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They hardly will this year, either - can't see them beating Dublin. For a long time they looked like they'd lose today to UCD, but, in fairness, good fitness in the last ten minutes paid off. Brendan Reddin and Ryan Mullaney caught the eye, and it was good to see Ciaran Collier back, too. Some nice points from Scully and Purcell, and Maher and Whelan were solid. Foyle didn't really dominate at centre back, but he got on a lot of ball. There were times when he could have gone for the score, but just played it in low to the two-man full-forward line. I suppose he's been told to do that. Still and all, nice to get a win for them. Didn't think much of the grill around the pitch - didn't make it too easy to get a good view. Are they training there all the time, I wonder?

Yes, I agree. I'm not a football man at all, but we happened to be in Tullamore yesterday so dropped in to the game. Early in the second half I said Portlaoise were better, and that they'd win. However, the ball off the post, a save by the goalie, a couple of refereeing decisions, and of course, the late misses, meant they just couldn't do it. Mnid you, I thought Keany was superb for Ballyboden. Who got MOTM?

Yes. Don't know who they play, but apparently they have a bye to the semi-final. Trumera are playing this weekend, too - against Brownstown from Westmeath. Seemingly they only lost to Portlaoise by a point in a recent practice match.

Oulart were certainly there for the taking, but CB just couldn't take their chances. The third goal was soft, and a killer, as it put them five points up in a tight game. However, I do think the penalty was a penalty - just about. The ball should have been cleared in the corner, anyway.
Hopefully Darren Maher will make himself available for the county next year.

Amazing what they've achieved considering the scant resources they have in terms of players. I wonder will they in fact compete at Senior B next year - if they get a few retirements, they may not be able to field at all. Hopefully they can survive, but there's not much coming through.

Should probably be a 10 team championship, as the 'B' is too weak for the team going down, and it gives nobody in the 'B' the chance to get up and taste life at senior 'proper'. Or even for a new amalgamation?

Yes, but - this old chestnut again - would back doors produce 'more of these type of games'?
Mind you, the minor B has had group stages, and there's plenty of valid arguments why young lads should have more meaningful games, too.

Perhaps the hurlers are cut more slack because the manager isn't getting paid a heap of money by the County Board?
Also, making progress in hurling is far more difficult than it is in football, where it IS feasible for a correctly applied and fit team to beat a team two divisions higher than them. Thus, getting out of the round-robin system is tangible progress, whereas the footballers reached way below themselves is losing to a depleted Antrim.

Ha ha ha! Do you really see the county board shelling out for Daly? Do we really have enough coming through to entice someone like Daly? I think the answer to both is 'no'.

I agree. People seem to think we're better than we actually are. We're at the level we're at, because that's how good we are. Cheddar has the players' confidence. Who else would you suggest we call on, anyway?

Not yet Mossy, but its a long week in hurling let alone politics, I would be expecting a handful to call it a day. Next year will be a transitional year - as long as we avoid Round Robin winners we should be safe - watch the draw in late Oct/early Nov for that one.

Would it not be fixed to make sure Laoise played the round robin winners? This year the perceived 'weakest' - Offaly and Wexford - played the round robin winners, although I know the previous year Offaly dodged that. How will it work, I wonder? Would we not be better off playing round robin winners, than coming in cold against Galway or Kilkenny?
Yes, last night's performance was A LOT better than the Waterford game last year.

Yes, Dublin very flattered by the scoreline. However, our fullback line had a very bad day. Palmer did OK, and I don't know why John A didn't start. Healy, in particular, had a bit of a nightmare, I have to say. Nevertheless, it was a respectable enough showing, and I was - for once - impressed by Zane's work rate in the first half, while Hyland showed well, too. The second half was poor enough, with a lot of mistakes from both sides. I don't really fancy Dublin to get to the quarter finals.
Anyway, a bit of progress this year in getting out of the round-robin. It's incremental, but at least it's happening!

Yes, great post, all right. My main fear is that Dublin's physicality will be too much.

Well, they did beat Wexford in 2013. Or are they not a big gun any more?
However, extremely disappointing minor result, and you're right - they just can't beat Kilkenny...

Can't you be in the square now, once the ball is struck?
Oh, after that first goal, it was like the bad old days again. Up to that - for the first 15 mins - they'd been doing really well, Galway had a something like 8 or 9 wides, there was good intelligent running off the ball, and they were managing to keep it tight. Once the goal went in, Galway couldn't miss, and Leix couldn't get a sniff at it. Soft mentally?
Was very impressed with Paddy Purcell in midfield, and Tommy Fitz did well in the first quarter.
I must say, though, Galway are some outfit, and will be hard stopped this year.