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Blue & White- I think you are perhaps thinking of 30 years ago as opposed to 10 years ago. I would separate minor from U21.

LMHC 2008:

KK 6-18, LS 1-08
WX 5-19, LS 2-11
MH 0-13, LS 1-07

Not 30 years ago.

My general point was a positive one, huge improvement in standards, interest levels, coaching hours and coaching standards. Some great results over recent years too and ambitions have improved. For it to sustain we really need to be winning a Leinster minor or U-21 in the next 5 years or so or there is a danger that momentum will be lost. We shouldn't forget the odd hammering we have gotten from KK in the last few years either.

But your talking about two different things.
Preparation and results

Length of preparation time was your original point?
The & results were terrible almost every year for a 20 year period. Doesn't mean they didn't put time into it.

Depends what you mean by preparation. 10 years ago, preparation started with getting lads together at 17 or 18 and forming a minor team in the spring to play that summer. Now, they are together at U14 consistently up to Minor with a huge amount of coaching and competition. This happened in patches before, now it is routine. That was my secondary point. My main point is that there is huge work, interest and commitment which needs to be built upon year after year. Preparing a minor team starts at Cumman na mBunscoil / U8s / U12s etc. and by building a brand and an identity with Laois hurling (setanta etc.). 50 lads pushing for a minor team in December is a strong indicator of all that coming together. If we keep that going the results will come.

What constitutes Laois Schools?

Anyone stand out?

Blue & White- I think you are perhaps thinking of 30 years ago as opposed to 10 years ago. I would separate minor from U21.

LMHC 2008:

KK 6-18, LS 1-08
WX 5-19, LS 2-11
MH 0-13, LS 1-07

Not 30 years ago.

My general point was a positive one, huge improvement in standards, interest levels, coaching hours and coaching standards. Some great results over recent years too and ambitions have improved. For it to sustain we really need to be winning a Leinster minor or U-21 in the next 5 years or so or there is a danger that momentum will be lost. We shouldn't forget the odd hammering we have gotten from KK in the last few years either. 

[A long way from getting a few lads together in April and we'll see what happens]

The Minor hurling set up appears to be a very positive and professional set up, led by Manager Paul O Shea from Abbeyleix, hurling coach James Carroll, Physical/Strength & conditioning Michael Boyhan Mountrath & Carlow IT,
Each player following a personilised programme since December, Training schedule given to each player outlining plans, dates etc from January to May.
Best of luck to all involved

They had 50 lads training hard before Christmas! Some effort, commitment and another indicator of how far we have come. A long way from getting a few lads together in April and we'll see what happens. No shortage of serious young talent.

When is the last time something like this happened with a Laois minor hurling team?

Not for about 10 years now thankfully. I think it is fair to say that there is about a decade of sustained underage work at this point. It will probably need another 10 if we are going to be winning senior honours but at least the journey is underway. I remember too well despairing at watching Laois minor teams and U21 teams who were cobbled together and got awful hidings through the 90s and early 2000s and a couple of humiliations including a beating by Meath (no disrespect).

The Minor hurling set up appears to be a very positive and professional set up, led by Manager Paul O Shea from Abbeyleix, hurling coach James Carroll, Physical/Strength & conditioning Michael Boyhan Mountrath & Carlow IT,
Each player following a personilised programme since December, Training schedule given to each player outlining plans, dates etc from January to May.
Best of luck to all involved

They had 50 lads training hard before Christmas! Some effort, commitment and another indicator of how far we have come. A long way from getting a few lads together in April and we'll see what happens. No shortage of serious young talent.

[any chance]

I've heard a rumour that Joe Fitzpatrick might come back on board before the league starts. If there is any chance of this happening then Cheddar should move heaven and earth to make it so.

I'd say there is a very good chance Joe will be back. Supposed to be training hard. Can't see Willie Hyland not returning either. Any word on Cahir Healy? Would be way more suited to any of the other backs positions than full back, now that Darren is back.

Anyone show well?

Tipp have a squad of 40 in doing 5 nights a week since the start of the month.

Before that,they were on personalized S and C programmes.

as a Tipp man exiled up here,it's fairly obvious that the bulk of the laois team have some catching up to do in terms of S and C.

You only have to watch the game against Galway last year to see that. Too light altogether.

Lads, in fairness, the underage work in Abbeyleix has been fairly impressive. No shortage of passion and ability over there.

When Kerry have as many All Irelands as Laois have, then we will pay attention to what they are doing..... 

Reducing the Hurling to 8 teams, despite some challenges, has done wonders to the standard of club hurling and most championship games are very competitive. It is a no brainer, especially when one club completely dominates (to their credit). The problem is not just with the county board but small minded club men with voting rights and entrenched outdated views.

Hard to see what choice they have.

If they want to retain div 1 status, we have to be out of the blocks early and other teams are doing 5 nights between gym and cardio sessions. Hard slog in this weather, some commitment.

Not good to hear of some of these retirements / opt outs, particularly with some of the younger guys like Joe Campion. Still, won't believe them until the start of the year. Often lads change their minds over the winter months.

On a side note, we need to be getting more younger guys involved. Was looking at a programme from 2010 the other day, against Dublin I think, and it was almost the same team as lined out in the championship in 2015.

Such a pity. Rare to see a team so dominant generally come out on the wrong side.

Arien Delaney would definitely be a good man to have involved with the minors. Plenty of passion and knows how to organize a team (e.g. Camross in the county final this year).

Pat Critchley is worth his weight in gold. Hope he stays involved for as long as he possibly can. Great that he is going back to the development squads which is where the most work is done and needed.