Messages

Are they doing any programmes for the games ?

Programmes all online. Hard copies available for free as well if you ask.
I think online is the way to go given teams pay them so little heed now anyway.

I haven't heard anything on Camross but I'd be surprised if there was a massive panic just yet; I'd still fully back them to get out of the group.

Does anyone know where you can see the championship tables so far for the hurling championship. Also after group stage what way does it work!?? Thanks.

The senior hurling championship tables are not showing up on the Laois GAA website for some reason. Anyone know who to contact?
I would presume the top team in each group goes to the semis with the next two playing off in a quarter final?

I'd say the Laois GAA website is set-up to update tables automatically. The criss-cross format probably throws it.

It's easy enough piece it together so far anyway. The picture will be a little clearer after the CB-BK match. (Hope young Brennan is OK.)

I think I'm right in saying after the criss-cross group games, the quarter and semi-finals are all from the same group.

Thursday:
RE should have too much for Ballinakill after a battle. RE by 5.

Friday:
We'll learn more about The Harps against Portlaoise. I think they'll win by 4.

Saturday:
4:00: It's nearly a must-win for Castletown but I think Abbeyleix will bounce back to win by 3.
5:30: Camross will beat Rosenallis by 8+.
7: Neither were great last weekend but I think CB will edge BK by 3.

A very poor advertisement for moving from 8 to 10 senior teams.

RE by far the best team on show with The Harps showing some improvements alongside Ballinakill who were more than decent.

CB and BK were poor enough in winning but to be fair to CB, I'm basing that more on how awful the opposition were.

Abbeyleix won't be as bad again and Portlaoise have enough about them to suggest that they will cause problems.

RE favourites; CB, Camross and The Harps to contend. Rosenallis or Castletown for the drop.

Abbeyleix were very poor tonight but I think we might just be seeing The Harps turn a corner. A long road to travel before you could say they are definite championship contenders but I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the semi-finals...at least.

Camross and RE by 10+
BK by 6
The Harps by 2
CB-Castletown Draw

I know in Kilkenny there gone back to 18. If it's your last year of 18 you are able to play senior hurling for your club.a young lad that played for Thomastown this year in the country final also played minor in the same year.that could be the way to do it. Also it must be harder for clubs to get challenge games outside the county because the amount of county's that are gone back

Is that actually better than the current set-up we have?
I'd like to have minor back to 18 for romantic reasons but I think the simplicity of having separate minor and adult fixtures is helpful.

Balance is key.

Brendan Phelan has resurrected the Setanta Programme almost single-handedly and I don't ever recall seeing his name on a Harps senior team.

Underage management teams don't need 6 ex-county players or 6 exceptional coaches; a blend of strengths, backgrounds, interests and personalities would be perfect.

The issue, of course, is that we have consistently struggled to get the quality or quantity we'd desire.
Hopefully things have turned a slight corner with the set-ups seemingly in a relatively strong place for this year.

Laois simply want to tick a box to statify  certain people  that we have accmedy structure. Laois gaa don't give a shite about the squad. This is my personal  experience. Shane keegan  has not helped in fact I would now view that his predecessor in fact done a much better job. If we wanted someone to talk or do a podcast contact shane but to change and improve i won't be shane.

I think the hurling management teams that Ogie detailed last week are of a very high standard. I'm sure the U14-16 management team you have referenced in the past (passed over for minor job in 2025) did a fine job but I think the depth and quality of the groups currently in place suggest Keegan is on the right track despite your obvious disappointment.

Picky (Cruciate) and Conway (USA) gone for c/Ballacolla against Castletown...this has banana skin written all over it and Castletown will really fancy it. I think they could edge it.

I still think The Harps will beat Abbeyleix but Duggan's loss (USA) could be telling.

RE, Camross and BK all to win with the minimum of fuss.

Its hard to see fixtures / results because its development teams,/ Programmes, Croke Park see it as same and run it as same, to allow for the development of players in all counties without the pressure of 'winning', that's the ethos of it

As I said last year here its actually very hard to know where you are as most teams at 14/15 anyway are split, again a strong directive from Croke Park in recent years
So Laois U14 hurlers and footballers are carrying two teams most days split evenly, U16 narrows down to one team but play the likes of Clare, Tipp, Cork etc with 3 teams, Kilkenny two teams, Waterford two etc

The Laois U15 team that won recently was a predominantly B team, the stronger team are a decent squad with some very good hurlers, same with this years U14 hurlers, next years minors are a decent squad too

U14 hurlers recently beat two Clare teams, Offaly and a Kilkenny team and play in two Cork teams this weekend,
U14 Footballers lost to Meath, beat Westmeath and a Cork team, beat Kildare last Saturday

U15 hurlers beat Clare recently, lost to Limerick and Dublin and beat Wexford
U15 Footballers I cant comment, havent seen any fixtures / results or training

16s continuing after the Celtic Challenge success, but again proper structures from Croke Park / Leinster etc should have seen us in a higher division

Ultimately its a numbers game for most, its the Offaly's and Wexford we need to be level / contesting with, Tipp, Cork, Dublin etc will be picking from 100 good players, we are trying to bring through our top 25 to minor /U20 and maybe get 5/6 through to Senior 

Thanks for that Ogie.
Great to get that insight.

Anecdotally, I've heard our U14 and U15 hurling set-ups are really well-run.
That's not to say other panels aren't positive by the way, just what I've heard from talking to people with players involved.

Sorry Players not teams, training with the seniors

A minor player training with the senior county team....whilst still not allowed hurl with his own adult club team...
And remember players straight out of minor aren't eligible to hurl inter-county.

Nobody actually believes this is a good idea. U20s yes. If they're up to the level.

With the upmost respect mcwegor, there has been differing opinions regarding the management of out senior, since early on in the league, multiple people gave multiple opinions on this matter for 3 months at least. From the person who has originally given the job, to the person who eventually got the Job. I made my feelings clear from day one regarding my reservations about the manager.

I don't remember you stating an opinion ( humbly).

I shall finish off by honestly saying that there needs to be a new manager found from a strong hurling county, with good credentials and a holder of an all Ireland medal, with hunger to bring the team together and win the Joe Mc next season.

I have absolutely no issue with Tommy as a person, but he WILL NOT IMPROVE THE SENIORS. I believe that we have clearly regressed since 2024 against Offaly.

I expect one or two personal attacks be People from the Town, but to be honest I truly don't care.

The county board's real reason for upping the Senior hurling championship from 8 to 10 Teams, was brought forward by Portlaoise, because they didn't want relegation as an option.

No other club in Laois would be treated with preferential treatment.

It is quite simply not right that one Club, who at School level, put almost nothing into hurling or even football anymore should have the power and influence to rule the roost over the County.

We disagree on Tommy Fitz, Infidel. That's subjective, each to their own and I'll even concede that my confidence in the management group as a whole was shaken by last Sunday's performance.

But I'm reasonably certain you're factually incorrect about Portlaoise Club proposing the championship format change. I believe Ballinakill made the proposal with Castletown, Portlaoise and The Harps strongly in favour.

Dead rubbers, injuries, county-commitments.
Too many simple excuses. Really annoying.

I called the C/Ballacolla one last week when I saw they were to play senior league matches Friday and Sunday. They were never playing both with their county commitments.

I've heard nothing negative about the camp; purely the opposite to be honest.

There will, of course, be disappointed individuals but that's the game.

I would have said the same.
But the whole county seems to know who is in and who was dropped.
That's not a good sign.

It's not but it's a reach to jump straight to issues in the camp. Laois hurling circles are small and these things happen unfortunately.