Midlands Radio 3 :
Just one change for Laois for their Leinster SFC clash with Wexford on Sunday with Padraig Kirwan, who scored a goal in London, coming in for Brian Byrne at left wing-back.
Byrne is not named on the panel, so guessing an injury
Great win to set up.a big night v the Dubs in Portlaoise .
Good reward for a team who have trained hard .
Hopefully the county come out to support them
I thought Portlaoise wasn't big enough for Dublin? ;)
Quote from: Unlaoised on April 10, 2023, 09:04:41 AM
Great win to set up.a big night v the Dubs in Portlaoise .
Good reward for a team who have trained hard .
Hopefully the county come out to support them
Free hit for the CB here. Produce your club membership and get in for half price. Zero incentive to be there otherwise. We'll get beaten by whatever Dublin fancy on the day
Really poor crowd there yesterday, wonder what the numbers were like ? The match was at the level where both teams are currently at, we had the better forwards and got over the line eventually. We seemed to have abandoned the heavy defensive system we operated in some of the league games, I still don't understand how Timmons is being asked at times to cover the sweeper role, he is one of our greatest servants but hasn't the pace to do the covering required. We still were defensive at times and played this modern counterattack system which most teams are using to varying degrees of success. Whether we have the blinding pace to allow us go further in the other competition remains to be seen. If Wexford had used the breeze more effectively and shot better the game would have been a lot tighter but in the second half we were far more economical with our shots especially mark Barry and Evan. We have loads of issues to sort out especially the kickouts which were a mess and lead to numerous scores and we still can't stop conceding goals.
One gripe though is the substitutions or the lack of any meaningful substitutions. Is the panel that bad that the first sub gets introduced as the game is ending. watching for example Lowry carry the ball to half way with only Evan ahead of him, put the ball into him and then make the support run alone for a return and then turn to go back up the field it was clear he was gassed after putting in a big effort in the game. He was not the only person who was tired at that stage and should have come off earlier. It was bizarre to see the first substitution in the 66 minute and then two more by the 71st. I felt sorry for the two lads left on the line about to come on in the 74th minute and then the ref blows the whistle for full time.
Quote from: on the hop on April 10, 2023, 11:41:55 AM
Really poor crowd there yesterday, wonder what the numbers were like ? The match was at the level where both teams are currently at, we had the better forwards and got over the line eventually. We seemed to have abandoned the heavy defensive system we operated in some of the league games, I still don't understand how Timmons is being asked at times to cover the sweeper role, he is one of our greatest servants but hasn't the pace to do the covering required. We still were defensive at times and played this modern counterattack system which most teams are using to varying degrees of success. Whether we have the blinding pace to allow us go further in the other competition remains to be seen. If Wexford had used the breeze more effectively and shot better the game would have been a lot tighter but in the second half we were far more economical with our shots especially mark Barry and Evan. We have loads of issues to sort out especially the kickouts which were a mess and lead to numerous scores and we still can't stop conceding goals.
One gripe though is the substitutions or the lack of any meaningful substitutions. Is the panel that bad that the first sub gets introduced as the game is ending. watching for example Lowry carry the ball to half way with only Evan ahead of him, put the ball into him and then make the support run alone for a return and then turn to go back up the field it was clear he was gassed after putting in a big effort in the game. He was not the only person who was tired at that stage and should have come off earlier. It was bizarre to see the first substitution in the 66 minute and then two more by the 71st. I felt sorry for the two lads left on the line about to come on in the 74th minute and then the ref blows the whistle for full time.
Accurate summary of yesterdays proceedings.
Abysmal crowd there yesterday. 50/50 Laois Wexford I'd say .
All the above points have been mentioned throughout the year . The lack of substitutes suggests a lack a trust of what we offer from the bench .
Can't blame the lads commitment and endeavour but it's very clear we are very weak in certain positions. A great servant to the county but not sure how Lillis lasted 70 mins on the pitch yesterday .
Our goalkeeping position is hugely worrying. We have been getting carved open so easy against division 4 opposition all year .
The only other forward who's going to challenge for an introduction is Murphy who is recovering from injury . In the modern inter county game you need 5 inter county replacements . We don't currently have that between numbers and a lack of quality .
Thought Kirwan done well from Emo and Larkin and Swayne are the future of this team .
If we keep Dublin within 15 points it'll be some achievement.
I'm not sure why but for some reason I think the Dubs might be in for a fright
Quote from: Unlaoised on April 13, 2023, 10:22:00 PM
I'm not sure why but for some reason I think the Dubs might be in for a fright
I admire your optimism. Only a couple of weeks since we were fully outclassed by both Wicklow and Leitrim.
Dublin haven't beaten us in championship in Portlaoise in over a 100 years.
The pubs will enjoy the day anyhow!
Quote from: Unlaoised on April 13, 2023, 10:22:00 PM
I'm not sure why but for some reason I think the Dubs might be in for a fright
I got a bad dose of this before the last Leinster final vs Dublin.
At first I was thinking completely logically and knew that anything less than a 15 point defeat was progress.
Then as the days passed and I thought of the crowds going up, the train, the open space in Croker with good forwards and I started daydreaming of the Dubs getting a man put off,of Cluxton dropping a clanger or 2, catching Dublin out on a short kickout, Dublin being complacent, the moment when Laois Laois Laois lets you know others are starting to believe, a big row that was going to unsettle the Dubs or a cagey lowscoring game with a Seamus Darby moment for the ages at the end.
By the time the match rolled around I was expecting something. A performance. The pints after. The sheer bliss of beating the Dubs.
I know. I know.
I got carried away.
But shur isn't that what it's all about.
We're all allowed to dream.
;)
Quote from: Unlaoised on April 13, 2023, 10:22:00 PM
I'm not sure why but for some reason I think the Dubs might be in for a fright
I'm not sure why you think that either, hope I'm wrong but this could get really ugly for Laois.
Quote from: SpeculativeEffort on April 15, 2023, 08:43:20 PM
Quote from: Unlaoised on April 13, 2023, 10:22:00 PM
I'm not sure why but for some reason I think the Dubs might be in for a fright
I got a bad dose of this before the last Leinster final vs Dublin.
At first I was thinking completely logically and knew that anything less than a 15 point defeat was progress.
Then as the days passed and I thought of the crowds going up, the train, the open space in Croker with good forwards and I started daydreaming of the Dubs getting a man put off,of Cluxton dropping a clanger or 2, catching Dublin out on a short kickout, Dublin being complacent, the moment when Laois Laois Laois lets you know others are starting to believe, a big row that was going to unsettle the Dubs or a cagey lowscoring game with a Seamus Darby moment for the ages at the end.
By the time the match rolled around I was expecting something. A performance. The pints after. The sheer bliss of beating the Dubs.
I know. I know.
I got carried away.
But shur isn't that what it's all about.
We're all allowed to dream.
;)
Sounds exactly like me! I was fully convinced that day by the time I hit Croker that it was 15 v 15 and anything can happen on a given day!
Quote from: SCFC on April 17, 2023, 10:27:18 AM
Quote from: SpeculativeEffort on April 15, 2023, 08:43:20 PM
Quote from: Unlaoised on April 13, 2023, 10:22:00 PM
I'm not sure why but for some reason I think the Dubs might be in for a fright
I got a bad dose of this before the last Leinster final vs Dublin.
At first I was thinking completely logically and knew that anything less than a 15 point defeat was progress.
Then as the days passed and I thought of the crowds going up, the train, the open space in Croker with good forwards and I started daydreaming of the Dubs getting a man put off,of Cluxton dropping a clanger or 2, catching Dublin out on a short kickout, Dublin being complacent, the moment when Laois Laois Laois lets you know others are starting to believe, a big row that was going to unsettle the Dubs or a cagey lowscoring game with a Seamus Darby moment for the ages at the end.
By the time the match rolled around I was expecting something. A performance. The pints after. The sheer bliss of beating the Dubs.
I know. I know.
I got carried away.
But shur isn't that what it's all about.
We're all allowed to dream.
;)
Sounds exactly like me! I was fully convinced that day by the time I hit Croker that it was 15 v 15 and anything can happen on a given day!
That Laois team that day had won all of there league matches and 3 championship matches before that Leinster Final . We were allowed to be optimistic that day . We were a properly organised outfit.
This however is a lot different.
Colm Parkinson told RTÉ Sport's Eithne O'Brien that, "I think we're a better footballing team.
"Dublin are hyped up by the media. We knew coming up here that if we rattled them, that they'd be over-confident, that we'd be able to get a run on them. That's the way it's going.
"So hopefully in the second-half we'll be able to drive it home, and I can't see us losing from this point, to be honest with you."
Ahhh Wolly at half time in 2003
How right he was
Rem in 2015 I think we were 2 points up at the break I remember been at it and there was nobody from laous there .
Donie Ross Strong and Finn all kicked wonder points into the hill .
Good Laois team on the day Brody made his debut
Quote from: Spiritof86 on April 17, 2023, 11:32:56 AM
Quote from: SCFC on April 17, 2023, 10:27:18 AM
Quote from: SpeculativeEffort on April 15, 2023, 08:43:20 PM
Quote from: Unlaoised on April 13, 2023, 10:22:00 PM
I'm not sure why but for some reason I think the Dubs might be in for a fright
I got a bad dose of this before the last Leinster final vs Dublin.
At first I was thinking completely logically and knew that anything less than a 15 point defeat was progress.
Then as the days passed and I thought of the crowds going up, the train, the open space in Croker with good forwards and I started daydreaming of the Dubs getting a man put off,of Cluxton dropping a clanger or 2, catching Dublin out on a short kickout, Dublin being complacent, the moment when Laois Laois Laois lets you know others are starting to believe, a big row that was going to unsettle the Dubs or a cagey lowscoring game with a Seamus Darby moment for the ages at the end.
By the time the match rolled around I was expecting something. A performance. The pints after. The sheer bliss of beating the Dubs.
I know. I know.
I got carried away.
But shur isn't that what it's all about.
We're all allowed to dream.
;)
Sounds exactly like me! I was fully convinced that day by the time I hit Croker that it was 15 v 15 and anything can happen on a given day!
That Laois team that day had won all of there league matches and 3 championship matches before that Leinster Final . We were allowed to be optimistic that day . We were a properly organised outfit.
This however is a lot different.
This!!!
We have a team that could not make a league final which involved Sligo v Wicklow, that is our level while the Dubs stuck 4 goals past Derry. I know we may not have world beating players but we should have enough to be beating the likes of Sligo and Wicklow. I just think the management team in place are not up to the standard needed unfortunately, cannot see Laois improving while they are in charge Im afraid.
Quote from: Unlaoised on April 19, 2023, 06:00:42 PM
Colm Parkinson told RTÉ Sport's Eithne O'Brien that, "I think we're a better footballing team.
"Dublin are hyped up by the media. We knew coming up here that if we rattled them, that they'd be over-confident, that we'd be able to get a run on them. That's the way it's going.
"So hopefully in the second-half we'll be able to drive it home, and I can't see us losing from this point, to be honest with you."
Ahhh Wolly at half time in 2003
How right he was
Rem in 2015 I think we were 2 points up at the break I remember been at it and there was nobody from laous there .
Donie Ross Strong and Finn all kicked wonder points into the hill .
Good Laois team on the day Brody made his debut
That Laois team was backboned by a lot of lads who had been part of the successful minor and U21 teams of the 00s. They were all in their late 20s/very early 30s and in their prime as footballers. Played some great football in that first half. It was a warm day and the strenght of the substitutions that Dublin could make meant that we were never going to be able sustain those efforts for full 70 minutes. I don't think we've had a better championship performance since.
That was 2014 . We came even closer in 2012 . As mentioned that was a different Laois set up .
All the signs are there that Sunday won't be pretty for Laois football . I genuinely hope I'm wrong .
Heard there are a few u20 been called into the panel . Might get a run in the TC which would make sense .
Quote from: Spiritof86 on April 21, 2023, 07:51:59 AM
That was 2014 . We came even closer in 2012 . As mentioned that was a different Laois set up .
All the signs are there that Sunday won't be pretty for Laois football . I genuinely hope I'm wrong .
Heard there are a few u20 been called into the panel . Might get a run in the TC which would make sense .
We had household names on the teams back then that would make any county team in the country. Looking forward to having that in the future again some time. Hope Sunday's team plays to the best of their ability and do themselves and the county proud.
Just wondering if Joe Higgins sons ever showed any promise at football. I know they were playing underage but are they still around or are they still playing??
Same team as normal . Colm Murphy back in the 26 . Good to see . Our only other potent forward really.
Quote from: Unlaoised on April 13, 2023, 10:22:00 PM
I'm not sure why but for some reason I think the Dubs might be in for a fright
Your prediction has rung true. The fright being how truly terrible this Laois team is. I am debating heading home now. Hard to watch another 35 minutes of this.
There's something wrong with a competition that puts those two teams on the same pitch. Came away as quickly as they opened the gates. A minute more and I'd have had a claim for false improvement
A low day. No plan, no structure. And it's only going to get worse
Was I expected us to win absolutely not.
But I have to ask the question why play sweepers against Division 4 teams to then change tactics completely against the likes of Dublin and have the game out of reach after 6 mins.
Second half mark timmons did a job sweeping the mind boggles with the thought process of this management team.
A genuine conversation needs to let the current manager in for the cup competition.
Damage limitation comes to mind
Decent Laois contingent in attendance
Laois are no world beaters but you at least need people in charge of running the team. Billy makes Mick Lillis look good. The players deserve better.
Imagine 3/4 of Laois play football, and this is the shite we put out to represent our county. We can blame Billy and the County Board (a lot of the blame lies here), but as clubs, we have to stand up and change the way we produce and develop players. Simply not good enough. To be honest, we are wasting our times at both sports. Something dramatic has to change in both codes
Quote from: Batman!!! on April 23, 2023, 05:54:37 PM
A low day. No plan, no structure. And it's only going to get worse
What else did we expect today ? Anyone at a league match this year or last year will an attest to this .
If anything we got off lightly today. Dublin weren't even at full throttle .
Tactics or not our basics have been atrocious .
Roll on the TC . The lads will need the support .
Agree with previous comments about team not being properly coached :
A few things: If I was coaching against Dublin I'd do the following
A) Break game down into ten minute slots and set target for each slot;
eg first ten mins - take no risks and try and quieten the crowd
next ten mins - be more adventurous but concede no goals
final ten minutes - keep things quiet and frustrate the Dubs;
five mins before half time - get the first score in this section and try and keep focus to half time. no silly three/ four point bursts.
Onto today's game:
- Two of the goals in first half came from Laois mistakes which was very frustrating. Its hard enough playing Dublin without gifting them two goals.
_ How we set up in defense was naive to say the least- while I couldn't fault the work rate of players , to leave a 2 v 2 in the full back line was stupid to say the least.
After the goals the game was a non event.
Things to work on for the next day:
- restarts , its criminal that balls are going over the sideline
- Unforced errors - cut these out and we have a chance in games
- defensive unit- how we set up , needs to be looked at. I know its a balance between defending and having people upfront if we force a turnover
- Need to get more out of Mark Barry in games . Needs to show more for ball or look for ball when sent in. Seemed to coast his way through game today.
Its not all doom and gloom:
Today wasn't going to be a day that will define our year and there are some positives to take out
1) work rate was decent , considering the opposition.
2) Dylan Kavanagh and Seamus Lacey did well in second half. Kavanagh has pace which is something that we need.
3) Paddy O'Sullivan, Kevin Swayne, Damon Larkin are drove at Dublin and took the fight to them.
Heading into the TC we should be aiming for at least two wins in the group stages.
Quote from: Junior Ex Laoistalk on April 21, 2023, 02:10:15 PM
Just wondering if Joe Higgins sons ever showed any promise at football. I know they were playing underage but are they still around or are they still playing??
Tom Kelly son played haftime game today
Lets be brutally honest, there is no surprise here. I was hoping we would keep them to 20 points so whats another 7 on top of that.
We have been conceding multiple goals to the likes of London, Carlow and Leitrim all year in division 4, but also scoring well so I fully expected us to score a few but the possibility was there for Dublin to hit us for 6 or 7 goals. They easily could have in the second half but you could see they were rather mercifully willing to take their points rather than go through that extra phase to find the free runner to find the net.
There are numerous things that are wrong within the county that would not have been fixed for yesterday, such as improved strength and conditioning and a panel of better and more skillful players. These are all seeds that would have started at primary school level up through underage, and there has been many discussion about it on other threads so will leave it for now.
The one thing that might have made a difference (and absolutely would have made in division 4 and will make in the Tailteann Cup) is an actual game plan. We seemed to go 15 on 15 versus one of the best teams in the country in the first half, surely you would do total damage limitation for the first period. Bring 1 if not two lads back to clog the path to goal, with the aim of at least keeping them away from the nets. Then in the second half you could switch to a more adventurous play, but only after making sure the house was in order.
There was also zero pattern or plan to our forwards who all seemed to play their own game. Numerous times the ball was hit in to O'Carroll who did well to claim the ball but there was literally no one around him. The plan should have been as soon as it looked like he would have claimed it, have Barry make a darting run to him in support, or past him to receive the through ball. Same with Lowry, although our first goal was as a result of one of the few times the forwards worked in tandem.
I wont lie it was nice to hear the Laois chant going up briefly once we got the two goals, there did seem to be a good number of us there! I am looking forward to the TC as its against teams at our level, get a win the first game then who knows where we'll end up in it.
Agree with almost everything on last post except point about TC. Most teams in it will be above our level unfortunately. We are a division 4 team and there is maybe 3 or 4 in the country that we can beat . A long way back from here but it starts with acknowledging where we are truthfully and building from the ground up.
That's important. You're right. For years now, there has been this mistaken belief that we have the players to do this. We just don't.
there seems to be a general lack of anger at what happened yesterday, or is it just acceptance? the beatings of the last few years have probably worn us down and dublin were always expected to win but is it acceptable that a senior county football team can concede 4-30, it could have been even more if dublin didn't just take points instead of working goals. After the problems we had in the league and championship both this year and last year with the concession of goals in particular that a defensive plan was a priority?. this won't be far off the highest scoring return by a team this year.
we are about ranked about 27th in the country, is that acceptable ? There is so much wrong, not just in the football but also in some of the other codes in the county, underage team, schools in lower grades, club championship sizes.
Quote from: High Fielder on April 24, 2023, 12:25:46 PM
That's important. You're right. For years now, there has been this mistaken belief that we have the players to do this. We just don't.
Unfortunately true. Realistically for the next few years, I cannot see us do better than possibly getting back up to Division 3 and maybe the odd win or two in the Tailteann Cup.
I've said before here that there are some players out there on the club scene who would probably improve us enough to be Division 3 material but it just doesn't look like it's attractive to young lads to be part of the county senior panel these days.
Quote from: on the hop on April 24, 2023, 02:37:33 PM
there seems to be a general lack of anger at what happened yesterday, or is it just acceptance? the beatings of the last few years have probably worn us down and dublin were always expected to win but is it acceptable that a senior county football team can concede 4-30, it could have been even more if dublin didn't just take points instead of working goals. After the problems we had in the league and championship both this year and last year with the concession of goals in particular that a defensive plan was a priority?. this won't be far off the highest scoring return by a team this year.
we are about ranked about 27th in the country, is that acceptable ? There is so much wrong, not just in the football but also in some of the other codes in the county, underage team, schools in lower grades, club championship sizes.
You're a smart cookie. I read your analysis of games with more interest than most. And you're right, there's an ocean of things wrong. I have got myself into many scrapes on here debating this very issue, but I wouldn't have a clue where to start. And I don't think anyone else knows either, which is why we just keep on doing the same things year after year
Quote from: High Fielder on April 24, 2023, 04:11:50 PM
Quote from: on the hop on April 24, 2023, 02:37:33 PM
there seems to be a general lack of anger at what happened yesterday, or is it just acceptance? the beatings of the last few years have probably worn us down and dublin were always expected to win but is it acceptable that a senior county football team can concede 4-30, it could have been even more if dublin didn't just take points instead of working goals. After the problems we had in the league and championship both this year and last year with the concession of goals in particular that a defensive plan was a priority?. this won't be far off the highest scoring return by a team this year.
we are about ranked about 27th in the country, is that acceptable ? There is so much wrong, not just in the football but also in some of the other codes in the county, underage team, schools in lower grades, club championship sizes.
You're a smart cookie. I read your analysis of games with more interest than most. And you're right, there's an ocean of things wrong. I have got myself into many scrapes on here debating this very issue, but I wouldn't have a clue where to start. And I don't think anyone else knows either, which is why we just keep on doing the same things year after year
apathy, not many care anymore
There is lots of anger in our county
with the setup and with the performance of our
Team's, and it's start with the top
and as im a silent one that goes to most
of ours games, I Do Care
When you are getting beat by Wicklow by 15 points in a championship game and giving up 30 points or so to fermanagh and that doesn't trigger a complete overhaul either there's nothing else in the county or there's no competent people in charge , or nobody cares
Minors in qfinal tonight in O Moore Park and U15 league game on aswell crazy.
It would appear that football in Meath is at a low ebb as well. Is there a team in Leinster capable of giving Dublin a game?
Kildare should be, but they find ways of tripping themselves up invariably. They really ought to be better and achieve more than they do, but they are great at making trouble for themselves. Meath will bounce back at some point because they're ignorant enough to sort it out. It's us and the others like us that are worrying. Small populations, comparative lack of funding and an ever decreasing interest either forced (eg emigration) or chosen (eg not prepared to commit, lack of interest etc). Nobody actually gives a shite about us by the way, so we either fix this ourselves or we drift. The bigger counties see no problem with the way things are, and eventually will just say go down to Division 4 and rot
i never thought things would fall so bad, so quickly. i actually thought there was a bit of hope in making the two under 20 finals. While there would always be a bit of a fall off due to injury etc, i thought that a good young squad would have been established from the two teams. i remember talking (in loose terms!!!) to Dublin CEO John Costello after attending one of the finals in Carlow. He had the misfortune of standing on the terrace, but the conversation was that Dublin would cherry quick what they needed from these teams but Laois would need everyone one of them such was the problems in Leinster Football and to survive. Of course there were a few other barbs about Dublin funding etc thrown in but 4 years later i would have been hoping a lot more players would have been involved. The two teams from the finals,
2019 Leinster u20 Final
1. David O'Hanlon (Na Fianna) 2. Darren Maher (St Patrick's Donabate) 3. Daire Newcombe (Lucan Sarsfields) 4. Eoin O'Dea (Na Fianna) 5. Kieran Kennedy (Ballyboden St Enda's) 6. Neil Matthews (Erin's Isle) 7. Sean Lambe (St Vincent's) 8. Peadar O'Cofaigh Byrne (Cuala) 9. Donal Ryan (Na Fianna) 10. Niall O'Leary (Kilmacud Crokes) 11. Karl Lynch Bissett (Naomh Mearnóg) 12. James Doran (Na Fianna) 13. Brian O'Leary (Na Fianna) 14. Ciaran Archer (St Maurs) 15. Ross McGarry (Ballyboden St Enda's)
Subs 20. David Lacey (Na Fianna) for Donal Ryan (43) 22. Harry Ladd (Lucan Sarsfields) for Brian O'Leary (55) 17. Aaron Lynch (St. Sylvesters) for Darren Maher (55) 18. Conor Kinsella (Kilmacud Crokes) for Eoin O'Dea (57) 23. Mark Lavin (Lucan Sarsfields) for Niall O'Leary (60) 24. Sean Foran (Whitehall Colmcilles) for Kieran Kennedy (60)
Laois
1. Matthew Byron (Courtwood) 2. Michael Dowling (Portlaoise) 3. Seamus Lacey (Ballylinan 4. Alex Mohan (Portarlington) 5. Colin Slevin (Portarlington) 6. Sean O'Flynn (Courtwood) 7. Dean Brophy (St Joseph's) 8. Robert Tyrrell (Camross) 9. Eoin Dunne (Rosenallis) 10. Mark Barry (O'Dempsey's) 11. Michael Doran (Killeshin) 12. Ronan Coffey (Portarlington) 13. Alan Kinsella (Courtwood) 14. Dan McCormack (O'Dempseys) 15. Diarmuid Whelan (Ballyroan Abbey)
Subs
18. Jack Owens (Emo) for Michael Doran (36) 17. Niall Dunne (Courtwood) for Dan McCormack (38) 19. Jason Maher (Portlaoise) for Ronan Coffey (48) 22. Kevin Byrne (Ballylinan) for Lacey (55) 23. Ross Brennan (Portlaoise) for Brophy (58) 24. Jack Lacey (St. Joseph's) for Mohan (58).
2020 Leinster u20 Final
LAOIS: Mathew Byron (Courtwood); Michael Dowling (Portlaoise), Alex Mohan (Portarlington), Neil Keane (The Heath); Sean O'Flynn (Courtwood), Gary Saunders (Portlaoise), Jack Lacey (St Joseph's); Barry Howlin (O'Dempsey's), PJ Daly (The Heath); Ronan Coffey (Portarlington), Jack Owens (Emo), Damon Larkin (Portlaoise); Colin Slevin (Portarlington), Darragh Galvin (Portarlington), Mark Barry (O'Dempsey's).
Subs: Dean Brophy (St Joseph's) for Howlin (27), Sean O'Neill (The Rock) for Daly (42), Ross Bolger (Killeshin) for Lacey (47), Josh Lacey (St Joseph's) for Galvin (50), Sean Michael Corcoran (Portarlington) for Larkin (53)
DUBLIN: Josh O'Neill (St Vincent's); Alan Murphy (Lucan Sarsfields), Adam Rafter (Na Fianna), Josh Bannon (St Sylvester's); Rory Dwyer (St Margaret's), Adam Waddick (Thomas Davis), Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcilles); Killian McGinnis (Skerries Harps), Evan Caulfield (Clan na Gael Fontenoy); Mark Lavin (Lucan Sarsfields), Lorcan O'Dell Templeogue Synge Street), Sean Foran (Whitehall Colmcilles); Ciaran Archer (St Maur's), Luke Swan (Castleknock), Kieran McKeon (Clontarf).
Subs: Aaron Fearon (Skerries Harps) for McGinnis (41), Padraig Purcell (Kilmacud Crokes) for Foran (45), Conor Kinsella (Kilmacud Crokes) for Bannon (47), Stephen Braiden (Thomas Davis) for O'Dell (54), Conor Tyrell (St Oliver Plunkett's-Eoghan Rua) for Murphy (60)
Sad to see what happened there on Sunday. We knew obviously that we would lose but just the manner of what unfolded there in the first half. Hard to just turn it on against one of the top 2 teams in the country when operating in division 4 and Dublin were on it from the start. They must have converted over 90% of their chances on the day. They were back to their brilliant best and I would tip them for All Ireland success in July. We needed them to be off colour and us to be unreal just to make it somewhat competitive. On a positive note, Dublin have only conceded more than one goal in a Leinster championship game 3 times since 2011 and we were one of those there on Sunday. We also did it in Kilkenny back in 2016. Will be interesting to see what resistance Kildare can put to Dublin next Sunday as Dublin chase their 13th Leinster title in a row.
In the immediate term, lets try and bounce back for the Tailteann cup. The draw will take place next week I believe. Last year we responded well to the defeat against Wicklow by really putting it up to the champions Westmeath in the 1st round of the Tailteann. This time there will be groups of 4 and we will go in as 3rd seeds. Hopefully we can work on a stronger defensive plan in the next few weeks and balance that out with the decent attacking threat that we have. Will be nice to have the chance to compete with teams of our standard on hopefully a dry summer sod and see how we go. No doubt the lads will be hurting but at least we have this competition to try and bounce back and finish the season on a better note.
As mentioned by others, was nice to have a decent support there on Sunday and hopefully this can continue for the upcoming games. I think there will be one home game, one away and one neutral.
Games development funding was at club level not county level. Low level coaches half funded by clubs mostly at primary school age - boys and girls - to get them up to the club to participate in football and hurling/camogie. Such coaches do not go near elite level players, who are coached from U14 up by ex-Dublin players who volunteer. They do get diet plans and other add-ons, which has to be paid for and I presume is funded by sponsorship, but I doubt they are looked after better than Kildare, Kerry, Galway, Tyrone.
That was taken from another thread. It's another world and shows what we're up against
Isn't it possible though, for counties of a similar size to Laois to compete with the bigger counties? Offaly, for instance, appear to be coming out of the doldrums in both hurling and football. Two years ago their under 20 footballers won an All Ireland. Last year they were beaten in an All Ireland final at minor level in hurling. Only last Sunday, they shocked Meath in the Leinster football championship. Why can't we aspire to do as well as Offaly? What are they doing that we can't do?
I guess they have the bonus of history. I'm not sure if that's a legitimate measurement, but it must count for something I'd imagine. And I guess the real difference today is funding. We don't appear to have money we're willing to spend. We have a surplus (everybody does) but we only appear to have rainy day money. Everything we do is miles behind everyone else. Even at admin level, we're a very small unit. I'm saying it a long time, like it or not, we have to get the Portlaoise problem (for that's what it is) sorted. We're just not getting enough from the Town. Every county has issues that are unique to them, and Portlaoise is our elephant in the room. We have to find a way to promote the game in the Town, gather up the bodies, and then develop them. In both codes
I agree High Fielder. Portlaoise have appointed a very good GDO and it will be time before they see the benefits. Can someone from Portlaoise tell me if the move of grounds has impacted playing numbers? I doubt anyone now can walk to the new grounds which can have an impact.
It would be great if a combined Portlaoise schools had a team entered in the schools A competition alongside Knockbeg. The fall off in senior and underage in Portlaoise is a big worry from an overall Laois perspective.
Ideally we need a Director of football/hurling (someone like Cheddar) to oversee everything and put proper structures in place.
Quote from: on the hop on April 25, 2023, 02:01:20 PM
i never thought things would fall so bad, so quickly. i actually thought there was a bit of hope in making the two under 20 finals. While there would always be a bit of a fall off due to injury etc, i thought that a good young squad would have been established from the two teams. i remember talking (in loose terms!!!) to Dublin CEO John Costello after attending one of the finals in Carlow. He had the misfortune of standing on the terrace, but the conversation was that Dublin would cherry quick what they needed from these teams but Laois would need everyone one of them such was the problems in Leinster Football and to survive. Of course there were a few other barbs about Dublin funding etc thrown in but 4 years later i would have been hoping a lot more players would have been involved. The two teams from the finals,
2019 Leinster u20 Final
1. David O'Hanlon (Na Fianna) 2. Darren Maher (St Patrick's Donabate) 3. Daire Newcombe (Lucan Sarsfields) 4. Eoin O'Dea (Na Fianna) 5. Kieran Kennedy (Ballyboden St Enda's) 6. Neil Matthews (Erin's Isle) 7. Sean Lambe (St Vincent's) 8. Peadar O'Cofaigh Byrne (Cuala) 9. Donal Ryan (Na Fianna) 10. Niall O'Leary (Kilmacud Crokes) 11. Karl Lynch Bissett (Naomh Mearnóg) 12. James Doran (Na Fianna) 13. Brian O'Leary (Na Fianna) 14. Ciaran Archer (St Maurs) 15. Ross McGarry (Ballyboden St Enda's)
Subs 20. David Lacey (Na Fianna) for Donal Ryan (43) 22. Harry Ladd (Lucan Sarsfields) for Brian O'Leary (55) 17. Aaron Lynch (St. Sylvesters) for Darren Maher (55) 18. Conor Kinsella (Kilmacud Crokes) for Eoin O'Dea (57) 23. Mark Lavin (Lucan Sarsfields) for Niall O'Leary (60) 24. Sean Foran (Whitehall Colmcilles) for Kieran Kennedy (60)
Laois
1. Matthew Byron (Courtwood) 2. Michael Dowling (Portlaoise) 3. Seamus Lacey (Ballylinan 4. Alex Mohan (Portarlington) 5. Colin Slevin (Portarlington) 6. Sean O'Flynn (Courtwood) 7. Dean Brophy (St Joseph's) 8. Robert Tyrrell (Camross) 9. Eoin Dunne (Rosenallis) 10. Mark Barry (O'Dempsey's) 11. Michael Doran (Killeshin) 12. Ronan Coffey (Portarlington) 13. Alan Kinsella (Courtwood) 14. Dan McCormack (O'Dempseys) 15. Diarmuid Whelan (Ballyroan Abbey)
Subs
18. Jack Owens (Emo) for Michael Doran (36) 17. Niall Dunne (Courtwood) for Dan McCormack (38) 19. Jason Maher (Portlaoise) for Ronan Coffey (48) 22. Kevin Byrne (Ballylinan) for Lacey (55) 23. Ross Brennan (Portlaoise) for Brophy (58) 24. Jack Lacey (St. Joseph's) for Mohan (58).
2020 Leinster u20 Final
LAOIS: Mathew Byron (Courtwood); Michael Dowling (Portlaoise), Alex Mohan (Portarlington), Neil Keane (The Heath); Sean O'Flynn (Courtwood), Gary Saunders (Portlaoise), Jack Lacey (St Joseph's); Barry Howlin (O'Dempsey's), PJ Daly (The Heath); Ronan Coffey (Portarlington), Jack Owens (Emo), Damon Larkin (Portlaoise); Colin Slevin (Portarlington), Darragh Galvin (Portarlington), Mark Barry (O'Dempsey's).
Subs: Dean Brophy (St Joseph's) for Howlin (27), Sean O'Neill (The Rock) for Daly (42), Ross Bolger (Killeshin) for Lacey (47), Josh Lacey (St Joseph's) for Galvin (50), Sean Michael Corcoran (Portarlington) for Larkin (53)
DUBLIN: Josh O'Neill (St Vincent's); Alan Murphy (Lucan Sarsfields), Adam Rafter (Na Fianna), Josh Bannon (St Sylvester's); Rory Dwyer (St Margaret's), Adam Waddick (Thomas Davis), Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcilles); Killian McGinnis (Skerries Harps), Evan Caulfield (Clan na Gael Fontenoy); Mark Lavin (Lucan Sarsfields), Lorcan O'Dell Templeogue Synge Street), Sean Foran (Whitehall Colmcilles); Ciaran Archer (St Maur's), Luke Swan (Castleknock), Kieran McKeon (Clontarf).
Subs: Aaron Fearon (Skerries Harps) for McGinnis (41), Padraig Purcell (Kilmacud Crokes) for Foran (45), Conor Kinsella (Kilmacud Crokes) for Bannon (47), Stephen Braiden (Thomas Davis) for O'Dell (54), Conor Tyrell (St Oliver Plunkett's-Eoghan Rua) for Murphy (60)
Those Dublin teams were comfortable enough winners in both of those finals. Of those two Dublin squads, as you mention, only a couple were cherry picked, and are now part of a Dublin senior set up. If Ciaran Archer was available to Laois he would probably be one of our main forwards right now. In Dublin, he failed to make the grade last year and was cut from the panel. It just shows the frightening gap that exists.
Strong underage teams where the collective is strong do not necessarily improve the senior set up as the players move up. What you really want is 2/3 really outstanding players driving those team who are head and shoulders above the rest of their team mates. These are the lads who might make a difference and improve things as they step up to senior level. Of the last 5 years or so we have been fairly competitive at u20 level. However, those teams have predominantly possessed all "good" footballers. If you think of the successful underage teams of the 90s and 00s they were sprinkled with standout underage talents e.g. Conway, Beano, Fitzgerald in the 90s and O'Loughlin, Kingston, Healy and Tuohy in the 00s. You couldn't really say that of the teams of recent years.
I think we have a myriad of problems. - The last 5 management appointments have been very flat, and even though John Sugrue is in the middle of all that, and did a really good job, I'm still saying that we haven't managed to get anyone that'd be of high quality, high profile or in any way visionary. Every successful team responds a real leader, whether in sport or in work. Have we put mgmt teams in place that young lads will really want to stand up and follow? - For whatever reason we're just not turning out enough high calibre players nowadays either. And the lack of quality in our club championship really speaks to that. Underage development in Laois is probably similar to 20 yrs ago, but everyone else has moved on. We haven't. - I'm just not sure how much of a contributing factor the "Portlaoise problem" is? I mean, what's peoples ultimate vision here? Throw the kitchen sink at improving Portlaoise and increasing participation numbers, and turn them into an unstoppable machine in Laois, similar to Dublin in Leinster? Why is it the Portlaoise problem... surely its the St Josephs problem, Stradbally problem, Graigue problem, Portarlington problem etc etc etc too. And I don't mean that to sound small-minded or parochial ! We won minor all-Irelands with lads from the 4 corners of Laois, not just Portlaoise. I get the population piece, but that hasn't drastically changed in the last 20yrs, whereas our standard and competitiveness has. - I'd be really concerned with what the prize is on offer for committing to Laois now... just supposing we had sneaked promotion to Div 3 for example... I couldn't see anything other than an instant return to Div 4... so what's really in it for these young lads at the minute? - On the plus side we have a great county ground, centre of excellence and when the thing is done right we have a good base of support. People will get behind Laois when we've even got a punchers chance... but do we even have that? I just think right now we've descended to such a low point that its almost impossible to know where to even start!
Two very good posts. Both excellent in fact. These debates need to be had. I singled out Portlaoise because it's such an obvious place to start, but you're right Saint, it's a county wide issue. In fairness, your club is contributing more than most, and doing good things
But you have to look at what can be fixed quickly. I agree there needs to be a long term strategy and plan put in place to help player development etc but you have to have a proper management team in charge of the senior team. Laois have been an embarrassment this year, make no mistake about it and we are saying well let's accept our fate as we dont have good players.
Look at counties like Louth, Clare, Fermanagh. Hardly huge counties yet they are not struggling in the depths of Div 4. They dont have endless conveyor belts of talent they wheel out so what are they doing right in those counties?
Excellent post.
Clare in particular is a dual county that has had limited underage success and yet are able to produce competitive teams in both codes on a consistent basis. Not surprising that they have very good senior managers for both teams.
Need leaders at the top tables and work from the top down don't think we have that do.
Quote from: High Fielder on April 26, 2023, 12:33:49 PM
you're right Saint, it's a county wide issue. In fairness, your club is contributing more than most, and doing good things
While they are doing some decent work at underage, it's a bit disappointing that they only have one player on the senior panel (and he was a transfer!)
Will all the underage squads in both codes when they get knocked out this year
Be kept together and continue on with a S&C program ?
If not that's one area that should be looked at as a matter of urgency
Quote from: Ballybrittas Boy on April 26, 2023, 08:31:48 PM
Quote from: High Fielder on April 26, 2023, 12:33:49 PM
you're right Saint, it's a county wide issue. In fairness, your club is contributing more than most, and doing good things
While they are doing some decent work at underage, it's a bit disappointing that they only have one player on the senior panel (and he was a transfer!)
Signs are promising for a few more in the coming years. I have s feeling you'll be competitive again in years to come
Quote from: Giovanni on April 26, 2023, 03:05:32 PM
Excellent post.
Clare in particular is a dual county that has had limited underage success and yet are able to produce competitive teams in both codes on a consistent basis. Not surprising that they have very good senior managers for both teams.
100%, in fact if you had a good pool of players it would be wasted if you had a poor management team in place, so its the crucial piece of the puzzle. Good coaches improve players, we see it clear as day in other counties. If we are honest its plain to see we are going no where under the current set up.
In fairness we have roughly 2/3rds of Clare's population. It does matter, despite some people telling you it doesn't. We're also a proper dual county, unlike counties such as Monaghan, who are predominantly football. The odds are seriously stacked against us, and we must remember that always when we're beating ourselves up. The example above of Ciaran Archer is a good one. It's inconceivable that he's not good enough for Dublin; we'd spend the next 10 years coming to that conclusion, and we have with plenty of similar types
If population was the key, Meath and Kildare - basically one-code counties - should be permanently Division 1. It doesn't work like that. You need a team to be motivated and well prepared.
Quote from: High Fielder on April 27, 2023, 04:44:14 PM
In fairness we have roughly 2/3rds of Clare's population. It does matter, despite some people telling you it doesn't. We're also a proper dual county, unlike counties such as Monaghan, who are predominantly football. The odds are seriously stacked against us, and we must remember that always when we're beating ourselves up. The example above of Ciaran Archer is a good one. It's inconceivable that he's not good enough for Dublin; we'd spend the next 10 years coming to that conclusion, and we have with plenty of similar types
lacks pace cant win or create own ball n scores. obvious from long way out
For Dublin yes. For us, no
Quote from: Giovanni on April 27, 2023, 11:34:17 PM
If population was the key, Meath and Kildare - basically one-code counties - should be permanently Division 1. It doesn't work like that. You need a team to be motivated and well prepared.
I didn't say it was the key. I said it helped. It's far more likely to happen, and more often, than it is for us
It would be nothing short of a disaster for either of those counties to be in Division 4. Sadly it's becoming our norm