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Agree with Don. It's gone too far. What Dublin are doing in particular can in no way be replicated in the like of Laois. We're way too many rungs down the ladder to care about. The GAA, in typical firefighter mode, start pumping money into what they believe are the two nearest challengers in Leinster in the hope that they can "raise standards" or hopefully give Dublin some sort of game. The whole thing is a sham. The GAA have completely lost sight of what they're about and have inadvertently promoted professionalism.

Couldn't agree more more. As for the club game and player - the gaa dont care about them.

Cahir Healy in todays indo. A great read. Also worth checking out Paul Coady on twitter about Carlow hurling. Pity no one from the big counties will stand up and come out with some sense. Fair play to the 2 lads.

'Semi-professionalism is like the GAA's Brexit and we're teetering on the edge of a cliff right now'


When laid up rehabbing a second cruciate knee ligament injury in as many years, there's a lot of time to think about matters close to the heart and Laois dual star Cahir Healy has a lot to get off his chest.

Without the usual fear of a newspaper appearance possibly affecting his playing performance, Healy tells it as he sees it - the "alienation" of county players from their clubs top of his agenda.
The Portlaoise defender describes "feeling like a stranger in my own club" when he attends league games which he can't play in due to county involvement, and he's calling on the GAA to go back to the future.
He feels the principles of the GAA have been lost in the continuous expansion of the all-conquering inter-county scene and believes the emphasis must revert back to clubs before it's too late.
Citing the example of international soccer and rugby, Healy suggests that inter-county players should stay with their clubs throughout the season and only be released for county duty for the week of a game.
"County players get the worst deal of everyone. They have a s**t schedule with their county and they never get to play with their clubs, while club players don't know what's going on for half of the year," Healy says.

"I hear about the split season and it scares me because county players are so alienated from their clubs in my opinion that you're just going to alienate them more if you say, 'Don't go near the club for six months'.

"To me, it's a simple fix: you play with your club all of the time. County training is banned except for the week your team is playing a match and you police it by having no expenses, no insurance. There's no money there to pay for it all.
"Streamline the county games throughout the year. If you take the 12-14 games between league and championship, space them out every second week and have 24 weekends of the year for county games.

"Why can't a county manager just pick a squad that he gets access to the week of a championship match? So that's a minimum of 12 weeks' action for each county over seven or eight months with roughly 30 weekends left for club action.
"That's 30 weekends for the county board to run competitions and have clubs thriving. Otherwise, the GAA club scene will mirror the club rugby scene where the AIL is nearly non-existent and it's all about the four provinces.
"It'll be a sad state of affairs if that happens in the GAA and I don't understand why the status quo has to remain. What are we going to lose by being exclusively club players and the county game becoming representative?"

Healy believes the "GAA's Brexit" is on their doorstep and feels talk of semi-professionalism must be nipped in the bud or irreversible damage will done to the Association.
GPA chief Paul Flynn recently mooted the possibility of some form of pay-for-play in the future but Healy despises such notions and believes players are ignoring the catastrophic long-term implications of such a move.
"If we start entertaining semi-professionalism, we'll lose everything that makes the GAA what it is: the love of place and being part of the community. We're slowly losing that," Healy said.
"The GAA seem to be fixated with making money rather than standing by their principles and we're well on the road to a sorrowful day.
"Semi-professionalism is like the GAA's Brexit and we're teetering on the edge of a cliff right now."

Healy added: "If someone asked the GAA president what the GAA is about, what would he say? Is it to promote Irish culture and games and to have strong community links? That's what it should be.
"Going semi-pro and making it even more elitist at the top is paying lip service to the values of the Association. The custodians of the GAA are going to have to press the nuclear button and do something about it because at the moment they're tippy-toeing around it and doing nothing."
Healy believes the benefits for such a system are tenfold for all the key stakeholders - namely players, county boards and fans.
"It levels the playing field across the board because the county game is like an arms race with astronomical money spent on coaches and preparation to try and turn teams into All-Ireland contenders," he outlines.
"What will happen is the counties who are able to coach their coaches in the clubs and have a high level of coaching going on at grassroots, they're the ones that will be strong, not those with the deepest pockets.

"The financial pressure on county boards to pay for county teams is crazy. How many millions are spent on preparing county teams? Imagine an average of €10,000 spent preparing each county player going into every club instead.
"Imagine how many players you could get playing at a young age and keep them at it, what you could do in schools, what you could do socially and make your club a part of your community once again.
"I don't get why we have this obsession with preparation of county teams.
"Everyone should just be with their club all the time, that's the way it was 40 years ago and supporters still went to watch their county.
"The whole focus of the GAA is so backwards," Healy adds. "TV companies will still pay for the games because there's still such interest in it, they don't care whether lads are training the whole year round together or not.
"As well as that, how many players nowadays are saying, 'Ah the commitment's not worth it, I'm a bit busy with the county'? If you only have to train with the county a couple of times the week of a game, no one will turn it down.
"It would be an honour again to be called into the county squad like it should be and lads would take your hand off for an invitation. Lads in some counties are nearly hoping they don't get the call these days because of what it entails."
D
espite his many issues with how the GAA go about their business, the 32-year-old has no intention of letting his latest injury, or his work as a teacher in London, finish his Laois career. He plans on returning for the O'Moore men in 2020.
Whether it's football or hurling, that remains to be seen, but there's plenty of life in him yet.
"As bad and all as it is and as much giving out as I do, I do want to go back with Laois next year, sure I love it," Healy says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMpOcHZ1Btg

A good chat between Wolly and Cheddar regarding what Joe McDonagh teams ect need to do to bridge the gap to next level. Passion Cheddar has is incredible, not just for Laois but hurling in general. Unfortunately not too many people in the GAA want to listen to him and his plans - then again why would they when our own county board wouldn't. Sigh.

Fantastic achievement well done to players and management! What an effort to be promoted 2 years running!

You can really feel the buzz around the county building up again! It was a real added bonus that Carlow were relegated - that'll quel their rising for a while!  they didnt deserve anything else with the sh1t carry on. Like someone said they are better than that Poacher arsehole. They are not a bad team - just playing badly.

I think that is goals for the year reached for me. Slowly build things again next year in division 2. I guess ultimate goal is to try build a competitive division 1 side?? Another run in championship like last year would be a bonus. Just beat who we should be beating and continue progressing nicely.

I wonder would you get any odds on J Sugrue next manager down in the south west? 

Shur if we had the likes of Joe McKenna up here, we'd blackguard him the way we did Cheddar.
[/quote]


Sadly very very true. Could you imagine cheddar in the likes of kilkenny or tipp the role he would be playing -if he were kilkenny he would take over from Cody. But he is from Laois and was kicked through the door.

Eddie  playing for Grange and his selector  Tommy Fitz for Portlaoise.  Really hope Pl  win.....  a few good young fellas  coming  through  with them.  County  champions  you'd be happy following

Tommy Fitz a gent of a man who gave his all to Laois year in year out. Quite the contrast with elsewhere.

His goal against Galway the year in OMP in Leinster hurling championship being up there with my personal GAA highlights/memories. As commentator said on Sunday game that night a roar which nearly lifted the roof of the stand. Great day, even in defeat.

A fine performance from Portlaoise.  No mean feat going to the home of the reigning Leinster champions and knocking them out.
I thought Portlaoise were much stronger all over the field with Moorefield still relying on Sweeney to carry them when it mattered most. Jesus they were shocking in the first half.

Portlaoise started brightly and seemed to have a grip on the game almost all over the field but especially at midfield. But for all the dominance they were on 2 points up and i felt they needed the goal badly and then it came, a gift from the goalie. Brody made couple of smart saves in the first half to keep them out which was important playing with the wind. Not sure what went through his head for the goal but he looked as stunned as anyone! Its not hard to forgive him in fairness, especially with the run he went on near the end, as someone said it was great drama and excitement! 

Thought Portlaoise reacted really well to the goal kicking 3 points without reply and that was game over really. Moorefield never looked like pulling Portlaoise back. Some great defending from Portlaoise you really have to admire how they defend. Huge work rate, they dont sit too deep everyone must pick up a lose man so the man in possession has little options. Result is opposition have to kick a ball to a man marked with turnover possible rather than passing handy balls around the middle.

Chris Finn was outstanding, came out with huge amounts of balls. Holland likewise. Healy had his hands full in second half with Jack O Connors son Eanna but he will come on a ton from that. He will need to as I would imagine he will be picking up a certain P Mannion next day out. 2 midfieldes very good, McEvoy really impressed me i have to say. Lillis the wise head rarely does wrong thing. Up front Bruno was Bruno and Cahilane played a big roll, as now is normal for him to be fair.

Semi final will be a cracker, Portlaoise have every chance especially with Saunders and Carroll to come back they will feel they go there with a chance of a upset.

Great support there as someone pointed out, from all over the county. I have 3 theories there though call me cynical if you like but someone might be able to shed some light  Was there a big crowd there from around Laois to a) support Portlaoise, b)see Portlaoise lose or c) see a Kildare team lose? 

["I could see by my team-mates' faces that it wasn't good"Ross King tells Shane Keegan about the horrific injury that has shocked the game of hurling]

"I could see by my team-mates' faces that it wasn't good"
Ross King tells Shane Keegan about the horrific injury that has shocked the game of hurling

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-could-see-by-my-team-mates-faces-that-it-wasnt-good-bnh8cfp9l

Brilliant interview - fair play to him for speaking so honestly about it.

Ah come on you left out the best bit

. Camross are worthy champions

Sorry, couldn't take myself to write it

Reading through all these comments here and social media its nothing short of a disgrace the way the camross team and people are being portrayed. The incident itself wasn't as bad as what is stated, king himself ran 40 yards to get involved so technically going by the rules that's a third man tackle and a red card for himself, an incident that last 30 seconds on the day has been circulated in slow motion and stretched to 1 minute and 40 seconds and looks way worse than what actually happened, Laois Today themselves have a lot to answer for, unfortunate what happened to king but these things happen sometimes in hurling and its not just in Laois or not just teams like Camross.

The standard of refs in the county is a joke, reading through FB and referee's from R/E making comments about sorting Camross out next year?, even R/E refs attacking the referee at half time in the dressing room is just shocking, were is the fair play here when officials are intimidating others? in the second half there were 12 frees awarded to R/E and 1 to Camross and also nearly 5 minutes injury time in the second half when only 2 had been agreed. There would have been murder after the match had Camross not won with this carry on.

As for the few pics on social media circulating and people trying to instigate that its this and that, people really need to see sense here, lads out drinking and celebrating all day like clearly wouldn't see sense at 3 o clock in the morning, I'm certain there was no real malicious in any of it. At this stage people really need to accept the fact that Camross have won.

R/E people have really showed there class over there attitude and comments since being beat on Sunday, they really are nothing but sore losers. Camross are champions for 2018 and in doing so have beat R/E 4 times this year so they are in my opinion and on paper worthy champions.

I stopped reading at "40 yards", hard to look past such a blatant lie. Anyone care to bullet point the rest of it?

- Everyone except Camross are a disgrace
- looks worse in slowmotion
- King deserved it
- Wasnt Camross fault
- All teams play like this
- Laois todays fault
- Reffs fault
- Pictures are Bulmers fault
- Rathdowneys fault
- Rathdowney have bad manners online

A shallow victory for Camross - though i doubt they will see it that way. An absolute disgrace what happened to Ross. And a yellow card given - comical. Wouldn't let that reff do another game here. I hope there is some reprimand for that player who carried out that assault - one of the worst strokes iv seen on a hurling pitch in a long long time. As someone said a right hard man it takes to do something like that, he should be ashamed of himself.

The incident was actually the turning point of the game. R/e were on top hurling into the breeze, game changed when Roddy went off - jesus still cant believe Camross player only got a yellow card. From that point on Camross were well on top - only some very questionable refereeing in the second half kept R/e in the game - perhaps realizing his mistake in the first half. And some poor Camross shooting. Ciaran Collier was probably the standout player for me. Hope Eddie Brennan can get him back on board. 

With regards to Leinster - I would always shout for our county champions as neutral but i wont be going to support Camross this year. I dont give them any hope anyway.

Best wished to Roddy for a speedy recovery and hope the damage isnt too bad. A nicer fella you couldn't meet i was disgusted for him - he gives his all for  Laois everyday he playes - I hope it wont put him off as he is certainly one of our big players and leaders.

Intermediate final was so and so - it was always going to be a dogfight scenario and Portlaoise just dogged it out best. Good to see them back senior. Cian Taylor was the main difference up front, ball was sticking to him inside and he was setting up enough chances that Portlaoise would get over the line. Healy just a phenomenal beast. Would be great to see him back with Laois next year. (in both codes - wishful thinking i fear though!!)

[Portlaoise are only dominant in Laois. Outside of it, their record isn't great.]

I would say this is the best conditioned Portlaoise team ever,  they are a different level to anything else in this County and the levels of commitment are mind blowing.  Malachy has created a culture with them that is simply different level to anything else, as I have said before their football in my opinion is their weakest aspect.  They will destroy O Dempsey's too,  I really think they are working harder than the rest of by a factor of two and it's showing.   It does help you have somewhere between 20-40 lads with the same mentality but the advantage is not raw talent more competition for places.  The fact is that everybody is under pressure for their spot.  The scary thing is if they can keep this mentality up they only need 1 or 2 new bodies every year to keep the system flowing.  I would be disappointed if they don't have a right go at the All Ireland Club.

There are too many clubs in Laois for the size of the population we have. Portlaoise are only dominant in Laois. Outside of it, their record isn't great. Maybe instead of looking to weaken Portlaoise, clubs should concentrate on pooling their obviously thin resources and making themselves stronger. Case in point. Arles. Farcical situation. Joined at underage but flogging the dead horse at Senior. No benefit to Laois and no benefit to themselves.

Joint winning-most club in Leinster football championship history.

It was obvious enough that I meant in recent times. Jesus.

My apologies so 

[Portlaoise are only dominant in Laois. Outside of it, their record isn't great.]

I would say this is the best conditioned Portlaoise team ever,  they are a different level to anything else in this County and the levels of commitment are mind blowing.  Malachy has created a culture with them that is simply different level to anything else, as I have said before their football in my opinion is their weakest aspect.  They will destroy O Dempsey's too,  I really think they are working harder than the rest of by a factor of two and it's showing.   It does help you have somewhere between 20-40 lads with the same mentality but the advantage is not raw talent more competition for places.  The fact is that everybody is under pressure for their spot.  The scary thing is if they can keep this mentality up they only need 1 or 2 new bodies every year to keep the system flowing.  I would be disappointed if they don't have a right go at the All Ireland Club.

There are too many clubs in Laois for the size of the population we have. Portlaoise are only dominant in Laois. Outside of it, their record isn't great. Maybe instead of looking to weaken Portlaoise, clubs should concentrate on pooling their obviously thin resources and making themselves stronger. Case in point. Arles. Farcical situation. Joined at underage but flogging the dead horse at Senior. No benefit to Laois and no benefit to themselves.

Joint winning-most club in Leinster football championship history.

If Portlaoise win senior championship will players from Portlaoise intermediates be involved? 

I'd go with something like this:
         

          Brody

Strong Timmons Dillon
   
   Damien O Connor

Crowley Begley Collins

        JOL Lillis

Evan O'C  P Kingston Donoher

   Donie    Gary Walsh

No sweeper please just go for it  Its Monaghan, we have footballers to beat them! No seriously i hate the sweeper. I know it must be used at times but let the full back line mark their men man on man and trust them. Will they drop someone out the field themselves, probably, leaving a free man. Let the free man cover the other 2 and help out. Play another in the full forward the instead where we have a threat,  leave 3 up instead of 2 free defenders. What the hell.

Also i think you have some neck leaving players off your team as you sit anonymously on the internet!