner for many years to come.

Only possible alternative is if SHC 'A' favourites slip up badly in the semi finals some year. An earlier slip up under the current structure would do nothing but guarantee they regrouped and won the championship.

Yes, but Ballinakill going down the previous year was a major surprise. And as stated above re this year and next years championship, they were never going to be beaten last year.

The 8 Senior teams in 2015 plus Portlaoise are on a different level to the rest.
8 out of this 9 will make up the Senior championship and the other will win the Senior B for the next ten years.

1. Borris Kilcotton took a huge set back failing to beat an badly understrenght Rathdowney Errill.

2. Camross are ticking along BUT I do not think they have the overall quality. In 2013 they won a surprise county final. The general public (and I think opposition teams) underestimated them time and again. This surprise factor is gone. I don't see them winning a final. But on the other hand who will beat them.

3. Rathdowney Errill, tipping along. Sunday was a quiet boost to the club in general. A win the next day and they would most likely avoid B/K in a semi final. With Camross on the opposite side they wouldn't be beaten in a semi final.

4. Clough Ballacolla are (IMO) a team in a bit of a crisis, and I'm not sure they realise it. The Harps were beaten before the game began the other day. Many of their bigger players play as total individuals. There is no sign of it being addressed?

5. Ballinakill did not look like they believed they could beat Camross. They will be glad they are not in a relegation battle and I'd imagine the belief and desire for 2015 is on the wane. One more day out and will probably put up a decent showing.

6. Abbeyleix have been a little overhyped over the past 12 months. I reckon Ballinakill would love a crack at them.

7-8 Castletown and The Harps.
Castletown just aren't good enough right now, but have some potential. 7/8 of their starting 15 are young players with the potential to be very good hurlers. When is the question. 
The Harps, while not an old team, haven't added anybody near the calibre of John Brophy, Conor Dunne or Brian Dunne in a long time.
I have no idea which team will go down. Will the SHC be any the worse for their absence? No. Wiil they sleepwalk through the SHC A next year? Yes.

The 8 team championship has many benefits, but not for Ballyfin, Colt, Clonaslee, Shanahoe, Rosenallis and Mountrath. Realistically when will any of those teams ever make it back into the top 8? Portlaoise will not be beaten this year. Castletown or The Harps will not be beaten next year.

1) This new rule change was ridiculous and a step too far. To stop U17s playing adult was unnecessary in my opinion.

2) However, now that it is done, the only option is to scrap U18 and make it U17. As it stands those who are over 16 and u17 in Laois in 2016 will play 3/4 minor league games and possibly 1 minor championship game. Playing a more extensive league is going to be very difficult as it would need to work around the U16 leagues, all of the clubs adult teams (remember there will those over 17 and under 18 involved too), schools games and the county minors.
It will be a disaster.
The only option is to scrap minor and make it U17. Therefore games could be fixed without the worry of cross over between a club's adult teams.
I have no problem with the supposed intention to "mind" players of a younger age. But this particular initiative will totally stunt the development of your average 17 year old hurler who is not on the county minor panel. He will get minimum training, a handful of games, and will be given minimal chance to improve at what is such a vital age grade.
It might sound dramatic but this is a crisis about to unfold and I feel extremely sorry for those about to graduate from U16 level.