Messages

The volunteers make the decisions. They hold the power. They are responsible for the hiring and firing. Eddie Brennan was right about them imo, and it's fairly obvious a lot of coaches took note.

Ok so when you have the current county board sacked?

What do you do then ?

I'm interested to see what concrete proposals you would have in place then

A different question entirely. Happy enough to see the CB gone for now. Did you serve as a CB officer? Or am I mistaken? Apologies if I have the wrong person

So the volunteers get the axe ?

And the lads getting paid don't ?

All of them. The process is tainted and isn't working for us. It's political to its very core and discourages good people from getting involved. I'm not saying they're not good people because I'm sure they are. But they've clearly run out of ideas and when that happens your time should be up. New appointments to the Laois CB are only ever a continuation of what preceded them. Like minded people who do the same things but have a different name. It's clear we need a change and getting rid of Billy or Cheddar won't be enough. Just my opinion. No doubt many will disagree and fair enough. But I've made up my mind

So your solution to this is to sack people that have been in the position 5 months at most ?

What about the paid employees of Laois GAA ?

The secretary?,the games manager?,the GDA's?

Should they be all fired too ?

Another awful hammering. Is there no end to it? Across all levels and codes it seems. You have to wonder how and why we're getting it so badly wrong. You have to wonder why there is no plan in place to address this. Just a report at the end of every year to say what we already know. O'Moore Park is nearly as much use to other counties as it is to us, because we don't have a team capable of half filling it. It's embarrassing and it's been going on a long time. I'll reiterate that I have no faith in our County Board and I'd be delighted if they all resigned. Things really can't get much worse for us.

So if they all resign who takes their places?

I'd be very interested to hear of the credible candidates that would take their places and why they would be an improvement on what's currently there

The new CB chairman is in situ 5 months as is the Juvenile CB chairman and the football chair

Should they get the road too?

https://www.laoistoday.ie/2022/05/04/talking-sport-podcast-would-the-joe-mcdonagh-cup-be-a-better-fit-for-the-laois-hurlers/

What a woeful piece of journalism. Miller and Hartnett should be ashamed of themselves. I seemed to have missed the podcast that suggested that  the footballers would be better off dropping down to the tailteann cup. I can't understand for the life of me why they can't get someone who has an actual understanding of hurling on their podcast. The answer to a bad year of hurling is not to drop down.

Unlike what Miller likes to believe, the problem lies with the management and the county board. Cheddar was a quick fix for an embarrassing situation following the fallout with Eddie Brennan. As I said last year after the match against Wexford, the writing was on the wall. Cheddar doesn't have a game plan, he uses all the correct phrases but if you actually listen to what he is saying it's all fluff and no substance. He doesn't listen to the players at all and the excuses with injuries is just pathetic at this stage. Good players have dropped off the panel, the lads still on the panel are at their wits end and the support from the team has plummeted to an all time low.

I hope Cheddar does the right thing and steps down after this season. He's given a lot to Laois and it would have been better if he retired from inter county management on a high note. Just hoping that the lads can get it together for a win over Westmeath and regroup.

While Laois Today provide an excellent service

Their overwhelming bias is all the time for the big ball

More balance needed

Their campaign got off to a bad start as they were beaten 3-12 to 0-5 by Kildare.

But Offaly got back on track with a one point win over Meath before losing by nine against Longford in Round 3.

That saw Offaly finish third in the group and they faced Carlow last week in a preliminary quarter final – romping to a 5-16 to 2-7 win.


That's from Laois Today

We got an absolute trimming from the team that finished third in their group

Laois football must be down  around 29/30 in the rankings , a sad situation for us to be in .

Is there anyone out there at this moment in time

You'd fancy us to beat

I don't

Was at feile games yesterday Castletown looked very good and there skill level was very high especially some of there forwards. Great to see a very big crowd there. Q. are the feile weekends for the winning teams gone? Was hearing yesterday its just a day out in Thurles now for the winners.

Feile Weekends were scrapped in 2019

A retrograde step

[Professional]

It's all the dinosaurs in the Gah who do this

2 u13's told if they were joining a Dublin school boy club to give up all other sport as a condition of them joining

Currently 5 u15's in Offaly barred by Athlone Town from playing GAA

GAA as per usual held to a different standard than the rugby and soccer

Unsourced whataboutery

Except it's not,in the instance of the 2 u13's I can name both the players the soccer club and the manager as the manager was my brother in law

If my claim about the 5 u15s in Clara is wrong

prove me wrong

I presume this is referring to the same?
https://twitter.com/pauldeeh19/status/1512177760088829957

I'm not sure what more evidence is needed as I'd also know those involved and it stacks up.

I'd expect BB2 is in denial of anything that might run counter his perma-victim mindset when it comes to Irish domestic soccer.

Again. A bloke on Twitter.

I'm not in denial. I'm asking for people to back up their claims. But it's whataboutery. We are on a GAA forum discussing an incident in the GAA.

Not just any bloke

Paul Deehan is the manager of that particular Clara team and he has said on Twitter that it's 100% that 5 of his u15 team are being prevented from playing Gaelic Football by Athlone Town Fc

The question for you now is quite simple

Do you want to climb out of the hole  you've dug for yourself

Or

Do you want to stay digging and look an even bigger fool than you already are?

If that is true he needs to kick up a fuss. The FAI will not back that position.

But just because other codes may or may not be doing something does not deflect from the topic in hand and the contradictory statements from the Offaly CB.

Sligo Rovers at it as well

asking players to sign contracts at u15 and instructing them to play no other sport

That's acadamy stuff though. They are entering into a professional environment and that's the age you need to specalise. You are monitoring diet and fitness at that level.

As someone who has a kid involved in development squads at soccer and gaa I've never heard tell of gaa telling anyone to not play with their local gaa club, local soccer club or local any Club. Next year if my son continues he will be heading to u15 with his local league of Ireland club and will be asked to leave his local soccer club and stop playing sport of any sort with his friends. The answer from us will be to f**k off.

This is a soccer problem primarily and while this Offaly thing is pathetic by them, it's certainly a minority approach at that age in gaa.

What is fascinating is that soccer has been at this for years and yet 1st sign of gaa doing it and you have national media all over it - what does that tell you.

So you want your kid in promoted into a professional acadamy strcture with all that goes with, but also to play with his friends. Respectfully, you need to piss or get off the pot.

Respectfully, you are a gobshite that doesnt know what hes talking about. Professional? - have you been around many LOI clubs?

While I generally accept the point about specialising too early, the rules of a LoI acadamy are as clear as day. You are entering a professional environment with a contract and as such other sports can be deemed offside. Some clubs are acadamies in name, some are FAS courses, some are full time setups where the kids go to school there. Similar for the provincial rugby setups.

That was not the environment the kids in Offaly entered. Also Offaly GAA did not follow their own rules.

We're not chatting about the legal rights regards contracts. We're chatting about the rights and wrongs of any sport restricting the exposure to other sports at that age. Both are 💯 wrong. No ifs or buts. Trying to justify it cause they have signed up to a contract is nonsense in my eyes. And stupid considering cross sport exposure will only enhance a kid's development.

My point is if you are in a pro soccer academy and miss training to play another sport you risk the boot. That's Belgium, Botswana or Bohs. Parents are fully aware of this

It is not the case in u14's GAA. Parents were unaware of this.

So yes, it's wrong. But you are fully aware of the expectations

Being aware of it hardly matters. Both codes in these instances are trying to restrict a child playing different sports. That's the reason it's a disgrace. Knowing about it beforehand doesn't stop it being a disgrace nor does it give soccer a by-ball.

My final word on this.

I am commenting on the whataboutery.

An incident in the GAA is met with soccer and rugby do it too.

Correct. Professional soccer and rugby do it. Everywhere. You put your kid in an acadamy they are restricted in what other sports they can play. You know this going in. Clearly that was not the case in Offaly.

So the discussion should be is an u14 county panel the same as an u15 professional setup, and if so be up front about it.

"an u15 professional set up"

clearly none so blind as those that dont want to see

That's your takeaway? If Leinster or Shamrock Rovers don't have professional setups, what are they?

Trying to justify kids being forced to give up other sports at u15 level like what sligo rovers are doing because the adults section of the clubs are professional ?

Your floundering Son

Floundering

[Professional]

It's all the dinosaurs in the Gah who do this

2 u13's told if they were joining a Dublin school boy club to give up all other sport as a condition of them joining

Currently 5 u15's in Offaly barred by Athlone Town from playing GAA

GAA as per usual held to a different standard than the rugby and soccer

Unsourced whataboutery

Except it's not,in the instance of the 2 u13's I can name both the players the soccer club and the manager as the manager was my brother in law

If my claim about the 5 u15s in Clara is wrong

prove me wrong

I presume this is referring to the same?
https://twitter.com/pauldeeh19/status/1512177760088829957

I'm not sure what more evidence is needed as I'd also know those involved and it stacks up.

I'd expect BB2 is in denial of anything that might run counter his perma-victim mindset when it comes to Irish domestic soccer.

Again. A bloke on Twitter.

I'm not in denial. I'm asking for people to back up their claims. But it's whataboutery. We are on a GAA forum discussing an incident in the GAA.

Not just any bloke

Paul Deehan is the manager of that particular Clara team and he has said on Twitter that it's 100% that 5 of his u15 team are being prevented from playing Gaelic Football by Athlone Town Fc

The question for you now is quite simple

Do you want to climb out of the hole  you've dug for yourself

Or

Do you want to stay digging and look an even bigger fool than you already are?

If that is true he needs to kick up a fuss. The FAI will not back that position.

But just because other codes may or may not be doing something does not deflect from the topic in hand and the contradictory statements from the Offaly CB.

Sligo Rovers at it as well

asking players to sign contracts at u15 and instructing them to play no other sport

That's acadamy stuff though. They are entering into a professional environment and that's the age you need to specalise. You are monitoring diet and fitness at that level.

As someone who has a kid involved in development squads at soccer and gaa I've never heard tell of gaa telling anyone to not play with their local gaa club, local soccer club or local any Club. Next year if my son continues he will be heading to u15 with his local league of Ireland club and will be asked to leave his local soccer club and stop playing sport of any sort with his friends. The answer from us will be to f**k off.

This is a soccer problem primarily and while this Offaly thing is pathetic by them, it's certainly a minority approach at that age in gaa.

What is fascinating is that soccer has been at this for years and yet 1st sign of gaa doing it and you have national media all over it - what does that tell you.

So you want your kid in promoted into a professional acadamy strcture with all that goes with, but also to play with his friends. Respectfully, you need to piss or get off the pot.

Respectfully, you are a gobshite that doesnt know what hes talking about. Professional? - have you been around many LOI clubs?

While I generally accept the point about specialising too early, the rules of a LoI acadamy are as clear as day. You are entering a professional environment with a contract and as such other sports can be deemed offside. Some clubs are acadamies in name, some are FAS courses, some are full time setups where the kids go to school there. Similar for the provincial rugby setups.

That was not the environment the kids in Offaly entered. Also Offaly GAA did not follow their own rules.

We're not chatting about the legal rights regards contracts. We're chatting about the rights and wrongs of any sport restricting the exposure to other sports at that age. Both are 💯 wrong. No ifs or buts. Trying to justify it cause they have signed up to a contract is nonsense in my eyes. And stupid considering cross sport exposure will only enhance a kid's development.

My point is if you are in a pro soccer academy and miss training to play another sport you risk the boot. That's Belgium, Botswana or Bohs. Parents are fully aware of this

It is not the case in u14's GAA. Parents were unaware of this.

So yes, it's wrong. But you are fully aware of the expectations

Being aware of it hardly matters. Both codes in these instances are trying to restrict a child playing different sports. That's the reason it's a disgrace. Knowing about it beforehand doesn't stop it being a disgrace nor does it give soccer a by-ball.

My final word on this.

I am commenting on the whataboutery.

An incident in the GAA is met with soccer and rugby do it too.

Correct. Professional soccer and rugby do it. Everywhere. You put your kid in an acadamy they are restricted in what other sports they can play. You know this going in. Clearly that was not the case in Offaly.

So the discussion should be is an u14 county panel the same as an u15 professional setup, and if so be up front about it.

"an u15 professional set up"

clearly none so blind as those that dont want to see

It's all the dinosaurs in the Gah who do this

2 u13's told if they were joining a Dublin school boy club to give up all other sport as a condition of them joining

Currently 5 u15's in Offaly barred by Athlone Town from playing GAA

GAA as per usual held to a different standard than the rugby and soccer

Unsourced whataboutery

Except it's not,in the instance of the 2 u13's I can name both the players the soccer club and the manager as the manager was my brother in law

If my claim about the 5 u15s in Clara is wrong

prove me wrong

I presume this is referring to the same?
https://twitter.com/pauldeeh19/status/1512177760088829957

I'm not sure what more evidence is needed as I'd also know those involved and it stacks up.

I'd expect BB2 is in denial of anything that might run counter his perma-victim mindset when it comes to Irish domestic soccer.

Again. A bloke on Twitter.

I'm not in denial. I'm asking for people to back up their claims. But it's whataboutery. We are on a GAA forum discussing an incident in the GAA.

Not just any bloke

Paul Deehan is the manager of that particular Clara team and he has said on Twitter that it's 100% that 5 of his u15 team are being prevented from playing Gaelic Football by Athlone Town Fc

The question for you now is quite simple

Do you want to climb out of the hole  you've dug for yourself

Or

Do you want to stay digging and look an even bigger fool than you already are?

If that is true he needs to kick up a fuss. The FAI will not back that position.

But just because other codes may or may not be doing something does not deflect from the topic in hand and the contradictory statements from the Offaly CB.

Sligo Rovers at it as well

asking players to sign contracts at u15 and instructing them to play no other sport

That's acadamy stuff though. They are entering into a professional environment and that's the age you need to specalise. You are monitoring diet and fitness at that level.

As someone who has a kid involved in development squads at soccer and gaa I've never heard tell of gaa telling anyone to not play with their local gaa club, local soccer club or local any Club. Next year if my son continues he will be heading to u15 with his local league of Ireland club and will be asked to leave his local soccer club and stop playing sport of any sort with his friends. The answer from us will be to f**k off.

This is a soccer problem primarily and while this Offaly thing is pathetic by them, it's certainly a minority approach at that age in gaa.

What is fascinating is that soccer has been at this for years and yet 1st sign of gaa doing it and you have national media all over it - what does that tell you.

So you want your kid in promoted into a professional acadamy strcture with all that goes with, but also to play with his friends. Respectfully, you need to piss or get off the pot.

Respectfully, you are a gobshite that doesnt know what hes talking about. Professional? - have you been around many LOI clubs?

While I generally accept the point about specialising too early, the rules of a LoI acadamy are as clear as day. You are entering a professional environment with a contract and as such other sports can be deemed offside. Some clubs are acadamies in name, some are FAS courses, some are full time setups where the kids go to school there. Similar for the provincial rugby setups.

That was not the environment the kids in Offaly entered. Also Offaly GAA did not follow their own rules.

So Sligo Rovers are contracting u15's into a "professional environment"?

How many clubs make up Na Fianna in the minor hurling?

Na Fianna (Ballyfin, Clonaslee St Manmans, Mountmellick & Slieve Bloom)

Laois u14s are running trials for the past 6 weeks and there's no management in place to oversee it

The football at the same age grade had their management in place before they even started their trials around the same time

If there's no management in place who is running the trials.

What's the story? Are they struggling to get people involved?
The Games Manager and GDA's

No one wants to take it


A good few have been asked and declined

Laois u14s are running trials for the past 6 weeks and there's no management in place to oversee it

The football at the same age grade had their management in place before they even started their trials around the same time

If there's no management in place who is running the trials.

The Games Manager and GDA's

Laois u14s are running trials for the past 6 weeks and there's no management in place to oversee it

The football at the same age grade had their management in place before they even started their trials around the same time