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Got too the Junior A final in 2014 but withdrew before it started last year.

John Dunphy is sub goalie for Arles/Kileen..... Hardly retired he must be 25?

No idea Keyser. Maybe one of our Josephs or Barrowhouse colleagues might fill us in?

Ye it's a funny one Keyser. I thought both teams had to be below senior level to come together to form a "Gaels" team . I hear the change of the name and Kit change scuppered the the Josephs/Barrowhouse deal.

Looks like you have attached the Wexford team

https://twitter.com/deangoodison/status/684144735838158848

There used to be more of these affiliations, Annawood was one, Arles/Kileen played with Killeshin and Barrowhouse as a Gaels team when Kileen were Intermediate , Ballyroan Gaels prob last and only team to win a Senior championship? After Ballyroan Gaels won the championship has there been a combination team involved?.

I tend to disagree with this notion of seeding players into established Senior clubs.. I do realise that this can occur within one code clubs who have players who wish to play the other. I believe the Emo situation is more  their pursuit of one player rather than a solution to the lack of competition in Laois football. Will Emo really look after all the interests of Slieve Bloom footballers? . I somehow doubt it. I believe the only solution is for Divisional teams be that 2,3 or 4 teams supported initially by the county board to be created and to reduce the number of Senior clubs in Laois football down to 8 (Obviously over a period of time).This as a result will keep the championship strong by making the clubs competitive and it will also strengthen the divisional sides. It will be tough to implement, it will not be sucessful straight out of the gate but if it was allowed to settle and become an embedded fabric of Laois football it will have a chance. However will the county board be prepared to rock the boat , I doubt it. Portlaoise I believe were one of a small number of Senior clubs to support the last great push for this showing us that they believe they need competition within Laois to achieve their aims. I hear this rumour of seeding players from junior and Intermediate clubs into established senior teams is problematic and extremely messy. Junior and Intermediate clubs essentially become feeder teams. Timahoe men playing for Stradbally under the Stradbally banner not a parish outfit. It doesn't sound right to me but if these rumours are to be believed this is what we will see. The senior clubs of Laois will have to take in the bigger picture. Laois football is at a very low ebb both at underage and Senior level and something needs to be done and done properly.

I've also heard this rumour that something is happening as regards to divisional teams/Parish teams in the coming weeks. I think they county board now recognise that something needs to be done to stop Laois football from stagnating . Still I won't count my Chickens just yet. I have heard these rumours before.

It's that time of the year to look and make suggestions into how we can improve Laois Football. One of my ways of improving standards within the county would be  to introduce two divisional teams into the Laois SFC. These teams would consist of players from Junior and intermediate clubs . The two divisional teams would be North and South Laois . I know that this system has a lot of possible negatives including organisation and fixture congestation but I believe that the pros outweigh the cons. Junior and Internediate club players get greater exposure and the standard should rise within the SFC. I'll just illustrate what these divisional teams could potentially look like in 2016
South Laois (Timahoe, Spink, Barrowhouse, park/Ratheniska, The Harps, Borris in Ossory , , Kilcotton etc)
1. Eoin Culliton ( Timahoe)
2. Joe O Connor (Timahoe
3 Mark Delaney (Park)
4. Benny Greene (Park)
5 Eamon Jackman (Spink)
6 Damien O'Connor (Timahoe)
7.Joe Murphy (Barrowhouse)
8. Brendan Quigley (Timahoe)
9 Seamus Dwyer (Spink)
10 Sean Ramsbottom
11 Cha Dwyer (Spink)
12 Brian Daly (Barrowhouse)
13 Damien Carter (Spink)
14 Kieran Delaney (Park)
15Ruari O'Connor (Timahoe)

While North Laois (Courtwood, Annanough, O'Dempseys, Kilcavan ,Roseinallis, Castletwon/Slieve Bloom , The Rock etc)


would have players like
John Scully
Robbie Kehoe
Conor Meredith
Rory Stapleton
Mick Bermingham
Ronan Gorry
Simon Miller
Michael Finlay
Barry Kelly
Niall Donoher
Luke Doyle
O'Halloran
.

I'd like to hear people's opinions on this and if they think they can name North and South Laois teams go ahead as my knowledge of Junior and Intermediate football is very limited.