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Isn't it possible though, for counties of a similar size to Laois to compete with the bigger counties? Offaly, for instance, appear to be coming out of the doldrums in both hurling and football. Two years ago their under 20 footballers won an All Ireland. Last year they were beaten in an All Ireland final at minor level in hurling. Only last Sunday, they shocked Meath in the Leinster football championship. Why can't we aspire to do as well as Offaly? What are they doing that we can't do?

It would appear that football in Meath is at a low ebb as well. Is there a team in Leinster capable of giving Dublin a game?   

Does anyone believe that Billy Sheehan has any clue about what he is doing or what he is attempting to achieve? What happened against Wexford last year should not have been allowed to happen again this year.

Don't agree at all the likes of port/ ballyroan have got in high profile managers as they want to win a Leinster /Laois championship .But to say they have neglected there underage is bshit  both clubs have also hired full time gdos this year and also have been two of the stronger underage clubs the last few years

I think Portarlington's underage performance this year has been disappointing. A case of taking their eye off the ball, perhaps?

I recall John Conway playing at full back for Laois in the late 60s and early 70s. One of our best.

Think port will beat kilmacd.

Think Crokes will do them by 5/6/7 points . Crokes will be better set for Port this year as they know what Port are about now . Shane Walsh will take a bit of stopping

Don't you think it's possible Portarlington may have learned something from last year too? Maybe you think only Dublin teams are capable of learning from previous encounters?

We also need to do something about getting more participation in the urban centres. Portlaoise won at the weekend but there are problems there. County Board need to look at the biggest town in the county and help grow the game there.

We should set the winning of the Tailteann Cup as a short term ambition for Laois footballers. I expect the prestige of the competition to only grow as the years go by.

'Too many of them in the stand'

Who was sitting in the stand that should have been playing?

It's probably not fair to name lads but the dogs in the street know that a huge number of players turned down the offer to join the senior panel this year.
I certainly saw a few of them attending games this year. But each lad may well have had his own reasons.
Let's hope we see a few more of them back in the squad next year.

I would hope that the prospect of competing in an extended summer competition which we have a realistic hope of winning, would make the prospect of playing with the county team more appealing to players.

"I've spoken at length with my players about not competing in the Leinster SFC next year. In terms of importance, it's down the list."

https://t.co/f879FUlkhL

Billy O'Loughlin talks a lot of sense regarding the pointlessness of the Leinster Championship.

Although we were knocked out early this year, an extended Tailteann Cup provides Laois with a competition in which we can compete with counties closer to our level.

It provides us, if we were to organise ourselves propetly, with a realistic opportunity of winning a national competition.

It, and the national league, are the future for the likes of Laois.

 Even though we were not the better team yesterday, we could have won that game. Unforced errors killed us. As well as that, about mid way through the second half, we needed an injection of pace into the forward line. Unfortunately, that pace wasn't available on the subs bench yesterday. Instead, we resorted to lads who, although they have given their all to Laois in the pasture, are now over the hill. Poor management, I'm afraid.

Can tickets be purchased online for tonight's match?

It looks like we have thrown in the towel without a ball being kicked. God, we are hopeless. 

Laois take on Offaly tonight. Any kind of a win would be great.

Anyone have any info on injuries, team, how strong Offaly are?

Offaly bet Meath by a point but they lost to Longford well and were hammered by Kildare so I'd say they are average enough . I'd imagine it will be a close enough game tonight and it could go either way . It appears to be between Dublin and Kildare for the Leinster judging by results .

Just when you think football in the county has hit rock bottom, results, like tonight's in Tullamore, shows we're not near rock bottom yet.

It's not all his fault by any means, but Billy can't stay on.

I wish there was some way of clearing out the county board as well.