Messages

1

Laois / Re: 2019 Bord na Móna Walsh Cup

« on: Today at 09:41:49 AM »

Why?

I must say, you do seem to enjoy trying to rile people! Again, I ask - why?

Our county’s name is Laois. I asked nicely, there was no attempt to rile you or anyone.

Like it or not the name Leix is part of our heritage and was in common use up the 1960s (as was Maryborough).
The great Laois team of the 1930s would have been called Leix at the time.
When Laois GAA people refer to our county as Leix, e.g. C'mon Leix, you can take it that they are using it as a term of affection.

2

Laois / Re: Laois Senior Football Managers through the years

« on: December 16, 2018, 09:34:41 PM »

The profile of Team Manager really took off with Heffo and Micko in the 1970s - prior to then a county would always have had a coach/trainer and selectors but might not necessarily have had a front man.
Before 1981 the previous Leinster Final appearance by Laois was 1968. I'm curious as to who was manager/coach/trainer of that team and also the men who took charge in the years from then up to Tom Darcy's reign. Was former Laois & Meath footballer Tom Browne one of those ?

3

Laois / Laois Senior Football Managers through the years

« on: December 05, 2018, 12:45:29 AM »

Below is a list of Laois Senior Football manager over the past 40 years – have I missed anyone ?

1.   Tom Darcy
2.   Kieran Brennan   ***
3.   Bobby Millar
4.   Richie Connor
5.   Colm Browne
6.   Michael Dempsey
7.   Tom Cribben
8.   Colm Browne
9.   Mick O'Dwyer   ***
10.   Liam Kearns
11.   Sean Dempsey
12.   Justin McNulty
13.   Tomás ó Flatharta
14.   Mick Lillis
15.   Peter Creedon
16.   John Sugrue

I’ve put 3 stars against Kiernan Brennan and Mick O’Dwyer for their roles in winning National League and Leinster Championship respectively.

It’s difficult to rate managers of the 80s and 90s against those of 2000-2018 given how team preparation became more professional but Justin McNulty would be my 3rd favourite Laois manager.

John Sugrue have certainly made a good start but he has a huge task to emulate Kieran or Micko.

4

Laois / Re: Laois footballers the Championship Monaghan next in NAVAN 2pm Sunday 8th July

« on: July 07, 2018, 12:31:24 AM »

Did you see Ross Munelly, Tom Kelly or Joe Higgins in 2003? Or Tom Prendergast? Or Colm Browne? Or Liam Irwin? Or Barney Maher?

As far as I'm concerned, Donie is one of 15 Laois players who will take the field on Sunday. He deserves the same respect as all the rest of them and hopefully he will play a significant role.  Win or lose, all 15 will play a big part.

And I can assure you, he will need both his arms on Sunday.

Good gosh - you left out Willie Brennan and The Beano 

I do like this management's style - horses for courses. I'm very happy wth Ross's selection and I think Glynn has been chomping at the bit too.
It's not just a fifteen man game so it's no bad reflection on the lads not starting - it's great to have quality players on the bench.

Best of luck to the lads.

5

GAA Discussion / Re: Dublin v Laois

« on: June 20, 2018, 11:26:24 PM »

Will anyone outside of Dublin or Laois even bother to watch this game?

When the top teams get into their stride they can play some brilliant football, e.g. Mayo's 4-19 to 0-9 demolition of the Rossies last year 

I'm hoping that Laois will be competitive but it's a huge ask for a team coming from Division 4.

6

GAA Discussion / Re: Football qualifier route 2018

« on: June 18, 2018, 11:58:39 PM »

No, I think we should retain the provincials with the winners advancing to AI Semi-Finals as of old.
The provincials and Sam Maguire Cup would be a straight knockout competition and secondary to an amalgamated NFL & Super 8s.

7

GAA Discussion / Re: Football qualifier route 2018

« on: June 18, 2018, 11:39:36 PM »

It’s a pity that the provincial imbalance is compounded in the qualifiers.

Carlow win 2 and go into Round 2 after losing their 3rd game while Roscommon win 1 and go into Round 4 after losing their 2nd game.

Carlow beat a Division 1 and a Division 2 team while Roscommon beat a Division 4 team.

8

GAA Discussion / Re: Super 8s

« on: June 17, 2018, 11:26:07 AM »

If you want the highest ranking teams AND equal provincial representation the best outcome would be :

Group 1
Connacht Champions    Galway (D1)
Munster Champions    Kerry (D1)
Ulster Runner-up      Fermanagh (D3)     Tyrone
Leinster Runner-up      Laois (D4)     Kildare

Group 2
Leinster Champions    Dublin (D1)
Ulster Champions    Donegal (D1)
Connacht Runner-up   Roscommon (D2)     Mayo
Munster Runner-up     Cork (D2)

But in all probability you won't get groups as balanced as above and one group will appear stronger that the other on paper.

9

Laois / Re: Laois footballers the Championship DUBLIN NEXT 24th June(what a season so far!!

« on: June 15, 2018, 12:44:01 AM »

We need to pick at whatever straws are available – what’s the point of just accepting the general wisdom that we are lambs to the slaughter ? 

The Dubs are missing a key man at the back – in 2003 they were missing Hill 16 at their back -  it was out of commission due to a forthcoming U2 concert.

Yes, let’s bomb it in to Cluxtons’s replacement - we might get a break 

10

Laois / Re: Laois footballers the Championship DUBLIN NEXT 24th June(what a season so far!!

« on: June 13, 2018, 01:05:17 AM »

Just listened to the interview - no better man - Ross has done his county proud every time he wore the blue and white.

I'll never forget his performance in the 2nd half of the 2005 Leinster Final where he nearly single handedly got us over the line.

An inspirational guy to have in our dressing room.

11

GAA Discussion / Re: Laois v Carlow

« on: June 10, 2018, 05:26:17 PM »

This "every man back" football is dreadful to watch. There may not be enough highlights to fill the 2 minutes on The Sunday Game tonight.

12

Laois / Re: Laois footballers the Championship(Next up Carlow in Croker 2pm 10th of June)

« on: June 10, 2018, 05:22:58 PM »

It will be a shocking game which Laois win if we don’t bomb the ball down the throat of their midfielder Murphy.  He went to town on us the last day, Broderick missed everything but we also pulled up when going handy.

Nail on the head - it was a dire game of football. Apart from winning there was little enjoyment and few highlights but we got the win 

Feet will be firmly on the ground for the final. I hope Stephen Attride is ok - that was a very courageous interception to avert danger.

13

Laois / Re: Laois footballers the Championship(Next up Carlow in Croker 2pm 10th of June)

« on: June 09, 2018, 01:07:09 PM »

Well said - it's great to see the buzz in Carlow after all their years in the doldrums.
Anything that promotes the GAA for young people is positive.

C'mon Laois anyway !

14

GAA Discussion / Re: Laois v Carlow

« on: June 07, 2018, 10:42:23 PM »

The river Barrow flows through Carlow town separating the Laois section, Graigcullen, from the rest of the town. Graigcullen played in the Carlow SFC up to 1925 winning 13 senior titles before switching to Laois and winning 12 senior titles. Laois won 3 Leinster senior titles in a row in the 1930s backboned by Graigcullen and Stradbally players. Graigcullen’s Tommy Murphy, The Boy Wonder, was named at midfield on the GAA’s Team of the Millennium. Full back Mark Timmons is Graigcullen’s representative on the current Laois team (plus Danny O’Reilly who is out injured).
There’s a great buzz around Carlow particularly and also Laois in anticipation of next Sunday’s game. The Graigcullen club are hosting an Up for the Match event in the clubhouse on Saturday night. We used to see similar craic on RTE’s much missed Breaking Ball programme.
Prior to Turlough O’Brien’s Carlow Rising Laois have had the upperhand in recent years winning 3-16 to 0-8 in 2015 and 3-13 to 0-12 in 2013. Carlow’s last Leinster SFC win over Laois was in 1988. In 1995 Laois beat Carlow by one point where a late wide from Laois was incorrectly signalled as a point. This wrong decision was highlighted on The Sunday Game and in the papers and Laois County Board offered Carlow a replay which Laois won.
The reward for the winners of next Sunday’s game may seem dubious – a Leinster Final versus The Dubs – but this does not take away from this game. It’s a local derby, Laois may have won the recent League meetings but Carlow showed their mettle against Kildare. Here’s hoping for a great contest.

15

General discussion / Re: Great Newspaper Headlines.

« on: June 03, 2018, 12:17:26 PM »

Hardy first in line to face Taylor in Brooklyn while Cork fight emerges as wildcard future option

http://www.the42.ie/katie-taylor-next-fight-3-4049102-Jun2018/