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[so what were we supposed to go there to expect to do?]

frostbit, we have plenty of the same arrogance up here.

I agree with you. I'm not one of them.

Arrogance my arse,so what were we supposed to go there to expect to do? go up and have lost the game in our heads before we left...

No not at all.  You were supposed to go up there with the respect that you were playing against a proud county with excellent hurlers just like your own and that you would have had to work harder and play with more passion than us to get the win, which is exactly the expectation I have of our lads.

Antrim will feel the exact same about westmeath and carlow games as Laois did about playing Antrim.

And there's the arrogance I am referring to.  Maybe you wanted to win but you have no right to win.  There's a difference.

lets be fair reading your forum even you lads know you got the rub of the green

I didn't ever think we got lucky.  I think the referee was brutal and sided Laois throughout the game (hence the sarcastic cheers he got when we were awarded two frees).  In terms of our penalty, which was a penalty, it can maybe been seen as decisions evening themselves out.  You also got a penalty, a controversial goal and a point that never was.  I thought we were ballsier and won the game through endeavour.  That doesn't equate to us thinking we were lucky.

So your saying to expect win a game is arrogant ? Pure and utter rubbish if true, Laois were in no way arrogant going into that match, some laois supporters expected to win as Antrim supporters did too , get that chip off your shoulder and stop manufacturing arrogance on Laois part when its not there.


As for this weekend, I see Laois battling back and beating Carlow ( I know, know the absolute arrogance of such a thought ) as from what I hear Carlow has really not put a good week in since the westmeath match and I feel Laois need to win more than Carlow.

[I think it is a bit arrogant of a lot of you to have expected to go up and beat Antrim in Ballycastle.]

Maybe, instead of calling for people's heads you should get behind the team and believe that in the event of coming second in the group that you can beat Wexford.  It isn't an impossibility. 

I think it is a bit arrogant of a lot of you to have expected to go up and beat Antrim in Ballycastle. No matter our problems at the minute, we have good hurlers who are proud to wear the Saffron jersey - just as proud as some Laois men are proud to wear theirs.

Good luck for the season.

Arrogance my arse,so what were we supposed to go there to expect to do? go up and have lost the game in our heads before we left... Antrim will feel the exact same about westmeath and carlow games as Laois did about playing Antrim.

Such a terrible result for Laois hurling last Sunday, I really felt we could go up there and make a statement and beat them playing well.  It just seems every time we think we are making strides forward we go two steps back. Our lack of height in the back line and especially in the full back line is problem.

We have some good hurlers and I think we will make second place in the group as Antrim have the group won already but IF we finish second a match versus Wexford doesnt bode well whereas a local derby versus Offaly would have been a great occasion for us.

This Laois team can offer no excuses as to preparation as they have the most professional set up any Laois hurling team has ever had and it disappointing to hear lads, albeit not on here, calling for Chedders head to roll. From what I know its his last year and I worry for the future without him in charge. Its time for the players to stand up and be counted and drive forward and show that we can hurl under pressure.

Great to see Matthew Whelan start, he is key in our defence and when hurling well is top class.

I agree with G@@ that if we get goals early we will win handy enough but my worry is is it turns out to be a dog fight and will give them any belief they are in a game, we have to punish them early.  I see Laois winning by 8+ points, pulling away in the last 20 minutes .

I heard tonight that both McMahon and Meredith have rejoined the Laois panel.... its from a lad that would know but can anyone confirm it?

I see 3 Antrim players have left the panel this week...

As for the journey ,AA route planner says from Portlaoise to Ballycastle is 343.68 km and a drive in a car of 4 hrs 14 minutes.... not thats long journey for any supporter in a car ,let alone a bus.....

I honestly believe we have the players and mgt to win Leinster and more but my doubt is our mentality and belief....

O'Moore park has to be the venue vs Offaly by virtue of a home and away arrangement with our beloved neighbours .


Redsetanta, According to Leinster GAA website the semi finals are yet to be drawn.....

Of course they can. There are plenty of teams well able to beat Portlaoise, as a Portlaoise man I feel belief is a problem for some teams when they have faced Portlaoise in recent seasons especially at the latter stages, thats not to say Portlaoise havent been a very good club team and deserved every title but every team is beatable .

Imo its going to be tough to top this group, dont get me wrong I'd be bitterly disappointed if we didn't top it but I feel the matches will be tough.

Laois have to aim to top the group and face off then with Offaly.We have to set a standard early on and play much better than the league suggested. An absolutely mammoth couple of months ahead for Laois hurling.

Meredith would be warmly welcomed I'm sure and IMO walk straight back onto the team but is he not heading to America for the summer?..

McMahon will be back from what I hear.

Absolutely gutted by todays result, in the first half we hurled very well and in my minds eye I really thought I was watching something special. The goals were sucker punches and the second half was an unmitigated disaster but his happens at underage GAA and I for one still think this bunch could be real contenders for Leinster if we learn from this match but we have a hell of alot to learn.

not sure about PP but other bookies wont take bets on under 18 competitions...

We only played for 20 mins on Saturday but still almost won. Bolton makes a habit of popping up with goals and should have been tracked from the kick out.
To be fair to the team and MGMT we are trying to play a decent brand of football. Any chance we had to kick the ball we did.
We are screwed for defenders. When p begley didn't start I feared the worst. Attride and O'connor just aren't corner backs but what can we do when there is no one else willing to commit.
thought c begley and timmons were excellent. Damien o conner had a great attacking game.
Thought midfield weren't great but quigley made one of the fetches of the decade towards the end.
Johnno did well at times with his direct running but i thought midfield was a battle we lost for most of the game.
donie and Evan were great when they ran at them.
Donoher was excellent. He's been great lately. Passing and scoring. Ross is just completely out of sorts which makes our recent results all the more impressive. Boyle mixed the good with the bad. Shiels looks good. P Kingston might still  be better
coming in from the bench ..
Down match without Donie and Ross not playing  well seems a very long shot.
Nothing to fear in the championship against Kildare but could really do with mcmahon back.
Kildare are just not dignified winners. The supporters around me lost the plot completely at the final whistle.
Billy has always gave 100% when playing for Laois. Bit mouthy but plays like he really gives a shit. Thought he gave us that bit of a spark when he came on

I would agree totally with your post, some great points. Kildare fans around me lost the head completely when they won yet the same guys were saying how rubbish Laois were throughout the match.  They have zero respect for us and its not something I give a toss about tbh, they as a support base look down on us and I suppose thats ok for them because that what gets them off but its amazing how for such an inferior county in their eyes we annoy them so much.

I find it hard to see how lads leaving clubs within a small county like Laois to join another club can be justified.

My own club had a hurler who joined from a nearby club a few years back and tbh it was a disgrace it ever happened and my friends from that other club on a sporting level will never forgive him for leaving for Portlaoise.

Every club gets the odd outsider joining them but in the majority of cases its a matter of work or living arrangements not being poached.  How these clubs can afford these transfers is beyond me. Is it just a Laois thing that lads are willing to move between clubs ? We all have examples of lads willing to move , I could name 3 inter county players from last 3 seasons that looked for transfers to Portlaoise but were turned down and my mates at other clubs can tell similar stories.