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I see Davy Burke has stepped down as Wicklow manager. Has a good CV.

Essentially Dublin's third tiers champions

Disappointing to see the South failed to field a legitimate team and having to rely on selectors . Laois needs everyone that is capable and interested involved.  It seldom happens.

Disappointing from the organisers of the South team that they couldn't organise other players from that region to come in and field a legitimate team . You'd have to question why the South failed so miserably compared to the others, The West being the prime example which really seemed to be well organised.

Kilcavan and Barrowhouse would be football only clubs who will be playing their highest grade at Junior A next season . Kilcavan in the north of the county  between Mountmellick and Geashill, Barrowhouse in the South between Athy and Carlow . Both small rural clubs that would traditionally work off small squads .

Mick Lillis is originally from Clare not Kerry I believe .

simple way of reducing the championship from 16 to 12 teams. In Limerick they reduced their hurling championship from 16 to 12 in one year by dividing the 16 clubs in 4 groups of 4. The two team teams in each group progress to quarter finals. The bottom team in each group automatically relegated.

Unfortunately you are left in the position that the intermediate champions do not gain automatic promotion that year. If you wanted to give them promotion then you could have the 3rd place teams in the group play relegation semi-finals and relegation final with one team eventually losing out. 

If you were to go the whole hog (which I would do). Top eight teams progress to quarter finals and bottom eight teams relegated to intermediate.
Then for the start of the following year's championship (2020) I would then create my four regional sides meaning that their are 12 teams in the championship (8 individual clubs and 4 regional sides). Any club that is not playing at senior level, their players are eligible to play senior for their regional side (similar to kerry model). If a club is promoted to senior then those players are no longer eligible to play for the regional team. Therefore every club is playing individually at their right level and it will do away once and for all with some of these ridiculous amalgamations that we have e.g. crettyard/spink where some of the spink (in reality Ballinakill hurlers) players are kicking a football for the first time that year playing in a competitive championship match.

It's just a thought but it would really strengthen our championship and could be fully up and running by championship 2020.

Great post and it should  definitely be considered by the county board. Let's hope they are reading 😉

This would of course be the ideal situation as we have far too many senior clubs. Kerry only have eight I believe. The 4 area teams you have outlined would work but it's the getting down to 8 that is the problem . I think we had a ridiculous number of senior teams in the mid 90s, definitely in the 20's possibly more.

Steven Miller makes a great point that a North Laois team could work in the Laois senior championship. As it stands Mountmellick, The Rock , Kilcavan, Rosenallis, Clonaslee, Castletown and other clubs predominantly hurling in nature could be viable and most competitive . I also believe a South Laois  team made up of Annanough , Park/Rathineska , Timahoe, Barrowhouse, Spink, The Harps etc could also work. I believe the two teams would be two great additions to the senior championship. The North Laois team would be very strong . I hope the legacy of this divisional competition is that these two divisional teams are introduced into the senior championship and that the gaels situation is abandoned . The county board should support both of theses teams and appoint managers like they have for these competitions

Any truth to the rumours that amalgamations could be on the cards for all if not part of Arles's along with a club they are with at juvenile level??Su

I'd be of the opinion we should as a county be pumping more resources into the secondary schools of the county as regional "centres of excellence" and to disband with development squads altogether until minor. Schools such as Knockbeg , Portlaoise CBS, Colaiste Iosagain , mountrath  , Heywood, Mountmellick and Clonaslee , with the aim to develop footballers within these schools and to make them challengers and hopefully winners of their various grades in schools football. This is where footballers should develop rather than picking 30 you should be looking to develop around 200 each at the 3 age groups of under 14.5, 16.5 and 19 . Coaches should be assigned to these schools to work alongside the great work done by teachers such as Chris Conway, Stephen Attride in Knockbeg and Atch Whelan in Clonaslee amongst others and be exposed to S and  C and top level coaching when they are part of their school squads . This should have a positive impact on club football too within the county .I believe it's an area being neglected by the county board from my experience involved with school teams .

Rumours of Timahoe lads going to play senior with Stradbally , Courtwood lads going to play senior with Emo , Mountmellick lads going to play senior with Ballyfin and Barrowhouse lads going to play with Killeen

None of these sit well with me. I know if I was a player I'd rather win an intermediate championship with my club than one playing with a senior club. All clubs would be best advised to concentrate on bettering themselves than wasting their time with the gaels arrangements. The only clubs who gain anything from this are the senior clubs.

[Underage teams not playing A football/hurling in the defined region will also come together to play A grade football/hurling.]

Some other points I'd include if I was creating these regional teams.

Regions appoint managers and committees with the help of the county board. Thus creating their own regional boards.
This should be done earlier  rather than later allowing managers of the regions to finalise their panels of 30 by watching club league games.
Regions will decide on colours of Jersey, crests etc.
They don't play league football/hurling and should only commence training 6-8 weeks  before the championship begins.
. The two regions should always meet in the first round of the championship. Then continuing in the winner/loser format.
If a region wins the football/hurling championship the last remaining senior club team shall represent Laois in Leinster. If two are knocked out at the same stage a playoff will ensue to decide who represents Laois.
Regional teams can not be relegated.
The composition of the regions will change due to promotions and relegations from senior.
Underage teams not playing A football/hurling in the defined region will also come together to play A grade football/hurling.
Regional championships Senior/Intermediate/junior (with internal promotions and relegations) possibly played in the pre season (Before league) Jan- March.

I firmly believe that these changes will greatly benefit Laois hurling and football.

Agree with all your points bar this one,

For player development its better to keep Juveniles/Under age up to and including Minor with their clubs rather than having a regional team comprising 7/8 teams and a squad of 25 max.

It would still allow all underage amalgamations and clubs to still exist Na Fianna Og etc. However if these sides are playing in the "B" grade they could join up with other clubs in the region who are  not playing "A" to play "A" grade hurling/football. For example this year in the Under 21 football championship the East Laois team for example would have seen Na Fianna Og, Ballylinan, Park Ratheniska and the Heath join up. The clubs/amalgamations will still play in the "B" competition.

This in my opinion would enhance player development as the "elite" players in the clubs playing below the "A" grade would be getting exposure to a higher level of football/hurling .

However as was said before I can not see the clubs or the county board even contemplating such an idea which is a shame

that's doable and welcome at u21 level

From minor down,there's nothing to stop teams coming together and aspiring for the A,there's a few clubs at underage level,more than happy to stay in the B rather than step up to the A,this years u14 football championship being a prime example with only 5 clubs taking part.

I would caution against a 5/6 team amalgamation at minor and below in terms of player burnout (you have dual u14's playing 25+ games a year atm) and the logistics,scheduling of A grade games v B grade games with their own club,training etc...

A very valid and good point.

[Underage teams not playing A football/hurling in the defined region will also come together to play A grade football/hurling.]

Some other points I'd include if I was creating these regional teams.

Regions appoint managers and committees with the help of the county board. Thus creating their own regional boards.
This should be done earlier  rather than later allowing managers of the regions to finalise their panels of 30 by watching club league games.
Regions will decide on colours of Jersey, crests etc.
They don't play league football/hurling and should only commence training 6-8 weeks  before the championship begins.
. The two regions should always meet in the first round of the championship. Then continuing in the winner/loser format.
If a region wins the football/hurling championship the last remaining senior club team shall represent Laois in Leinster. If two are knocked out at the same stage a playoff will ensue to decide who represents Laois.
Regional teams can not be relegated.
The composition of the regions will change due to promotions and relegations from senior.
Underage teams not playing A football/hurling in the defined region will also come together to play A grade football/hurling.
Regional championships Senior/Intermediate/junior (with internal promotions and relegations) possibly played in the pre season (Before league) Jan- March.

I firmly believe that these changes will greatly benefit Laois hurling and football.

Agree with all your points bar this one,

For player development its better to keep Juveniles/Under age up to and including Minor with their clubs rather than having a regional team comprising 7/8 teams and a squad of 25 max.

It would still allow all underage amalgamations and clubs to still exist Na Fianna Og etc. However if these sides are playing in the "B" grade they could join up with other clubs in the region who are  not playing "A" to play "A" grade hurling/football. For example this year in the Under 21 football championship the East Laois team for example would have seen Na Fianna Og, Ballylinan, Park Ratheniska and the Heath join up. The clubs/amalgamations will still play in the "B" competition.

This in my opinion would enhance player development as the "elite" players in the clubs playing below the "A" grade would be getting exposure to a higher level of football/hurling .

However as was said before I can not see the clubs or the county board even contemplating such an idea which is a shame

So there will be 18 senior teams? Just wondering

There would be initially but  over time  we should have 14 senior clubs plus the 2 regional teams. Someone will tell me how many teams are in the top tier of the SHC.I just believe we are going no where with this gaels scenario. Junior and intermediate clubs should not be propping up established senior clubs. The regional teams work in Cork and Kerry. Some wil say Kerry are a bigger county but they have 9 divisional teams . We can surely make two work in Laois in both codes.

Pablo Escobar sounds great but the only problem id have is these two teams would be way stronger than 90% if not 100% of the senior clubs in Laois

And the issue is? Ok I understand senior clubs want to consolidate their status and challenge. I'm from a senior club myself but I'm more concerned with Laois football/hurling at the moment . A strong Laois championship can only lead to a strong Laois team. I have no doubt that these changes will even strengthen our existing senior teams. They will have to raise the bar.