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The Portlaoise Intermediates gave the most timid performance of the weekend. In a county like ours, and with so many Senior teams, it amazes me that Portloiase haven't got a second senior team. I'd go as far as to say that there is a failure within the club if they can't achieve this. I think we can all accept that Portlaoise are not for splitting (I certainly don't want that anyway) but we as a county do need more from them. They are after all the biggest club in Laois by far. This isn't meant as a criticism of Portlaoise, but I think it is obvious that their Intermediate team are under achieving. I also think they have players who are more than capable of playing Senior, but for whatever reason don't. From what I saw against Courtwood, there wasn't one player capable of making the step up, and that can't be right. No pressure at all on the first team. If no pressure is coming from within, and there's little coming from the rest of the county, you would wonder how Portlaoise can improve. I think they need to do something, because for whatever reason, they're not catching the imagination of their own players, or for that matter, their own town. Again, no offence intended.

Portlaoise destroyed Ballyroan yesterday with their off the ball running and angles. It was a pleasure to watch. The end result could have been anything they wanted it to be. The second game was poor. Stradbally were kept going by Begley, Buggie and Dillon who carried what looked like a very unfit team. Josephs moved the ball just that little bit easier and scores came quicker as a result. In my opinion, they are a poor side though.

I think a feature of the weekend matches was the difference being involved with the county makes. Those involved with the county looked sharper and more capable of influencing games. It wasn't always as obvious before Sugrue came along. You would hope that lads buy in to the proposed area games and put their hand up for future selection onto the panel. I think we have a coach now who can improve players individually and this can only be of benefit to their clubs

Not traking up old coals but I think it needs saying...Brian Dalys desire to join a senior club is beginning to bear fruit...he looks like a very good senior player after training and playing   with St Joseph's

Yes it appears to be the way to go alright. Maybe someone should suggest it to Eoin Dunne in Rosenallis and Rob Tyrell in Camross. Maybe Hitchcock in Ratheniska too? No point messing around in Junior and Intermediate. Senior football is where it's at. 

They've recognised the need to join up with Na Fianna Og. The deficiency has already been addressed. It would be done long ago but for some Dinosaurs knocking around. It was an amazing achievement for Kilcruise but lest we forget they had history way before that. Build bridges and get over them.

In my opinion, Gaels are still a good idea as long they are neighbouring and/or a relationship exists already. The cobbling together of clubs which stretch across the county should not be permitted. I'd keep it as simple as that. If clubs do want to join up and no relationship exists and they are not neighbouring, then a long standing minimum requirement should be placed on them. This should weed out the overnight amalgamations.

Arles, Killeen and Barrowhouse should form a Gaels team. They've seen fit to do it at underage, so it's both logical and probably necessary to follow suit into Senior. Personally I'd love to see them go the whole hog and throw their lot in as one big club, because that is the only way to be competitive with Portlaoise. But failing that, a senior amalgamation with their own Junior teams could suffice. Chris Conway spoke recently about clubs upping their game to compete with Portlaoise. I think he's codding himself, but I accept what he was trying tp say. Portlaoise have numbers like Dublin have numbers, and the only way to be consistently competitive is to get numbers of your own. Sure you'll get the odd good harvest, and we've seen in Laois that that is possible. But sustaining it is an altogether different matter

I wasn't addressing you Don and I didn't see any of those names mentioned above in the original post which was just listing what we already know. A lad can go from Intermediate to Senior and then County in the blink of an eye. He might only be in Intermediate for developmental reasons. I have no doubt that Dowling in Portlaoise for instance will fall into that category eventually.

You as good as wrote off the entire Intermediate grade, so forgive me if I don't follow your lead. You made no mention of Aaron Dowling in the Rock, Eoin Dunne in Rosenalis, O'Flynn in Courtwood and many others. Rosenalis and Courtwood alone could have a number of lads putting their hand up`this year. Try to keep an open mind and not be so dismissive

I think there are lads in both Portlaoise and Josephs who have potential. Who knows what goes in their clubs or in their private life, but I certainly wouldn't discard them out of hand. A good coach will spot things that others have missed and Sugrue in my opinion has that ability. I would say the door is open in both those clubs to any player to make the step up, and I'm aware of more than one example in both where they are waiting for a lad to show them the real extent of their ability

Anyone from the intermediate championship putting their hand up for a Laois call up next year?

Well from MM you'd have Coss , Hanrahan ,George and Mullins all who have been in around the setup before so I don't know if that means they will be tried again . Keogh the goalkeeper for MM is Brody's backup .The Rock didn't have anyone this morning worth looking at same goes for Barrowhouse . Portlaoise and Joseph's are second teams so no . Rosenallis would be a young side but I feel no one yet up to senior intercounty standard anyway . Fennell was on the panel last year for some of the league but found it tough going. Then leaves Courtwood , well Donoher is on the panel despite thinking of retirement from Laois I hear , some decent younger players that still need to maybe develop for another year or two I feel . Lutrell has been on league and OByrne cup setups but nothing more . Luke Doyle for Courtwood is injured at the moment but I feel he might be worth a look at when he gets back to Fitness . Timahoe have Damien o Connor on the panel already and his cousin Ruari was part of the panel as a sub two years ago . Quigley is injured so I'd say he won't be back .Sean Ramsbottom has been on and off the panel too. Other than that Timahoe wouldn't have much and seem to have gone backwards a lot .

The most pointless post ever. Rosenalis and Courtwood alone have a number of lads who are worth a look, and just because you are in a second team, it shouldn't mean you are dismissed. There are lads in Josephs and Portlaoise who with the right guidance could be anything they want to be. I hope Sugrue has more of an open mind than you, and I'm guessing he has

I have to say I bear no ill feeling towards the Dubs. I just don't believe Laois have any business being on the same pitch as them. Some will say that's defeatist, unambitious and disloyal, but I think it's realistic. There is way too much romantic ideaology floating around in the GAA about the endless possibilities of smaller counties one day getting their hands on All Ireland. Could you be bothered flogging a dead horse that long? Rip it up and start again because the imbalances that exist make inter county football and hurling flawed

Your argument suggests that any county, with hard work and commitment, can be competitive at All Ireland level? Maybe I'm picking you up wrong. Let's be honest here, the top teams are discarding lads who would walk into the Laois and Antrim sides. The pool of talent is not there and counties like ours rely on a golden period. I disagree with you about the extent to which Dublin lads are working, because it's clear to me that they are lucky enough to be able to work around football as opposed to vice versa. They also get enticements the like of which cannot be replicated elsewhere. And again I say good luck to them, but knowing what I know here in Laois, we cannot ever compete with that

I strongly believe that inter county football is a waste of time. I resent the fact that the best footballer ever, if he was born in a smaller county, would never be able to play at the highest level. This is not going to change. The same counties will be playing for the same prizes forever and the rest of us should just roll over and have our bellies tickled.

Kilkenny hasn't 1.3m population.
I think hey've the smallest population of the 9 main hurling Counties.

And? So its just a numbers game? The county with the biggest numbers wins? Kerry have 37, 10 more than Dublin

Kilkenny won 11 from the year 2000

Dublin have won 5 in that same time period

So why do your own county, or mine, Laois never win an All Ireland?

It's amazing the fascination people from outside the area have with us. We play together underage. Between the two clubs, we have been in county final 7 of the last 15. We were in none when we played together!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laois_Senior_Football_Championship

I hardly think that's something to crow about. It was part of the reason the split happened (both thinking they were strong enough without the other) and what has ensued is nothing short of embarrassing. This thing of joining at underage makes an even bigger mockery of the whole thing. Talk about sending the youth of the area mixed messages. It's not an episode anyone closely linked to the split can be proud of surely?

No you're right.I believe all those profiles to be a true and accurate reflection of what Dublin players do for a living. I can't believe I've been so naive. Thanks for correcting me

As I said, it's not a criticism, but football is the main thing in their life. The jobs they do facilitate that and good luck to them. They are semi professional and in some cases fully professional. That's a massive advantage

You're full of it today! I've put up their, supposed jobs and you are telling me that the county board or sponsors are covering all their wages and allowing time off ? So the doctors teachers accountants business owners and the rest are covered financially?

Never let the truth get in the way of a good yarn..

Mind you there will be the odd county player who's landed a 'job' over the years, but they still have to work to produce a wage.. full time professional players train and play full time

And you know exactly what they do on a daily basis. If they had put down Fossets Circus, would you believe that too?