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Pauric Maher???

Yeah, the wing back. Wasn't it him pulled off that high tackle around the head on TJ Reid? Sorry if I got the name wrong?!

Ha ha! I see - you're joking! Laoise wish they had Pauric Maher, and Offaly would love to have TJ Reid!!

Pauric Maher???

A Lose that, and I think it'll be another play-off w/ the winners of 2A - is that right? Not looking too good, I'm afraid.

Yeah there are plenty of trap doors to avoid relegation. Two more shots at it. One v Offaly/Kerry and one v Antrim/Westmeath. Nearly harder to get out of 1B than get into it.

God, I'd say Leix could find a way...

Actually, they were moving quite well until Offaly went down to 14 men, and after that the Biffos seemed to step it up a bit. Laoise couldn't cope when their big strong men ran at them, and they didn't seem as able to break through the tackle as easily Offaly, thus often getting done for over-carrying. I know you're always losing when you're giving out about the ref., but he did seem to give Offaly the benefit more often.
Good displays from Ross King, Darren Maher, and Leigh Bergin, and better from Picky. Willie got one of his trademark points when he came on, but really, it is very disappointing not to have won this. They seemed the better team in the first half, and went in only three down with a strong wind to come. Not to be able to capitalise on that - and an extra man - is criminal. They'll certainly be in a relegation play-off now, and I'd fancy that to be a return game against Offaly. Lose that, and I think it'll be another play-off w/ the winners of 2A - is that right? Not looking too good, I'm afraid.

Keyser, I believe King was injured playing for UCD last week. Is that right? So, he'd be out for the Offaly game, anyway. Cha will also be out for that w/ his red card. A real shame, that,  as himself, Healy and Foyle were the only ones really taking the fight to Kerry.
Not sure Rowland wasn't a bit slow out for the Kerry goal - but then Reilly comes out too much at times...
I don't think there's any use getting rid of the manager now, but there'd need to be a bit of a step up for him to be at the helm next year.

Sums it up well enough.
Hyland and Keenan can't be back soon enough.

I see he's starting half-back against Kerry, which surprised me a bit. No Keenan or Hyland yet, either, and Foyle in his new centre-back place. Cha at full forward, though I'd imagine he'll drift out a bit. It's a very young team - I just hope they can click for Kerry. It'll be close enough, I fear.

I read an article about young players to watch out for in Div 1b this year and Leigh Bergin was one of them. He didn't play against Dublin so will he be involved on Sunday? Is he training away with the panel?
I assume everyone being fit he would be challenging with Mullaney for a half back slot.

I'm pretty sure Leigh Bergin played against Dublin. I must admit, I arrived just on time, so all the team sheets were gone, but I thought he was number 18? And taken off in the second half? He didn't seem to set the world on fire, but he got a few pucks. I'd prefer Mullaney, to be honest.

Personally, I didn't think John Walsh was very good at full-back on Sunday. I don't think you could have him in the full-back line, anyway.

Actually, I thought Foyle played a bit better as centre back this time. Himself, Healy, and Maher were the pick of the backs, while further up the field there wasn't a whole lot to be excited about. With that amount of wides, how could you? Dublin seemed to be out in front a lot of the time. Dowling took his goal very nicely indeed, but didn't do much apart from that.
Reilly really should have stopped the penalty, which wasn't all that well struck.
What's the story w/ Ross King? He was togged out for UCD at Heywood, but didn't feature for them at all. In fact, he was number 30 on the 'programme'. Is he still coming back from injury?

I heard that both Zane Keenan and Willie Hyland won't be involved this year. It was just chat at the match - I hope it's not quite true?

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.