Well Laois heads is there any new talent thats gonna take us to the next step?
I've heard about a fella called Ramsbottom who plays for Round Towers in Dublin suppose to be good
Any others?
There was a junior team in Timahoe one time and there were fifteen Ramsbottom's on it !
John Ramsbottom owns teh Park Inn in Harolds Cross, I wonder if it is the son.?
Not sure just heard my Da talking about him over christmas.There was about a dozen Ramsbottoms in Heywood C.S when i was there too!!!
I thought the ramsbottom playing for Towers was yer man Greg ramsbottom and had just transferred up to towers ( for a few shekels) like Mick Lawlor did a few years ago....
I'm prob wrong
actually i think you're correct - along with Tomkelly who played with towers for a year.
Yeah ye are right.. From what i can make out Micko didn't fancy him for some reason, looks like Kearns is gonna give him a chance though
ah greg, is a fine footballer, although he is probably in his late 20's now. he is originally from strabally. played ball with him in college.
wonder will we see any new faces for game against Kildare on sunday?
You will definetly need fresh blood, last years crop are not up to it now or ever.
It's Greg alright. Minor in 1995. Ex Park/Ratheniska and Stradbally, now with Round Towers in Clondalkin. OK player but hardly going to revolutionise Laois football.
As for your comment Mannix, piss right off. "Last year's crop" wouldn't have made a show of themselves in the All-Ireland final anyway. Mayo got it up their hole to beat them by 2 after a replay so don't underestimate them.
Quote from: The PRO on January 05, 2007, 03:02:10 PM
"Last year's crop" wouldn't have made a show of themselves in the All-Ireland final anyway.
Laois wouldn't of made a show of themselves in AI final and that's for sure.
They save such performances for Leinster semi-final drubbing against Dublin. (3-17 vs 0-12)
Now explain to me how Laois would of coped against Kerry. :-[ for you !
The Laois-Dublin game you refer to wasn't over after 5 minutes anyway.
Whoever mannix is was a bit dismissive of Laois who have improved no end in recent years. There's not much wrong with the current Laois team and we don't need assholes coming on and running them down like that.
Quote from: dodo on January 05, 2007, 03:21:31 PM
Quote from: The PRO on January 05, 2007, 03:02:10 PM
"Last year's crop" wouldn't have made a show of themselves in the All-Ireland final anyway.
Laois wouldn't of made a show of themselves in AI final and that's for sure.
They save such performances for Leinster semi-final drubbing against Dublin. (3-17 vs 0-12)
Now explain to me how Laois would of coped against Kerry. :-[ for you !
Dublin game was a freak and remember Longford should have beaten the Dubs..You can't judge Laois's perfomance against Dublin as the full measure of the teams ability,what about the games against Tyrone,Meath,Offaly and Mayo? Laois are top 5 in the country and with the hype of Micko gone i think we are dark horses next year
laoislad, any word on Donal Millar and Mick Brennan, are they anywhere near the county scene?
You mean Barry Brennan? Yeah Barry is back alright haven't heard anything bout Miller will know more after game on sunday
nah mick brennan, he played under`21 for laois, i think he is round the leixlip area, maybe he is just gone off the radar in laois.
With all due respect lads dark horses for what?- you aren't top 5 in my opinion and i would say you are invisible rather than dark. I don't think dublin are world beaters eitherand i think we'll fall short again but laois haven't aprayer of lifting sam next year and you can quote me on that.
No offence lads - but i just don't think you have enough talent to land the big one- ther eis a world of difference between winning leinster and winning the all-ireland. aside from tom kelly- clancy- brennan and munnelly and if beano was back to form who else have you got?
Kerry have a better bench than most of the first 15 selections in the rest of the country- that's the standard required to win Sam and i can't see how a team that gets annialiated in the leinster semi one year could all of a sudden lift Sam -you need about 8 players in my view.
ah well i'll be the first to say Laois are unlikely to win the All Ireland next year but for anyone to say Laois need 8 players is totally off the wall...
Laois could certainly do with a full back to release Rooney back to the half back line and it would be nice to discover one or two devasting inside forwards (the majority of top counties all seem to have at least one). After that i suppose maybe a half forward of the Brian Dooher or Paul Galvin mould would certainly help these players are just not in the county.
If Laois need eight players, Dublin wouldnt be too far off that figure either... dont forget in the end ye did lose to Mayo just like us..
and how can how can anyone list off Laois best players without mentioning either Joe Higgins (best in county), Fergal Byron or even Aidan Fennely. Laois are probably the 5/6 strongest county in Ireland and apart from a drubbing from Dublin last year we actually played up to our potential.
I'd fancy Laois to give the Dubs a right lash in the Leinster final if we get there and hopefully then the record will be set straight
You beat me too it haze was just about to mention Higgins and Byron
I never said Laois will win the All Ireland i just meant that we are dark horses and maybe someone is gonna come from nowhere this year so why not Laois we have as good a chance as anyone outside the top 2 (Kerry,Tyrone) We are defo in top 5/6 in country
On a personal note i'd be happy with Leinster and i think odds of 7/2 i think? are too good not too put a bet on
The joy s of working nights...................
7 players in my view
2 wing backs
a midfielder
2 half forwards
2 inside forwards
I doubt Dublin need 8 - we need about 3 - a full back and 2 forwards- but there is no guarantee we'll find the replacements. We may have lost to Mayo but the management have to take their fair share of the blame for that by making changes only they saw. I still believe its Kerry's to lose hopefully some of their players will stay in Oz.
Remember i'm talking about winning the All -Ireland-actually lifting it not kust getting there. I still believe Laois bought far too much into believeing their minor winning teams are still superstars the best player ross munnelly never played on any of them.
Do you think Dublin are that much better than Laois? Come on Josey you can't go on last years result either
Im not saying Laois are better than Dublin either but to suggest Laois need 7 players and the Dubs only need 3 is a bit extreme
In my opinion Kerry and Tyrone despite lasts years horror show from Tyrone are top of the tree and my money would be on Tyrone next year
After that Armagh just edge Dublin Mayo Laois and Cork in no particular order and after that you have your Galways Meaths etc
Disagree- there is no guarantee Tyrone will recover from injuries as well. Some of them were serious injuries and it could take a couple of years to get back to their previous form - so I don't agree with you on that. Kerry have the luxury of guaranteed entry into the last 8 every year because the standard in the province is rubbish. that's a hell of an advantage.
I appreciate you don't agree with my assessment of Laois- but i think you're very weak in the half back line and the half-forward line and I think other teams have targetted that.. You've a good full back line- good keeper- good centre back- good midfielder and 3 good forwards when on form- but i thought even Mayo over-ran you in the engine room. Colm Begley was an awful loss as e was probably worth 3 players in that department.
I'm well aware of our weakenesses and the scoreline last eyar was a bit of a freak- but i still think if the teams played tomorrow Dublin would have the edge whetehr we can maintain that in the coming season remains to be seen.
Quote from: Josey Whales on January 07, 2007, 11:42:49 AM
Disagree- there is no guarantee Tyrone will recover from injuries as well. Some of them were serious injuries and it could take a couple of years to get back to their previous form - so I don't agree with you on that. Kerry have the luxury of guaranteed entry into the last 8 every year because the standard in the province is rubbish. that's a hell of an advantage.
I appreciate you don't agree with my assessment of Laois- but i think you're very weak in the half back line and the half-forward line and I think other teams have targetted that.. You've a good full back line- good keeper- good centre back- good midfielder and 3 good forwards when on form- but i thought even Mayo over-ran you in the engine room. Colm Begley was an awful loss as e was probably worth 3 players in that department.
I'm well aware of our weakenesses and the scoreline last eyar was a bit of a freak- but i still think if the teams played tomorrow Dublin would have the edge whetehr we can maintain that in the coming season remains to be seen.
Game on so see ye in Leinster Final ;D
LAOIS Team v Kildare- M Nolan; N Donagher, C Ryan, R Stapleton; P O'Leary, T Kelly, P Begley; P Clancy, B Quigley; G Kavanagh, C Conway, D Murphy; M Tierney, B McCormack, R Munnelly.
Laois 1-11 Kildare 0-07
Good win think it's Louth next
Senior Football: MJ Tierney (Ballyroan Gaels)
Inter Football: John O'Loughlin (Mountmellick)
Junior Football: Kieran Delaney (Park/Ratheniska)
Junior B Football: Tom Gormley (Mountmellick)
Under 21 Football: Cahir Healy (Portlaoise)
Minor Football: John Scully (Stradbally Parish Gaels)
Senior Hurling: Pat Mahon (Rathdowney/Errill)
Inter Hurling: Dermot McGill (Ballyfin)
Junior Hurling: Gearoid Walsh (Kyle)
Junior B Hurling: John Kavanagh (Borris in Ossory)
Under 21 Hurling: John Brophy (Harps Gaels)
Minor Football: Willie Hyland (Clough-Ballacolla)
Quote from: youbetterbelieveit on January 05, 2007, 09:26:46 PM
nah mick brennan, he played under`21 for laois, i think he is round the leixlip area, maybe he is just gone off the radar in laois.
Plays for the Abbeyleix club. Won senior medal last year with the Ballyroan Gaels (Ballyroan/Abbeyleix) amalgamation. Good player but doubt if he is senior county standard. Think he might have been out of the country prior to that.
On the awards winners, I think Gordon Lawlor should have edged the intermediate football.
definitely agree that gordon lawlor should have won the award. While John O Loughlin is one for the future, Lawlor deserves it for his years of service alone
I see Greg Ramsbottom has left Round Towers this week and is playing with Stradbally this year.
On the subject of Laois being in the top five, they are and have as goood a chance of winning Leinster as anyone else, especially the Dub's. Laois footballers didn't loose to Dublin last year, the manager did, he made an arse of it and he knows it. He said Fergal Byron and a few of the lads got together and demanded different training methods and different tactics and he stood back and let them at it. He then said he was taking a more personal involvement in the training after the defeat ! And so he should have. If I was getting a hundred grand and a four bed house under my arse for free I'd be taking a personal interest all the time. He was either the manager or he wasn't.
On the current team debate, I am sick and tired listening to those saying we are too light, need more players and a general copycat rant that is going on for the last year or two. I hope Pillar is of the same opinion that our lads are still as weak physically as they were when they won the Leinster Final and that the training they are now undergoing will not see an older, wiser and stronger outfit this year. I would rather have an age group that are on the way up than some of those who are unfortunately on the way out any day. Like I say, we had two bad games of football last year IMO, the game against the Dub's and the first game against Mayo.
In the game against Mayo I saw players in the kick out landing zone walking away with their back to Fergal Byron when he was approaching the kick out. I saw players walking aimlessly around the field as if they were out looking for mushrooms and yet they could have and should have won that game. If Donie Brennan was good enough to come on for the last three minutes he was good enough to come on for the last twenty but all in all we were two kicks of a ball away from an All-Ireland and the Dub's can't seem to handle that.
Not great yesterday. I suppose a win is a win. Impressed with Wooly, Clancy and Madigan. Our beloved neighbours next Sunday, should be a bit more intensive.
match commentry can be found here http://www.midlandsradio.fm/
good win today,by all accounts a great match with some good scores from both sides in very bad weather..The Dubs again now i wonder will we put out our strongest team?
I hope we dont. The lads who got us, there no matter what there prospects are for making the championship 15, deserve to be given a chance in the final and no better test than the Dubs at this time of the year to test their credentials. I really hope Paul Lawlor is given a prolonged stint in the first 15. A real classy player, definitely the best off the ball mover in the panel after munnelly, though its a pity he doesnt have a bit more pace..
who will solve our full back problems? i dont rate Byrne in the slightest and it would look like Rooney is still the best option though i believe we could do with him around the half back line to pick up some more breaks
Right now that the O'Byrne cup is out of the way the serious action starts,What would be a good league campaign
I'd be happy with making Division 1 satus next year and maybe getting to semi finals of this years
Paul Lawlor lokks like he's coming good and going to make the grade.Wolly was awful against Dublin don't think he should start against Westmeath
Will Munnelly and co be back for Westmeath game does anyone know?
As far as i know Munnelly will be back for the westmeath game unsure about the others though. Garvan still has not rejoined the panel so he definitely won't be playing. I'd like to know when Chris Conway, Donie Brennan, Padraig McMahon and Aidan Fennelly are going to make a reappearence. Wooly i think is just not up to championship standard, he might make a very effective impact sub if he is happy to accept that role but otherwise he has not proved done anything to justify the Laois hype over the years bar a few league games.
also i don't rate Billy Sheahan and i would much rather see Paul Lawlor given a prolonged stint in the team as he has twice the skill and he is a scoring threat. oh and i wish Beano had an extra yard of pace... it would solve alot of our scoring woes. Maybe a fully fit Kevin Fitz could make a return to the forwads as it would appear we have plenty of defensive cover.
Agreed about Beano,It also looks sometimes that he afraid to shoot and passes instead and most of the time the chance is lost.
Whats story with Garvan anyways?
Garvan rejoining the panel next week.
Munnelly, B Brennan, Conway and Quigley should all be OK for Westweath game.
I believe Higgins, Fennelly and McMahon are a bit further behind in recovery terms
Donie Brennan dropped fron the Laois Senior Football squad.From what i hear it's because he didn't want to do weight training
Wasn't at game as i had other commitments,but by all regards Laois were woefull
Anyone at it?
Laois 3-26 V 2-09 Derry NHL 2A
nice win for the hurlers alright but we should walk division 2 this year.
hear the u-21's where lucky to beat wicklow. anyone at the game?
Good win for hurlers but in fairness we should be beating the likes of Armagh,Carlow,Wicklow,Derry and Meath quite easily anyways
Any team news for footballers?Will Higgins get a run or Garvan for that matter? Wonder will Munnellly keep his place he was woefull against Galway
Laois team v Louth
Byron,Ryan,Rooney,Staplelton,O'Leary,Kelly,McCormack
Clancy,Quigley
Sheehan,Lawlor,Conway,McDonald,Brennan,Munnelly
Wasn't at game the girlfriend was sick,but just off the phone to the auld lad he reckons Laois are going no where and not getting any better under the new manager and were lucky to get the draw
Anyone at the game from either Laois or Louth with a report?
Stapleton blow for Laois
Posted on March 2nd, 2007 by Editor
LAOIS footballers have suffered a blow with the news that corner Rory Stapleton is set to be ruled out for the rest of the NFL campaign, WRITES PADDY HICKEY.
The 21-year-old Stapleton, in his first year at senior inter-county level, dislocated his elbow in last Sunday's draw with Louth at Portlaoise.
He will be sidelined from the remaining league fixtures against Down, Derry, Armagh and Kildare.
The Annanough clubman did the damage when he collided with team-mate Joe Higgins just 20 minutes into the game. Last year, a leg injury ruled Stapleton out of the early stages of the Leinster U21 championship.
On the credit side for team boss Liam Kearns is that goalkeeper Fergal Byron and centre-back Tom Kelly are expected to be available for the March 11 clash away to Down after missing the Louth game because of 'flu.
Team for Sunday:
Nolan
Ryan Kelly Higgins
McMahaon Rooney McCormack
Garvan Clancy
Murphy Conway Kavanagh
McDonald Lawlor Munnelley
I seen today where the Pakastanis burnt cardboard effigies of their cricket team, there were street protests, riots and mock burials of the team after Ireland beat them at cricket.
Then I saw that we managed to beat Armagh in the hurling today after our team were beaten by Wicklow the last day out. (Wicklow could only draw with Carlow today)
My shovel is back in the shed, the car back in the driveway and the cardboard in the green bin. Maybe its onwards and upwards from here and it was just a glitch against Wicklow.
:D
Ah yeah we're back on the road Bud after putting the mighty Armagh to the sword !!
Good to hear from you, hope all's well with you.
Things looking up on the football front too with the Under 21's back in the Leinster final and the seniors looking for a result up in Derry which would really give them a shout at the league semis.
Aint we a great little county all the same!
I saw Begley had a great game in the U21's.
How did Donie do without having to go through the "Rocky" training regime?
I hope we get a few more days in Croker this year.
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/irish-folksongs-ballyroan-lyrics.html (http://www.lyricsdownload.com/irish-folksongs-ballyroan-lyrics.html)
That's a decent site there Bud. Liked this link on the page - http://www.livevideo.com/video/landing/488B9425D1CD4283964E8F5E9112859A/drunk-girl-on-pole.aspx?tx_site=lyricsdownload.com&tx_cid=591&tx_category=2
worth sticking with it until the last three seconds.
Where in Laois can I find her?
Quote from: Bud Wiser on March 20, 2007, 10:52:46 PM
Aint we a great little county all the same!
I saw Begley had a great game in the U21's.
How did Donie do without having to go through the "Rocky" training regime?
Quigley, Bud, Quigley. Begley's the lad playing Down Under footie.
Donie did fine but I heard his club performance in a league game the next day was something to behold.
Sorry about that Hesh, I am a disaster at Quigleys and Begleys and Phelans and Whelans and Mallons and Mellons etc. I was at a wedding there a year or so back (speaking of Begley) and the brother-in-law got a not so good looking pint. He said to the barman,, "a come on for jaysus sake, put a Ken on that for me" and the barman said "what" and he said "Head" as in Bigley. Sick or what?
Laois (SF v Derry): M Nolan; C Ryan, K Fitzpatrick, J Higgins; P McMahon, D Rooney, B McCormack; N Garvan, P Clancy; C Kavanagh, C Conway, D Murphy; B McDonald, P Lawlor, R Munnelly.
Barry Brennan not included ???
Two good results on sunday with the Hurlers winning well and the Footballers drawing even though they were cheated here are both match reports NFL Div 1B-Laois denied by controversial umpiring decision
Posted on March 25th, 2007 by Editor
Football League Division 1B
Derry 1-11 - 1-11 Laois
Derry grabbed a controversial 1-11 to 1-11 draw with Laois at Celtic Park this afternoon, thanks to an injury-time point from Conleth Gilligan.
The Laois management were angered when a 67th-minute point attempt from Ross Munnelly was ruled out by Donegal referee Jimmy White, after one umpire had waved it over.
Paul Lawlor's 1-2 haul got Laois off to a flyer but the Oak Leafers bounced back to trail by 1-5 to 1-2 at half-time.
Paddy Bradley netted for Derry in the 24th-minute and finished with a 1-4 tally.
Defenders Peter O'Leary and Padraig McMahon kept Laois ahead but Gilligan's fourth point ensured a stalemate.
In sunny conditions, Padraig Clancy rampaged through to open the scoring for Laois who soon motored into a 1-4 to 0-0 lead.
Lawlor scored his 1-2 in the space of three hectic minutes as Chris Conway fed him for a left-footed goal finish and he cracked over two points to savour.
Conway tagged on Laois' fourth point before Derry belatedly got on the scoresheet, 17 minutes in, through Barry McGoldrick, who was a late call-up to the side in place of the injured Joe Keenan.
Bradley, who is back from a troublesome hamstring injury, showed the hosts what they have been missing when he hared onto a long ball-in from Enda Muldoon and a mix-up in the Laois defence, which saw goalkeeper Nolan rush out, allowed the Glenullin attacker dance through and fire to an empty net.
Bradley added a free which was cancelled out by Munnelly just before the interval.
Derry were left cursing six wides in the opening half while they also kicked a lot of balls into Nolan's arms. Despite the introduction for Laois of Brendan Quigley, which came on for Gary Kavanagh, the home side responded well with Gilligan and Bradley the tormentors in chief.
Derry led 1-9 to 1-8 as the game entered its final ten minutes - Bradley (0-3), Gilligan (0-2) and James Conway (0-2) all fired over as Paddy Crozier's men made use of some lacklustre defending.
A Quigley point levelled the game for the second occasion, but Derry broke in front once more thanks to a Gilligan score. Good work from O'Leary and McMahon, who looked accomplished on energy-sapping raids forward, helped Laois take a 1-11 to 1-10 lead in the 70th-minute.
However, Gilligan drew the sides level again and although Laois strung together a real team movement in the third minute of injury-time, a late Brian McCormack kick agonisingly fell wide of the target.
SCORERS - Derry: Paddy Bradley 1-4 (2f); C Gilligan 0-4 (2f); J Conway 0-2; E Muldoon, B McGoldrick 0-1 each. Laois: P Lawlor 1-2; R Munnelly 0-3; B Quigley 0-2; C Conway, P Clancy, P McMahon, P O'Leary 0-1 each.
DERRY - S O'Kane; K McGuckin, K McCloy, R Murray; P O'Hea, SM Lockhart, G O'Kane; F Doherty, J Conway; B McGoldrick, C Gilligan, Paddy Bradley; R Wilkinson, E Muldoon, P Bradley. Subs: M Lynch for McGoldrick (47); Patsy Bradley for G O'Kane (52); J Diver for Wilkinson (54).
LAOIS - M Nolan; C Ryan, K Fitzpatrick, J Higgins; P McMahon, D Rooney, B McCormick; P Clancy, N Garvan; G Kavanagh, C Conway, D Murphy; B McDonald, P Lawlor, R Munnelly. Subs: B Quigley for Kavanagh (h-t); P O'Leary for Conway (60); B Sheahan for Murphy (65).
NHL Div 2A-Laois blow Meath away
Posted on March 25th, 2007 by Editor
Hurling League Division 2A
Laois 4-17 - 2-05 Meath
Laois kept up the heat on Wicklow with a comfortable 4-17 to 2-5 win over Meath in Portlaoise on Sunday.
Willie Hyland hit 2-4 as the O'Moore County had little trouble in overpowering their Leinster rivals.
The men in blue and white led 2-10 to 1-3 at the interval, while their scoring prowess continued to better that of the Royals and as two further goals were added, Meath's promotion ambitions were ended.
Impressive Laois leave Armagh in their wake
Laois shot to the top of the Division 1B standings after an excellent display in a 1-13 to 0-8 defeat of Armagh at O'Moore Park.
Despite losing goalscorer Brendan Quigley to a 27th-minute red card, Laois effectively had the points in the bag as they led 1-8 to 0-2 at half-time.
Michael Tierney was an able deputy for the injured Ross Munnelly while the home fans were in raptures when midfielder Quigley netted in the eighth-minute.
Quigley saw red for striking as the first half came to a fractious finish.
The visitors included Kieran McGeeney and Diarmuid Marsden but they were second best throughout and are now in serious danger of plummeting into Division Three for next year.
The Orchard men were guilty of another poor start as Laois left them in their wake. Liam Kearns' home side were 1-4 to 0-1 to the good by the first half's midpoint.
Brian 'Beano' McDonald and Tierney each sent over a free before some neat build-up play from Darren Rooney allowed Quigley to stride through and left-foot to the Armagh net.
Quigley's inclusion allowed Padraig Clancy forage in the half-forwards and Laois looked close to their attacking best in the opening stages, roared on by a vocal crowd.
Steven McDonnell's tenth-minute point got Armagh on the scoreboard, after some early wides from Marsden and Finian Moriarty.
However, that was the 2005 league champions' only point from play in the first half as Paddy McKeever added their second score from a free.
Two more Tierney points, coupled with white flags for David Murphy and McDonald efforts, saw Laois push on for a 1-6 to 0-2 buffer before Quigley's part in a melee saw him earn a straight red card.
Laois were not deterred and the sending-off hardly put them off their stride as two more Tierney frees saw them move eight points ahead for the interval.
Armagh's fortunes improved slightly on the resumption when McDonnell and McKeever (free) cancelled out points from McDonald and Clancy, who fisted over the bar.
But Chris Conway, who fitted easily into the role as Laois' play-maker, increased his influence with a lovely point from the right wing.
Conway added his second soon after, but Armagh had a slight spell of dominance with Paul McGrane, Marsden and McDonnell all bisecting the posts.
Nevertheless, the scores dried up and Martin O'Rourke's injury-time point was only a consolation for Joe Kernan's outfit as it followed an impressive over from Laois' Peter O'Leary.
SCORERS
LAOIS: Michael Tierney 0-5 (three frees, two '45s), Brendan Quigley 1-0, Brian McDonald 0-3 (two frees), Chris Conway 0-2, Padraig Clancy, David Murphy and Peter O'Leary 0-1 each
ARMAGH: Steven McDonnell 0-4 (all frees), Diarmuid Marsden, Martin O'Rourke, Paul McGrane and Paddy McKeever (free) 0-1 each
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leinster Minor Football Championship Result
Laois 4-20
Kilkenny 0-06
Quigley reinstated for Saturaday evening's Under 21 tie, at last we get a break in one of these disciplinary sagas.
Laois 0.6, Offaly 1.1, half time score in U21final.
Laois 0.7. Offaly 1.2, 4mins into 2nd half
Laois 0.12, Offaly, 1.6 , 27 min gone 2nd half.
Laois 0.13, Offaly 1.7, final score Laois retain u21 Leinster championship.
Congratulations to Laois and best wishes going forward.
Thank you to the Offaly U21s for their efforts.
Up the Faithful!
Great win for U/21s today the Laois conveyer belt of underage talent keeps rolling
Micheal John Tierney was excellent and won man of the match,he will be a big player for the seniors in the championship
Very attacking side. Some poor shooting but the oppurtunites were created. If your forwards are on song in the final, you wil win it.
Very disappointing from Mayo perspective. Fell to pieces after we had man sent off and Moran (midfielder) went off injured. Mind boggling that our sideline left our best player (No. 11) in the full forward line for 50 minutes where no ball was going and brought him out when the game was lost expecting him to perform a Houdini act.
For anyone that was watching it on TV - did the keeper save the penalty or did it hit the post ? and was the Mayo sending off justified ? It looked more like the Mayo guy lost his footing as he was going in with the shoulder and ending up taking the legs from under the Laois guy but i was on the opposite side of the ground so may be wrong.
Fair play for Laois though, they upped their game in the 2nd half and reduced their error count dramatically unlike Mayo and were well deserving winners
25 mins gone Div 2 League Final
Laois 0-11
Wicklow 0-03
An hour gone and Laois are running away with it
Laois 1-16
Wicklow 0-07
Full Time
Laois 2-18
Wicklow 0-08
If we manage to beat Limerick in playoffs (which is a joke by the way as we should be promoted as champions and not have to play a playoff)
it will mean Laois and Galway are the only two counties in Ireland with both senior codes playing in thne First Division
Would this make us the joint best GAA county in Ireland ;)
Garden cut down to size by Young
Laois 2-19
Wicklow 0-8
NHL Division 2 final
THE harsh lessons learned at Arklow back in early March were most advantageously applied at Semple Stadium yesterday when Laois overwhelmed a disappointing Wicklow in this NHL Division Two final.
Wicklow pulled off a sensational 4-12 to 2-17 victory over the O'Moore County that day, but yesterday the tables were turned in emphatic fashion, with Laois seizing the initiative from an early stage.
The Midland outfit enjoyed a distinct advantage, with only midfielder Leighton Glynn, and half-forwards Jonathan O'Neill and Don Hyland, matching Laois for skill and application.
In contrast, centre-forward James Young, Laois's man-of-the-match, capped a glorious performance with a whopping total of 10 points, four from play and six from placed balls.
But it wasn't only in the scoring department that the Tinnahinch club-man excelled. His spectacular high catching was one of the outstanding features of the contest, and his passing accuracy set up a number of scores.
"I wasn't surprised by the fact that we won so comfortably," insisted Laois manager Damien Fox, whose charges face Limerick on Sunday week, to decide which of the two counties will play in Division One next year.
"Despite the result in Arklow, I felt we were a better hurling team than Wicklow. At the time of the last match against Wicklow, we were right in the middle of a heavy block of training and a number of the lads had been out until early on Sunday morning attending club dinner dances.
Missed
"The one disappointing aspect of the game was that I felt we should have won by more - we missed a lot of chances."
Any hope for the previously unbeaten Wicklow repeating their success was significantly damaged when full-forward Wayne O'Gorman, who scored two goals in the Arklow fixture, was forced to retire with an arm injury after a collision with opposing full-back Darren Rooney on 32 minutes.
By that stage, though, Laois had already moved into a 0-11 to 0-3 lead. It's a measure of the poverty of Wicklow's performance that they had to wait until the 33rd minute for their first score from play, Hyland opening his account after O'Neill had registered the Garden County's first three scores from placed balls.
Although playing against the wind in the second half, Laois severely dented their opponents' prospects with two points on the trot, Young placing Willie Hyland for the first and added the second himself.
Wicklow substitute Alan Tiernan, who plays his club hurling with Dublin's Kilmacud Crokes, shot two excellent points from play but their two remaining scores came from placed balls.
Wicklow supremo John Mitchell rued the loss of O'Gorman. He said: "Laois played at a tempo that we were unable to cope with, and we were struggling in a lot of areas. Although we were seven points down (0-4 to 0-11) at half-time, we were still hopeful, as we had played against a strong wind.
"But unfortunately we lost our main scorer, Wayne O'Gorman, just before half-time, and then we missed a number of scoring chances early in the second half."
As well as Young, Darren Rooney, Michael McEvoy, Joe Fitzpatrick, Hyland and Jason Phelan particularly stood out for the winners, who put the outcome beyond doubt when John Brophy picked up a long ball and drove past Wicklow 'keeper Tom Finn on 47 minutes.
Four minutes from time, Wicklow were ruthlessly punished again as sub Noel Costello added a second goal.
SCORERS - Laois: J Young 0-10 (6f), W Hyland 0-4, J Brophy, N Costello 1-0 each, Jason Phelan 0-2, Joe Phelan, P Russell, E Jackman 0-1 each. Wicklow: J O'Neill 0-4 (4f), A Tiernan 0-2, D Hyland, J Keogh 0-1 each.
LAOIS - P Mullaney; B Campion, D Rooney, C Fitzpatrick; M McEvoy, M Whelan, C Dunne; J Fitzpatrick, S Dollard; W Hyland, J Young, J Brophy; Joe Phelan, T Fitzgerald, Jason Phelan. Subs: N Costello for Joe Phelan (57), P Russell for Jason Phelan (62), E Jackman for Hyland (64), D McGill for Dollard (67), B Ferns for C Fitzpatrick (70).
WICKLOW - T Finn; E O'Neill, G Keogh, W Collins; G Birmingham, J Murphy, L Kennedy; L Glynn, D Moran; J O'Neill, D Hyland, G Doran; S Furlong, W O'Gorman, S Kelly. Subs: A Tiernan for O'Gorman (inj, 32), A Furlong for Kennedy (inj, half-time), B Stones for Moran (43), J Keogh for Kelly (57), E O'Sullivan for Doran (60).
REF - S McMahon (Clare).
* The importance of the presentation of the Division 2 NHL cup to Laois captain Joe Fitzpatrick was downgraded with the emergence of the Kilkenny team from the dressing rooms even before the cup was presented. Waterford emerged shortly after with the presentation still in full flow as Fitzpatrick made his acceptance speech.
Limerick hold off brave Laois challenge
NHL PLAYOFF FOR DIV 1 STATUS
Limerick 3-15 Laois 1-13
Limerick held off a brave Laois challenge -3-15 to 1-13 - at McDonagh Park in Nenagh on Saturday evening to retain their National Hurling League Division 1 status for next year.
The Treaty Men looked set to pull off another rout, following their 6-10 1-18 defeat of Offaly last time out, when Andrew O'Shaughnessy quickly gave his side a 1-2 to 0-1 lead by the 10th minute.
James Young though kept Laois in touch with an exhibition of score-taking and free-taking, including one superb point directly from a sideline ball.
By the 21st minute the deficit was reaching crisis point as Ollie Moran connected, first time, to send the sliotar, past Paddy Mullally, in the Laois net.
O'Moore County captain Joe Fitzpatrick's snapshot soon after made it 2-4 to 0-4 and signaled that his side would not lie down.
Tinnahinch clubman Young then hit five scores to Limerick's two to leave just three between the sides at the interval - 2-6 to 0-9.
Laois' revival continued in the early part of the second half with Young cracking over another three scores to cut Limerick's advantage down to just two.
But Shannonside manager Richie Bennis made a double substitution, with Brian Begley and Pat Tobin coming on, to wake his side up. And scores from full forward Sean O'Connor, Tobin and O'Shaughnessy (2) quickly restored Limerick's six-point advantage.
One of the more notable duals in this encounter was the show of marksmanship from O'Shaughnessy and Young, who traded scores from all manner of angles throughout the 70 minutes.
Limerick did need to keep on their toes in the final quarter though and were it not for a fantastic save in the 62nd minute by Offaly's Brian Mullins from Philip Russell, the result could have been far different.
O'Shaughnessy then confirmed Limerick's Division 1 status with a well-taken penalty with just a minute of regulation time remaining on the clock.
At the other end of the field, less than 60 seconds later, Laois substitute James Walsh gave the scoreline a more respectable appearance when he touched a brilliant Young free to the net in the dying moments.
Dubs dazzled as purple patch propels Laois to handy win
Laois 2-12
Dublin 1-3
Leinster MFC replay
AN eight-minute purple patch that yielded a 1-4 helped propel Laois to an ultimately comfortable victory over Dublin in last night's ESB Leinster MFC quarter-final replay at a rainswept O'Moore Park.
Donie Kingston was the star for the winners, weighing in with six points and a super display.
The hosts began well, dominating the midfield exchanges, but a combination of profligate shooting plus three kicks that dropped short meant that initial progress was slow.
Indeed, Dignam was called into action in the opening minute when making a sensational save from a Mark Coughlan blockbuster.
Dublin opened the scoring from a Barry O'Rourke free, but Laois finally found their shooting boots, with Kingston slotting two frees and John O'Loughlin rampaging forward for a fine point.
A 20th minute goal by Shane Gallagher, following a sumptuous Brendan Staunton pass, heralded a brief period of ascendancy for the Sky Blues and Gallagher followed up with a point inside 60 seconds to push them two points clear.
Smyth's 25th minute goal restored Laois's advantage, however, and they never relinquished it, with three points in as many minutes giving them a 1-7 to 1-2 interval lead.
Kingston was irresistible in the second half, causing mayhem as Laois put their visitors to the sword.
The 16-year-old added three further points to his tally as well as setting up the goal, while Dublin could only manage one point - from a Ted Furman 45 - eight minutes from the end.
SCORERS - Laois: B Smyth 2-2, D Kingston 0-6 (0-3f), Z Tuohy, J O'Loughlin, C Meredith (f), E Kelly 0-1 each. Dublin: S Gallagher, 1-1, B O'Rourke (f), T Furman (45) 0-1 each.
LAOIS - M Webster; R Keogh, J Mulhare, J Connor; C Lillis, C Boyle, Z Tuohy; S Ramsbottom, J O'Loughlin; B Smyth, C Meredith, C Farrell; S Miller, D Kingston, E Kelly 0-1. Subs: C Delaney for Farrell; D Lowry for Ramsbottom; C Hyland for Smyth.
DUBLIN - J Dignam; R O'Loughlin, R O'Carroll, D Lynch; J Cooper, S Casserley, N Brogan; K O'Connor, D Moher; M Coughlan, C McLoughlin, B Staunton; B O'Rourke, S Gallagher, T Furman. Subs: F McMahon for O'Connor; C Dorney for Gallagher; J Edwards for O'Loughlin.
REF - S Carroll (Westmeath)
-
Laois have named a massive seven championship debutants for Sunday's Guinness Leinster SHC quarter-final meeting with Offaly in Tullamore.
Kieran Fitzpatrick, Matthew Whelan, Conor Dunne, Shane Dollard, Willie Hyland, John Brophy and Jason Phelan will all make their Liam McCarthy Cup bow against the Faithful County.
Ace marksman James Young will line out at centre forward instead of his more common midfield berth.
Manager Damien Fox has opted to stick with the side that lost 3-15 to 1-13 against Limerick in the National Hurling League Division 1 Promotion/Relegation playoff earlier this month.
Fox though has opted to make two positional switches with Joe Phelan dropping back from right corner forward to left wing forward and John Brophy moving in the other direction in a direct swap.
LAOIS: P Mullaney; C Healy, D Rooney, K Fitzpatrick; M McEvoy, M Whelan, C Dunne; J Fitzpatrick, S Dollard; W Hyland, J Young, Joe Phelan; J Brophy, T Fitzgerald, Jason Phelan.
I have a good feeling about this game,there just might be a shock in store for the BIFFOS
The latest news from the Laois camp:
* James Young has been absent from training all week with an illness - however Manager Fox has confirmed to the panel that he will play on Sunday.
* Weather conditions forecasted: http://metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/dayforecast.asp?day=2&zipcode=Offaly - an improvement over recent forecasts which were for 7c and heavy rain. Looked like a repeat of last year's "Aqua Hurling"
* Cahir Healy has nailed his flag to the hurling post for 2007 after turning down an invitation to the Senior Footballers. The U21 Football Captain that lost the AI to Cork this year cited commitments to too many squads for his refusal but indicated he'd love to join the panel for 2008.
* Darren Rooney is also a footballer who will continue his duel status in 2007. He is named at No.3 for Sundays clash with Offaly. Since his return he has steadied the defence and made the position his own.
Laois take first tentative steps in Leinster
Laois 0-14 Longford 0-09
Laois came to the fore in the second half of tonight's Leinster SFC quarter-final at Tullamore, overhauling Longford for a 0-14 to 0-09 victory and a place in the provincial semi-finals.
Helped by the shooting of Michael Tierney (0-04) and Padraig Clancy (0-02), the O'Moore men triumphed against a Longford side that finished with a galling wides tally of 15.
Brian Kavanagh's 0-04 haul saw Longford take a one-point lead in at the break - 0-06 to 0-05. They moved 0-08 to 0-05 ahead, but the turning point came in the 57th minute.
Longford substitute Padraig Berry had a goal ruled out and Laois took their cue, scoring five of the game's final six points to book their place in Leinster's last-four.
Laois had to alter their team before the throw-in as former All-Star Tom Kelly failed a fitness test on a groin injury, meaning Cathal Ryan was moved across to full-back and Aidan Fennelly was drafted in at right corner-back.
Helped by a brisk wind, Longford nabbed an early lead but it was Laois who almost catapulted themselves ahead with a first-minute goal.
Liam Kearns' men hit the woodwork twice within the opening 40 seconds with Ross Munnelly cracking his initial shot off an upright and then left-footing off the crossbar from a tighter angle.
Brian McCormack also watched his fourth-minute shot narrowly miss Damien Sheridan's far post, but while Longford meandered into a 0-04 to 0-00 lead, Laois always looked capable of pegging them back.
Brian Kavanagh's ability to win and point frees was key as Longford hit the front. The 20-year-old corner-forward, who operated in a two-man full-forward line alongside David Barden, sent over four frees in the opening half.
Longford's interval advantage could and should have had added cushion, but Kavanagh missed two kickable placed balls in injury-time, moving his side's wides tally to a frustrating ten.
Although they were struggling to keep tabs on Kavanagh, Laois came more and more into the game as the half progressed.
After Paddy Dowd, who rocketed over a shot from the right, and Kevin Mulligan, who fisted over after being set up by David Barden, had nudged Longford four points clear, Laois finally opened their account.
It was all of 20 minutes before Noel Garvan chipped in with Laois' opening point. A good interchange between the half-forwards led to half-back Padraig McMahon pointing and a Brian McDonald free cut Longford's advantage to 0-04 to 0-03.
The sides were level on 26 minutes when Munnelly pointed on the rebound after a Paul Lawlor shot had cannoned back off the crossbar.
Kavanagh and Tierney then exchanged frees before the former sent Luke Dempsey's side in at the break, one point to the good, by angling over his lengthiest free of the tie.
Cheered on by the boisterous travelling support, Longford made a business-like start to the second half with the Barden brothers, Paul and David, both pointing within six minutes of the resumption.
However, as the rain began to fall, Laois increased the tempo and their forward unit began to click as they registered the next four points with 'Beano' McDonald (free), livewire Tierney, who sent over a point from play and a well-struck free, and skipper Clancy, who blazed over from distance, rallying their blue-shirted team mates.
Then came the moment which Dempsey and his management team will pore over in their video analysis.
David Barden launched a high ball into the square from wide out on the left, Laois goalkeeper Fergal Byron looked to have it covered but Longford's Berry brilliantly rose highest to punch the ball to the net.
A goal then and Longford would have retaken the lead at 1-08 to 0-09, yet referee Vincent Neary ruled the effort out for an infringement.
The decision broke Longford hearts but seemingly gave another jolt to the Laois attack as Tierney, Chris Conway, Clancy, Lawlor and McCormack all fired over points in the closing quarter-hour.
Free-taker Kavanagh did reduce the gap for a time to 0-12 to 0-09. However, Laois had found an extra gear by then and, despite a sluggish start, their second half display was enough to see them through to a June 24 meeting against either Louth, Wicklow or Wexford.
Laois: F Byron; A Fennelly, C Ryan, J Higgins; P McMahon (0-01), D Rooney, B McCormack (0-01); B Quigley, N Garvan (0-01); R Munnelly (0-01), C Conway (0-01), P Clancy (capt) (0-02); M Tierney (0-04, 2f), P Lawlor (0-01), B McDonald (0-02, 2f).
Subs used: P O'Leary for Fennelly (42 mins), B Sheehan for Garvan (52), C Parkinson for Munnelly (69).
Longford: D Sheridan (capt); D Brady, D Masterson, D Reilly; S Mulligan, D Hannify, N Farrell; B McElvaney, L Keenan; T Smullen, P Barden (0-01), P Dowd (0-01); D Barden (0-01), K Mulligan (0-01), B Kavanagh (0-05, 5f).
Subs used: P Berry for Dowd (56 mins), N Sheridan for Mulligan (61), J Martin for Smullen (63), K Smith for Keenan (69).
Referee: Vincent Neary (Mayo).
Filed under: Laois Football