Messages

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fair play!

Absolutely fantastic performance, great work in the backs, and some superb shooting in the forwards. No goals, but that Laoise were the ones w/ the chances, shows how effective the defence, and the sweeper system, was. A great spell in the second quarter, when four down, to get 0-8 without reply and go in four up. And, importantly, the concentration didn't waver in the last 10 minutes. Quite a sight to see the Offaly faithful streaming out at that stage!
Delighted for them all, but most of all for the old servants; the likes of Tommy Fitz, Joe Fitz, and - yes - Matt Whelan, who all had stormers.
Now, a quandary: the seniors in Tullamore, June 20th in a semi-final, and the minors in a semi-final on June 20th in Nowlan Park... What to do?

I think Foyle is still injured. Anyway, he probably hasn't done enough hurling lately. However, Maher should certainly start.

I hope you're right. We'll see...

Personally, I find it hard to be optimistic about the hurlers. I've seen too many let-downs against Offaly, and they haven't beaten them in championship since 1972, or something, so many of us - myself included - haven't seen it. On the other hand, I think the footballers will probably beat Kildare, who aren't going great at the moment. Mind you, I'm no expert on that...

I have a big favor to ask. It's been a few years since I've been following the hurling back there and I'd like to reacquaint myself with the County panel. Would someone list the players who've played the most in League and the Championship this year and note what club the players are from? Also, are Conor and Brian Dunne still playing for Laois?

Thanks!
Bruce

Conor Dunne has started a lot of the games; he's the only one from The Harps on the panel as far as I know.
So, off the top of my head, there's also: Tommy Fitz and Cahir Healy (Portlaoise); goalies Enda Rowland and Eoin Reilly (both Abbeyleix); John A Delaney, Stephen Maher, Willie Hyland (Ballacolla); Brian Stapleton, Matthew Whelan, Neil Foyle, Joe Campion, PJ Scully (Borris Kilcotton); Zane Keenan and Dwayne Palmer (Camross); Cha Dwyer and Jimmy Walsh (Ballinakill); Joe Fitzpatrick, Patrick Purcell, Ross King (Rathdowney-Errill); Ben Conroy (Slieve Bloom); and Brendan Reddin (Castletown).
Might've forgotten one or two...

Ross is out for 6 - 8 weeks, I think.
James Walsh was centre back when Whelan was injured before. It didn't work that well, in my opinion. Pity was, Whelan was playing much better since he came back from his injury... Dunno what the answer is, really.
Laoise have lost Whelan and Plunkett, and the already slim chance they had of beating Offaly, it seems.

I don't think Cheddar was there, whatever's up.