The ups and downs of following Laois

[The Boy Wonder]

This weekend's losses to Wicklow (Tailteann Cup) and Kildare (Joe McDonagh Cup) seem to have unduly upset some posters on this boards. These results did nor register on my Richter Scale of disappointments in my years following Laois.

Aughrim in 1986 was by far the most sickening.
 
1981 Leinster SHC Semi-Final loss to Offaly – Padraig Horan scored a goal through the side netting and Paddy Kirwan scored the winner from 100 yards after Laois centre-back John Delaney was harshly penalised for charging with Laois on the attack. Offaly went on to win their 1st All-Irleand.

1981 Leinster SFC Final loss to Offaly after beating the Dubs in Tullamore.

1985 Leinster SHC Final loss to Offaly – an element of stage fright plus Offaly's experience.

1985 Leinster SFC Final loss to Dublin on a wet day in Croker. I remember the headline on Con Houlihan's column in Evening Press the following day – "The gang that couldn't shoot straight".
If only Curly had been onboard that day.
   
1991 Leinster SFC Final loss to Meath – unlucky to be reduced to 14 men.

1992 Leinster SFC Semi-Final loss to Louth after beating Meath in Navan – Hughie Emerson's brilliant debut.

1999 Leinster SFC Semi-Final loss to Dublin – Ian Robertson's equalized for the Dubs in the drawn match after picking the ball off the ground.

2004 Leinster SFC Final loss to Westmeath

2005 Leinster SFC Final loss to Dublin

2007 All-Ireland U21 Football Final loss to Cork

There were many more disappointments down the years but one never loses the faith.

We have had some great days too
•   The hurlers of the early eighties
•   1986 NFL title
•   All-Ireland Minor Football Champions 1996, 1997, 2003
•   Leinster Senior Football Champions 2003
 
Plus the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2019 and many other days in football and hurling where our lads did us proud.

[Verbal]

1998 v Kilkenny in Croke Park in Leinster semi was a seriously missed opportunity.
First years of the back door.
Had Laois held on they would have been playing Offaly in the Leinster final.
Had we lost this, Antrim in an All Ireland quarter final.

Why wasn't Curly on board in 1985?

[The Boy Wonder]

It's not unusual for players, particularly long-serving players, to take a break during their career.
There can be any number of reasons - career, family etc.

Curly came back on board in 1986 and was a key player on the NFL winning team.

[redsetanta]

Was he is America that summer?

[Joeythelips]

Tyrone kicking the sh**e out of us in 2011 and Beano got a horrific injury. I was at home watching it on RTE and Ger Canning saying he thinks he injured his knee despite them showing slow motion replays that would turn your stomach.

Another was Laois v Kilkenny in hurling (can't recall the year but think it was part of a double header in Croker) and got held up in traffic so arrived a few mins late to my seat in upper Hogan, as I sat down Kilkenny scored a goal which was deflating only to notice the scoreboard and Kilkenny had already put 2-3 or similar on Laois and the game was effectively already over.

[Laois Rising]

That was 1999. Year before, had the winning of the game against Kilkenny but froze with finish line in slight and Ken O'Shea scored 1-1 to win it at the death. The team was in decline though by 99. Despite that a huge Laois support travelled to the game with optimism. I remember a sideline ball by Andy Comerford being dropped into the net by Ricky Cashin in the first few minutes of the game and that completely took the wind out of the Laois sails. It was one way traffic after that despite Niall Rigney being head and shoulders the best player on the field. It was unfortunate that a very decent Laois hurling side in the 90s never won a championship game in that decade. They had some notable league wins in that time but just didn't have the rub of the green in championship.

[Joeythelips]

That was 1999. Year before, had the winning of the game against Kilkenny but froze with finish line in slight and Ken O'Shea scored 1-1 to win it at the death. The team was in decline though by 99. Despite that a huge Laois support travelled to the game with optimism. I remember a sideline ball by Andy Comerford being dropped into the net by Ricky Cashin in the first few minutes of the game and that completely took the wind out of the Laois sails. It was one way traffic after that despite Niall Rigney being head and shoulders the best player on the field. It was unfortunate that a very decent Laois hurling side in the 90s never won a championship game in that decade. They had some notable league wins in that time but just didn't have the rub of the green in championship.

Yes I recall them losing to Kilkenny in 95, again Rigney and Declan Conroy were outstanding for Laois but could just not get it over the line.

[Plentymorehurlsontheline]

That was 1999. Year before, had the winning of the game against Kilkenny but froze with finish line in slight and Ken O'Shea scored 1-1 to win it at the death. The team was in decline though by 99. Despite that a huge Laois support travelled to the game with optimism. I remember a sideline ball by Andy Comerford being dropped into the net by Ricky Cashin in the first few minutes of the game and that completely took the wind out of the Laois sails. It was one way traffic after that despite Niall Rigney being head and shoulders the best player on the field. It was unfortunate that a very decent Laois hurling side in the 90s never won a championship game in that decade. They had some notable league wins in that time but just didn't have the rub of the green in championship.

I think that was the game that John o Sullivan effectively hand passed the ball into his own goal? Not a fun time

[redsetanta]

Tyrone kicking the sh**e out of us in 2011 and Beano got a horrific injury. I was at home watching it on RTE and Ger Canning saying he thinks he injured his knee despite them showing slow motion replays that would turn your stomach.

Another was Laois v Kilkenny in hurling (can't recall the year but think it was part of a double header in Croker) and got held up in traffic so arrived a few mins late to my seat in upper Hogan, as I sat down Kilkenny scored a goal which was deflating only to notice the scoreboard and Kilkenny had already put 2-3 or similar on Laois and the game was effectively already over.

Beano's leg freak was in 2004 at Croke Park.

[les Antiques]

That was 1999. Year before, had the winning of the game against Kilkenny but froze with finish line in slight and Ken O'Shea scored 1-1 to win it at the death. The team was in decline though by 99. Despite that a huge Laois support travelled to the game with optimism. I remember a sideline ball by Andy Comerford being dropped into the net by Ricky Cashin in the first few minutes of the game and that completely took the wind out of the Laois sails. It was one way traffic after that despite Niall Rigney being head and shoulders the best player on the field. It was unfortunate that a very decent Laois hurling side in the 90s never won a championship game in that decade. They had some notable league wins in that time but just didn't have the rub of the green in championship.

Yes I recall them losing to Kilkenny in 95, again Rigney and Declan Conroy were outstanding for Laois but could just not get it over the line.

Ah 1995 for me was the one . Blistering hot day in Carlow . Dermondy making an outstanding save from Fint Lalor in the dying seconds  when we were 2 down and whistle about to be blown . Some performance that day . Remember being behind the goal and thinking it was in . Heartbreaking