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A tough weekend for Laois supporters to put it mildly!  Laois actually got off to a great start but we needed everything to go right for us and it didn't.  Paddy Purcell could just as easily scored a goal after his surging run, and then to concede such a soft one ourselves just sapped the team of drive and energy.  The goal also gave Galway the breathing space they needed, and efforts that were going wide before the goal all went over after it.

I agree with Finbar on a lot of his points.  Playing with a sweeper is one thing and it was the correct call against such a strong wind, but when a team plays without a full forward line it's going to be a case of death by a thousand cuts.  There is a balance that needs to be reached.  For years we were naive beyond belief, going out man for man, letting our half back line be pulled out and time and again our full back line would be torn asunder.  No team, not even Kilkenny, leaves it's six backs to deal with the opposition six forwards man to man.  There are numerous examples in the recent KK v Wex game of Eoin Larkin, Walter Walsh etc., back on their own 40`or further turning over possession or getting in hooks and blocks.  If Eoin Larkin is fit enough to do that at this stage of his career (and still pose a massive attacking threat) I don't see why our more athletic guys like Picky and Joe Campion couldn't perform such a role.  I understand of course that Larkin is arguably the best wing forward of his generation, but the role he plays needs to be really examined. 

We have Dublin up next and just like Laois some of their players, particularly the full back line, will have serious confidence issues after their Galway game.  Are we going to test them and see if they crack?  Or are we going to let Mark Schutte who conceded 3 goals in ten mins against Galway pop over a few points from corner back to get his confidence back on track?  Why not at least try putting in Cha or Picky in on him and target him for the opening ten mins.  Similarly if Peter Kelly is out they don't have a full back.  Why not throw Hyland in full forward and land in high ball and see where it takes us?  However the game pans out I'll be very disappointed if we don't go out and at least have a right go at Dublin.  We're no world beaters but we're better than we showed against Galway.

Ps. Any word on Foyle?

Yeah Kk and Wex have a home and away agreement so that game was always going to be played in Nowlan Park.  To be honest I don't have a clue why it's in Tullamore, but while we'd all love for it to be in Portlaoise it's an opportunity for Laois to show that we can play well outside of our home ground.  Not sure who's down to ref it either, I agree that Owens did a good job the last day out.  Given that it's a provincial semi-final I'm hoping it's one of the better refs.  Galway have a few niggly players (Smith, Coen, Hanbury etc.) so it's vital we maintain discipline and keep 15 on the field.

Agree with redsetanta, Cyril seems like a decent sort and I'd say he has more time for hurling in the so called lesser counties than some of the other pundits.  I don't think that article will stoke fire within Laois, but it does highlight Galways biggest weakness coming into this match.  Try as they might to gee themselves up for this game, Galway know in the back of their minds they are not facing a Tipp or Kilkenny here.  It's incredibly hard for a team to deliver a complete performance when they feel that 70% or 80% will get the job done.  That's not a criticism of Galway either, as it very much applied to Laois in the round robin stages where we produced some very lethargic performances.  The only county this doesn't seem to apply to is Kilkenny, and to me it makes them all the more remarkable.

Galway played some wonderful hurling at times against Dublin, but I was also shocked by the ease at which they got some of their scores.  I'd expect most decent club forwards to do damage with the space and time Mannion was afforded by Schutte who didn't look like he had it together at all.  The third goal, where three Dub defenders all went for the one high ball and Mannion jogged in around the back to tap beyond the keeper was actually comical.  I'm confident that whatever Galway do score on Saturday that they will have to work a hell of a lot harder for it than they did v Dublin.

It's been pointed out that Galway have the advantage of having two games under their belt as opposed to coming in cold the last two years.  This is an advantage for them of course, but forewarned is forearmed from a Laois point of view.  Cheddar and co. will have learned a lot from those games.  If Cyril Donnelan at 11 can be tied down then Galway pretty much have all their scoring eggs in one basket - their full forward line.  While Glynn and Smith are named at wing forward both drop very deep to help out in midfield and even defence, their primary focus is feeding the full-forward line which is grand when it works, but it remains to be seen what Galways plan B is.  We've also learned that their full back line fouls whenever they are taken on and that their full back Hanbury is inexperienced at this level. 

From our own point of view it's fairly obvious that Laois need a massive performance here to even think about matching Galway.  We handed Offaly quite a few handy scores from silly mistakes that the top teams just don't make.  We did that last year too v Galway and unfortunately it cost us a historic win.  My biggest worry is that if we go too defensive we will invite Galway on to us and Anthony Cunningham is bound to have some sort of plan up his sleeve.  I can accept the other team using short puck outs to gain immediate possession as a necessary evil when we use a sweeper, but only having one player in the full forward is going too far in my view.  Offaly didn't have the quality of players to hurt us but we can be sure that Galway will.  We were a different team v Offaly with two in the full forward line and that's how I hope we go about things on Saturday.

Some serious young hurlers on that Waterford team alright, and their short passing is a joy to watch in full flow.  There has been something bugging me for a while now though.  Brick Walsh is a regarded as a legend in Waterford and rightly so, but he seems to go down far too easily for free's and every ref seems to fall for it.  There's a difference between cuteness and flat out diving, and Brick is veering towards the latter IMO!

For all the justified talk about Gleeson, I reckon De Burca is every bit his equal and maybe better.  Philip Mahony is a very fine hurler too.

Forgot to mention the Offaly supporters, both at the match and on online forums afterwards who have been very gracious in a difficult time for them.  Those around me during the game were full of praise for Laois and I'm glad I witnessed no gloating from Laois supporters.

What a brilliant day for Laois hurling!  The nerves were showing a bit at the start and I thought/still think going with just Picky in the full forward line invited Offaly on to us a bit but wow, those last 45 minutes produced the best hurling I've seen from this group of players.  When Jack Nolan asked Ger Cunningham afterwards where did this display come from the reply was telling: "We've been trying to get that out of them for 2 years now!".  I think we all knew Laois were capable of so much more than we showed v Antrim, Carlow and Westmeath and getting into the Leinster championship proper next year is a big step forward.

Huge credit is due to the management as they won the battle of wits with Brian Whelehan hands down.  It was a big call to give Matthew the responsibility of marking Joe Bergin wherever he went and it worked a treat.  In fact they got all the individual match ups spot on, and the decision to move Keenan into the full forward line along with Picky gave Laois two big targets to hit in the full forward line.

What can we say about the players themselves?  They were heroic in the second half and looked like a team that just would not accept defeat this time.  The point taking was outstanding, but equally impressive was the general skill level.  The catching of the sliotar, high and low, was hugely impressive as was the first touch - just witness Keenan's delightful control before the handpass shown on The Sunday Game.  Others including Offaly's own John Leahy have commented on Laois' fitness levels being at the very highest level, remarking that Laois players were making the same driving runs in the 70th minute as they were in the 5th minute.

The whole team were immense in that second half but I feel a few players do deserve a special mention.  When things weren't all going to plan in that first 20 minutes Zane Keenan hit some ridiculous points from distance.  That these were mostly free's takes nothing from the feat.  He hit one free just in front of me (terrace side) which was near the sideline and maybe 90+ yards out.  Tremendous technique and bottle are required to convert those.  It is very likely that his genius kept us in contention in those ropey 20 minutes, and that sideline?  Great stuff.

Not for the first time has Willie Hyland stood up when it mattered.  I've heard there were some less then complimentary things said about him on the radio during an earlier match, well that's the answer to that really.  7 points from play when you are already a marked man is some return.  Now that we have the bould Cha (0-5 from play, none of them routine, on the other wing) teams won't be able to just focus on Willie, so he is capable of more of the same going forward.

And then there's Joe Fitz.  I was getting tired just looking at him clearing ball!  He really is a class act and probably the best all round hurler we have.  Hurling is a team game but individual moment's of brilliance drives a team on.  Joe taking down a high ball deftly with the hurl while at full pace is just one example.  I've absolutely no doubt he would be a multiple All-Star winner in a more successful county.

Every other player had their moments too.  John A's hook on an Offaly forward tearing through, Cahir Healy's last ditch dive and flick to prevent a certain goal, Eoin Reilly's monster free etc, etc.  A massive "thank you" is owed to them all, panel and management alike.  We can look forward to the Galway game now with the pressure off and you can be certain that these lads won't be content with just winning yesterday.  If I'm still absolutely buzzing, what will the players be like!

Well done to all!

Owens is down to ref it, so at least it wont be Alan Kelly.  That's a good start!

Goes without saying that this is a massive game for both counties.  For Laois the overall aim is to stay producing competitive underage teams with a longer term view of putting out a senior team capable of going toe to toe with the best.  Short term, this is probably last chance saloon for a number of the older guys that have given great service to Laois through some dark times.  If they don't get a win on Sunday they are likely to retire having never tasted a big championship win.  For Offaly it's one of those horrible situations where they are expected to win, won't get much praise if they do win, but will be hammered if they lose.  Plenty of pressure on both sides then.

I think Laois are capable of getting a win on Sunday, but I think the management are going to have to take some gambles and those gambles will have to pay off.  The one clear area where Offaly are well ahead of us is their scoring potential in their full forward line.  Ross King is a massive loss here, and both Ben Conroy and PJ Scully haven't done enough for me to get a start.  They are young and neither are bad options off the bench when legs tire but they are not ready to start yet.  One of Zane, Hyland or Cha will be needed inside to go with (probably) Tommy Fitz and Picky.  Foyle can't be near 100% fit and if he only has 20 minutes in him I'd prefer to spring him from the bench.

The next punt the management will have to make is who lines out at centre back.  If not Matthew then Jimmy Walsh seems the only real alternative.  For me 10 years of dedication outweighs one blip (and if they are 100% honest, how many of our hurlers haven't faltered once in their careers with Laois?) so Matthew would get the nod.  If the players can't pull together now and ignore the drama of last week for the greater good then we have no business taking to the field against Offaly.

That would leave us with something like:

1.Enda Rowland/Eoin Reilly.
2.Brian Stapleton.
3.Cahir Healy.
4.John A.
5.Joe Fitz.
6.Matthew Whelan.
7.Tom Delaney.
8.James Walsh.
9.Paddy Purcell.
10.Joe Campion.
11.Zane Keenan.
12.Cha Dwyer.
13.Tommy Fitz.
14.Willie Hyland.
15.Picky Maher.

Tom Delaney brings the same kinda physicality and drive that Campion provided at wing back but with more experience, while Campion has the fitness and work rate I think we'll need on the half forward line.  I'd start Walsh and Fitz for two reasons, firstly I think they have earned this chance and secondly, sentiment aside, I don't think they will let us down in this of all games.

Plenty of big calls to be made then and while all signs seem to be pointing to an Offaly win,  I think we have a fair chance if we finally produce a performance.

Is Aragorn active in this forum?

I am indeed Bruce, welcome aboard!

I know personally what some of those lads have given up,including the players involved in the practice match its such a pity.

A very important point to make.  The main senior player involved has given the best part of a decade of service to Laois.  He made a bad decision but nobody could have predicted the consequences, imagine how the lad is feeling now.  I'd urge posters to keep this in mind, it's time for cool heads now and hopefully the situation can be rescued.

Quite shocked to hear about this and even more shocked to hear of the player involved.  Heartbreaking for Cheddar to have given so much and get a slap in the face like this.  He wouldn't strike me as the kind of man to go back on a decision either, even if I dearly hope I'm wrong on that count.  Laois have moved out in betting terms in the mean time and justifiably so, but I don't think the Laois panel will implode just yet either, they will still want to do it for Cheddar even more now I'd say.

I won't pick out individuals or anything redsetanta, but to me it wasn't a case of the whole team being this or that.  Certain lads tried their best, and certain lads didn't break a sweat.
A much less talented Laois team beat much more talented opposition (Dublin) a few years ago through sheer will to win from the whole panel.  Last night was probably as frustrated as I've ever been leaving a Laois game simply because I know that team is capable of so much more than that.

There were a few quibbles I'd have with certain players in some positions, but if you have players not putting it in it's all the one really.

The ref, as bad and one sided as he was, shouldn't be used as an excuse here.  I said before the game that being a nice team on paper isn't much good if the effort isn't there.  Fair play to Carlow, they fought for everything.  So did some of our players, none more than Cha who played a captains part, but others in the Laois jersey really let themselves down to be honest, and that's putting it mildly.

A few curious positional calls but that's a strong enough team out.  I hope the lads are up for it, it's not much good being a nice team on paper if a performance isn't produced on the day.  Best of luck to the lads!

This campaign kicks off this Wednesday and has seemed to slip in under the radar.  I don't know what Carlow will be like but we should be able to put out a very decent team.  We have 10 or 11 u21 players involved with the seniors and another group of 20 or so players have been training hard over the last few months as well.  The challenge is to get them all to gel together on the day now.