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For once I'm with Don on this one. "Zooming around" - do you honestly think someone would do hard winter training and league training, giving up 15 - 20 hours of their week, every week, for a bit of kit? Cop yourself on lad, you're a holy show 

Cork are a strange team. They're relegated to Div 3, but could easily be a Div 1 team, on their day. They have the players to be a good side, they just really need to get it together. Consistency is their downfall, really; that and suspect managers and tactics / game plans. Sleeping giant at them moment.

I agree with you, HF, that makes a lot of sense. I don't see it happening though, for at least another 5- 10 years. Lots of traditionalists out there. However, we do see the excitment that massive change can bring. For example the qualifier system was a huge change from the old system, and has been a success, even though there was a lot of apprehension about it prior to it happening. But clearly a system like the league set up, in championship is the best way forward. At least 7 games for every team, and competitive matches. Ireland is a relatively small country so getting around to games isn't a big issue. The league format for championship in, let's say, Australia, would be a massive issue. The provincial system doesn't make much sense. Having said that, I would kill for laois to win Leinster this year  . There certainly is and has been a magical feeling for any county to win their provincial title. Year on year though, it's ridiculous to see a provence like Connaught contrasted with Ulster or Leinster. The opposite of fairness, really.

Of course Leinster final is the aim. But of course it will be very difficult. I never get the attitude of hoping we lose so we don't play the big matches. Why are you supporting the team at all if you want them to lose, lol.

I reckon 4 games in the championship for us would be good going, either through 2in leinster/2qualifiers or 1 leinster / 3 qualifiers etc. 2019 is already a success with the promotion. I don't think we're ready to be competitive with Dublin, but if we beat westmeath and are competitive with meath, I'd be delighted. Whatever happens from there is a bonus. The westmeath game is 50/50, if we do lose that, it'd be a consolation to have a run in the qualifiers. Hopefully we can make that 10% improvement required between now
  and late may to get the win. No idea how to team is going to look then and I won't dare guess, surely a few positional and tactical changes ahead. If anyone hears of challenge games ahead, let us know. Would like to have a gander at some of those

Westmeath are a small bit ahead of us at the moment, but a lot can happen in 7 weeks before championship. They really are around our level, and there was only a kick of a ball in it in both of our games. Whoever makes the most progress and positive adjustments in those 7 weeks will win in Late May. As far as I'm concerned, 2019 has already been a successful year for Laois football, no matter what happens in the championship. Lads have short term memories sometimes - we've seen good performances in a lot of games against better opposition this year but consistency is lacking. We have a lot to work on, but this is where we're at. We're about mid to low level division 2 standard. If we can be competitive with other teams around our level (which we are) and beat the lower teams, that's all we can ask for currently, and that's what we're getting. Sugrue and co are getting a lot out of these players and I'm delighted that's happening. I'm also delighted with the attitude the players and management are showing post league final. They're not happy with it and are very hungry to improve.

A great championship for us would be : Beat Westmeath; be competitive against Meath; 2 / 3 qualifier games.

Two Laois players named in "Pundit Arena's" Best League 15 out of all the 4 leagues..

https://punditarena.com/features/mcorry/pundit-arena-team-of-the-league/?fbclid=IwAR1lFEVtnUMc0wDLwKQlilDa3ZrQBvWz3O-8cXZZCMG_3NvN5tVBYD9N6R8

Agreed, he's very proactive and forward thinking. Hearing stuff like "oh poor us, we dont have a pitch to train in" like we heard a few years back just didn't inspire any confidence at all. John is the opposite. He's capitalising on any opportunities he sees. Laois is where John is permanently based now; he even refers to his kids as "Laois men". That's great for us but the county board etc must now realise that this man is the real deal and is worth supporting, whatever he needs backing with. For the first time in years and years there is proper positivity and almost universal unity about the whole setup and supporters, and, from the position we were in, I don't think many forsaw this level of improvement in such a short amount of time.

Of course, new talent coming through is important, but that seems to be looking up, too. The age profile of the team is relatively high, but we have good talent coming through and a lot of 1st teamers now, who are young and pacey. The centre of excellence should also help. At end of day, all we can hope for, as supporters, is not necessarily leinster titles and all ireland semi finals etc, but rather for our team to go out, play to our potential and give it our best shot. From that perspective, I'm delighted. Well done, all; the League Final is a bonus game and a great way to celebrate the year thus far.

For those who haven't heard it yet : John Sugrue post promotion news audio below : 
Great feel good feeling about football in the county, nice buzz around. Great to have this man on board, he's a great fit for a side like Laois -

https://soundcloud.com/midlandssport/john-sugrue-back-to-back-promotions-for-laois

I'm so proud of our county. Fantastic news!!!

The same O' Byrne cup where nobody cares about the result, players are trialled heavily, there are massive panels and if some players are not available for a particular reason, it's not a big deal? Yeah, that's like for like.

At the end of the day, the players said they can't play due to work commitments (from both panels) and I respect that. It's not good for us. But when you start disrespecting players wishes even more, you have issues. It's already next to impossible to be a county player with all the commitments involved.

If I was a county player in this scenario and I played for either team, I literally wouldn't be able to get a week day off with that short notice. So I'd have to take the day off if I wanted to play (ie call in sick). Which could get me sacked. I'm sure some of the 60+ players from both panels are in a similar boat as me.

Don't be over dramatic? If I had a midweek game and had to take the day off to travel to another county and didn't give proper notice to my employer, I'd be sacked soon enough. I don't know what planet yee are from. Do you honestly think that a panel of 30+ players would all magically be able to get the day off, just to satisfy yee lads, while yee make no such compromise or sacrifice?! Get real, seriously. Talk about entitled   

Can't force amateurs to play during the week though can we. Both teams were asked to play on Monday but too many work committments. It is what it is, these things happen in amateur sport. I get it. All we can do is beat Carlow and let it work itself out with the other game. What alternative to the GAA have? Play it tomorrow?

Why can't they play during the week? Every last one of the Louth and Westmeath panel would have trained Tuesday night. It's completely shafting us if the scenario I described above comes to pass.

Don't be daft mate, it's staring at you in the face. Training in your OWN county for 90 minutes on a tuesday night is a WORLD apart from having a competitive match in ANOTHER COUNTY. All the squad would need to take most of the day off, between getting the bus there on time, preparing for the match and having the match itself and getting home. Get real. These lads might be from a different county but we'll completely run GAA players off if we start having short notice mid week games. If these lads were pros, then yes of course it'd make sense. But we have to think of these lads livlihood, too.

Can't force amateurs to play during the week though can we. Both teams were asked to play on Monday but too many work committments. It is what it is, these things happen in amateur sport. I get it. All we can do is beat Carlow and let it work itself out with the other game. What alternative to the GAA have? Play it tomorrow?

Get over yourselves, lads. Leave your handbags down. Back to talking about the matches. Not a disaster if we don't get promoted, but, it's hard to replicate that "feel good" feeling and positivity going into championship in the camp should we not do so.