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Messages - High Fielder

#1
Laois / Re: Laois Senior Footballers 2024
February 06, 2024, 06:52:16 AM
He will go as an Independent and that will free him up for Laois. His party are in a precarious position, so he holds all the aces, and they may yet be forced to cave in and let him do what he wants. He clearly wants to be a part of Laois, and I'm sure most Laois GAA followers will want that too.

The above is what is likely to happen in the short term. The most unlikely scenario is that he will vacate his MLA seat. Long term, who knows what political future he will have after this. Some will admire him and some will never forgive him. It won't matter to him anyway because he'll be writing his own cheques when we win Sam   8)
#2
Laois / Re: Laois Pride and Unity
December 29, 2023, 07:36:49 AM
Quote from: SpeculativeEffort on December 23, 2023, 09:22:16 PMRecently I met a lifelong Laois supporter (now in his 80's) who asked me how we can help Laois GAA to rise again. We both agreed on investment in youth, better quality club teams amongst other things.

Then he turned to me and sadly said
'What is it with Laois? We seem to have no pride. No unity. Why is that?'

It got me thinking and overall I'd agree with him. Only for short bouts of time have I ever felt that the county felt proud. During Micko's reign and Eddie Brennans were two. Minor success 96 to 98 was another time.

Our pride feels like it is at an all time low right now.

Do you agree?

How do we change that?

Are we too club focused?

Can we turn it around?

It's hard to see a way back at the moment but the starting point has to be the urban centres of Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountmellick. Portlaoise really should be one of the biggest clubs in the country, but they'll never be anything if they're not supported; and I mean that in every definition of that word.

That is where I'd start. I'd be hoping that strong urban clubs would be the tide that rises all boats, and that amalgamated senior clubs with resources similar to Josephs would compete with them. We have too many clubs that are no addition to anything and are preventing players from progressing. They are cult like;obsessed with the idea of staying senior or getting promoted.

It has been particularly sad in recent years to see the lack of interest. I've long since thought that our league football is no more than a kickabout anyway, and it feels at times like we could tell everyone just to come back for the Championship. That mindset has to change. There are club players in neighbouring counties training away as we speak. Most of ours won't be seen until the end of January at least.

Look through the college lists. Very few Laois lads. We're down there with all the worst performing counties, and it's not by accident. Of course there's so much to it, there's no right answer, and you could write a book. There are a million factors that have brought us to this point, and at least we can say that this Keegan chap looks like he has a plan. It's a start, but so much needs to change and coincide with that plan
#3
Laois / Re: Laois GAA needs urgent help
December 06, 2023, 04:44:28 PM
Quote from: Ballygowen on December 06, 2023, 11:08:30 AMYes, most definitely would blame them. To discourage any young player from playing isn't good. It doesn't help anyone. County teams need everyone. Albeit in Laois the silverware might not be a certain, it still gives the player the opportunity to paly at he top level.

I don't condone active discouragement, but I also don't blame players for staying away. The GAA is having a real identity crisis at the moment, and for the likes of Laois and many other counties, there's a meaningless to intercounty participation that is very hard to deny. There is no doubt that players would be better off looking after their personal wellbeing; their jobs, their relationships and their homes. It's no fun representing Laois at the moment, and playing the game should be enjoyable first and foremost.



#4
Laois / Re: The Future for Laois Football
November 02, 2023, 07:39:15 AM
He may well see his future outside of politics and the SDLP; that much is possible. Combining the two seems unrealistic though. The margin for error will be very small, and whatever about Laois, his political opponents won't spare the rod if he's found wanting
#5
Laois / Re: The Future for Laois Football
November 01, 2023, 03:55:35 PM
Just my opinion. The appointment surprised me when I first heard about it. It seems it took a few by surprise

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2023/10/27/news/justin_mcnulty_s_antics_leave_sdlp_assembly_team_deeply_frustrated_says_party_source-3734345/
#6
Laois / Re: The Future for Laois Football
November 01, 2023, 02:06:18 PM
In fairness I accept the point made, and I'm not doubting McNulty's or Laois' bona fides. It's just a bad look, and it's made all the worse by the current impasse in Stormont. You can see the criticism a mile off
#7
Laois / Re: The Future for Laois Football
November 01, 2023, 12:59:19 PM
Again, not really the point. Let's take this week as an example. McNulty's Constituency office is in Newry, parts of which were under water yesterday. Local businesses will be calling on him, along with local residents and the many other local interest groups. Daisy Hill Hospital is down the road, and that is a big issue for McNulty. This man has more than enough on his plate. It's hard to fathom what he was thinking by taking the Laois job

He needs to say he's assisting Laois in an advisory capacity only. On a voluntary basis. If there is money to spare, and we need McNulty to mentor or advise, then fine, go with that. But for the sake of his political career, he needs to row back on his involvement with Laois; at least from a public perspective
#8
Laois / Re: The Future for Laois Football
October 30, 2023, 10:44:30 PM
He did. Over 10 years ago. We know where the game has gone since, and if anything, it's a bigger commitment now.

I can't help feeling this wasn't a good move for McNulty. Unless he wants out of politics, he might have bought himself bother he didn't need or expect
#9
Laois / Re: The Future for Laois Football
October 30, 2023, 09:15:38 AM
Not surprisingly, it's causing a bit of a stink. Justin has put his party in a very awkward situation. Remove the whip and they're getting rid of an elected representative. The SDLP are not in a great place just now. Allow him to do both and it opens up a bigger can of worms with members, constituents and party policy. It's very likely that a compromise will be necessary for everyone to save face.

I'm still amazed that Laois GAA and McNulty himself saw no issues at all here. Harm already done in many ways and I hope he doesn't pay for that by losing his seat
#10
Laois / Re: The Future for Laois Football
October 27, 2023, 08:40:27 AM
You're missing the point completely. It's not about what's doable for him. The first time he can't attend a local meeting or meet with one of his constituents because he has training would be fatal. He's already done harm by accepting the role. It was obvious that he would anyway.
#11
Laois / Re: The Future for Laois Football
October 27, 2023, 07:51:13 AM
Let's face it, it's not a good look. I was surprised that he was open to the idea in the first place. Surely he saw the backlash coming against his party? Against himself? Against Stormont?
#12
Laois / Re: Laois Senior Football Championship 2023
October 23, 2023, 11:40:07 AM
I don't think they're much better than that sadly
#13
Laois / Re: The Future for Laois Football
October 19, 2023, 11:35:29 PM
Quote from: Chrimtain on October 19, 2023, 08:07:50 PMInstead of wishing him luck with a difficult task, in typical Laois fashion, let's have a big argument over his appointment.

Good luck to him. It's fairly obvious that he has a tough time ahead, and we would all want him to succeed. It's a bizarre appointment in many ways. He is after all an elected representative in another jurisdiction. I can't imagine his constituents would be impressed with him spending so much time down here
#14
Laois / Re: The Future for Laois Football
October 18, 2023, 06:46:06 AM
Yet wants no part of the set up. Odd that. Not that I hold it against him because I don't. But statements like that ring so hollow against the backdrop of what is unfolding in front of us. There are so many things that are possible, but how probable are they? I mean our best players are already walking away, and we have no manager.

If it is McNulty, good luck to him. I wasn't a fan first time round but the passage of time has since showed that he at least knew how football would be played at County level. I find intercounty football dead boring if I'm honest, and even worse when defensive systems are deployed by teams who do it badly. But look, good luck to whoever gets it at this stage. Even small steps won't be easy without some of your best players involved
#15
Laois / Re: The Future for Laois Football
October 14, 2023, 03:35:02 PM
Our CB did nothing when Nowlan Park was foisted upon us. They've been doing very little since. Last I heard, they wouldn't even let the ladies play their final in OMP. If you're looking to fling arrows, try directing them at those whose role it is to make things better. They seek election and re-election after all

I can't accept that players won't commit because there's doom and gloom. More likely they don't want to be associated with a shit show.

As for walking away, that's just downright offensive. Every single one of us care about Laois football. We don't have to agree about everything, but we have every right to speak out when we see things we don't like. Far too much in this county is ignored or disregarded, and that has to change before any progress is made. Laois GAA is bigger than those elected to administrate it