Neighbourly love

[maddog]

I'm bemused by of the vitriol being spewed by some Armagh supporters against Laois. Having attended most of Armagh-Laois matches in Championship and league over the past 20 years I've not witnessed the behaviour complained of - I can't say it didn't happen but I would contend that a tiny minority of Laois "supporters" were to blame. I think any county supporters who carry grudges against other counties and broadcast such prejudices on a forum such as this are just small-minded, juvenile and immature.

At recent Laois games Vs Kildare, Meath and Longford I listened to terrible abuse towards Laois players from a small handful of opposition supporters - again these were tiny obnoxious elements and you just can't smear any county for the ignorance of a few.

Back to the neighbourly love theme - I always had grudging admiration and jealousy of Offaly's achievements in hurling and football down the years - oh that it could have been my county instead. Nor would I have begrudged Kildare had they made the breakthrough.

I wouldn't call it vitriol. You are right though every county has them, you just have them in spades. Thank god there is the like of Budweiser among ye. Ask yourself why we might be small minded juvenile and immature towards a county that we have no rivalry with.

Maddog

How do you work that out did you count them?

You take as you find

[ranch]

County - Armagh

Rivals -Down / Tyrone / Monaghan / Louth

Would I cheer them on in AI final? All except Down.
Being from the Newry area would make it unbearable.

[Croí na hÉireann]

From Armagh

Happy to support any ulster county bar Down. Its their arrogance that I struggle with. Tyrone we love to beat but at same time will support them when they are playing a non ulster county. Out of all the other counties the only ones that I really had a bad experience with was Laois. Go home british b**tards etc in the 1994 league final. Same thing again in 03 1/4 final. Some of the best fans I have met were the Dubs, great craic and get a bad press for some reason.

I forgot about Laois.  The 2005 All Ireland Quarter Final is long forgotten because it was such a one sided game.  Basicly Armagh (at their peak) absolutely just stuffed Laois.  It was like boys against men.  At no point in the game was it even close, and Armagh who were famed at that time for hard hitting football never really had to up the ante.

This description of the match and circumstances makes the atmosphere at the game all the more remarkable.  The Laois fans were horrible, bitter, and aggressive.  They were foul mouthed and partitionist.  I've never seen the like of it before or since.

Had one fella giving out to my (at the time) 6 year old nephew outside the hoganstand bar saying f**k off back to Britain. Seems to be a thing with them. Anyway you cant let yourself be dragged down to the their level. On a more positive note best fans I think are Roscommon. The craic out of them is deadly. Plus it helps I have some friends from the disputed territory of Ballagh and the one sided town of Loughlynn. Cork fans I like for their stoutness, its like defeat is not an option but can take it when it doesn't work out for them.
Mayo I feel for. Jesus what is it gonna take.

If you have friends from Ballagh then you have friends from Mayo.

No Ballagh is inside the Roscommon border is it not ?

Basic geography isn't Mayo GAA peoples' strongest suit, God help the poor things.

Always liked the craic out of Armagh lads, by the way. Derry and Down tend to be good too but I haven't had many occasions to see our counties play.

Athlone expanded to take in the Hyde yer? 

All in good time, Monksland first.

[Feckitt]

I have to object to the Laois poster who is obviously and rightly i suppose sticking up for his own county.  Firstly it has nothing to do with Billy Sheehan, as I wasnt at that match, and the matches that I refer to all happened before the Sheehan incident. 

Armagh have no border or any real reason for rivalry with Laois.  In fact there is no rivalry.  However, the match in 2005 was unprecedented for the nasty atmosphere from Laois fans.  There was no apparent call for it, and I still cannot figure out why?  Nor was it from a bunch of teenagers.  Almost every Laois person that was anywhere near me in the stand was in very bad form.  I have no problem with any other county.  A few years later at a nothing league match in the Athletic Grounds, the same horrible atmosphere was there.

I have never had this experience with any other county ever.  A few other posters have mentioned the 2005 match.  It is unlikely we were all sitting in the same section.  It just seems very strange.

[maddog]

I have to object to the Laois poster who is obviously and rightly i suppose sticking up for his own county.  Firstly it has nothing to do with Billy Sheehan, as I wasnt at that match, and the matches that I refer to all happened before the Sheehan incident. 

Armagh have no border or any real reason for rivalry with Laois.  In fact there is no rivalry.  However, the match in 2005 was unprecedented for the nasty atmosphere from Laois fans.  There was no apparent call for it, and I still cannot figure out why?  Nor was it from a bunch of teenagers.  Almost every Laois person that was anywhere near me in the stand was in very bad form.  I have no problem with any other county.  A few years later at a nothing league match in the Athletic Grounds, the same horrible atmosphere was there.

I have never had this experience with any other county ever.  A few other posters have mentioned the 2005 match.  It is unlikely we were all sitting in the same section.  It just seems very strange.

Upper Hogan front row near enough on the 45 towards the hill end. It wasn't nice.

[Walter Cronc]

I have to object to the Laois poster who is obviously and rightly i suppose sticking up for his own county.  Firstly it has nothing to do with Billy Sheehan, as I wasnt at that match, and the matches that I refer to all happened before the Sheehan incident. 

Armagh have no border or any real reason for rivalry with Laois.  In fact there is no rivalry.  However, the match in 2005 was unprecedented for the nasty atmosphere from Laois fans.  There was no apparent call for it, and I still cannot figure out why?  Nor was it from a bunch of teenagers.  Almost every Laois person that was anywhere near me in the stand was in very bad form.  I have no problem with any other county.  A few years later at a nothing league match in the Athletic Grounds, the same horrible atmosphere was there.

I have never had this experience with any other county ever.  A few other posters have mentioned the 2005 match.  It is unlikely we were all sitting in the same section.  It just seems very strange.

Was that the double header with Tyrone/Fermanagh on before when Tyrone won by about 15 points?? As a neutral I was at it (supporting Armagh) in the middle of Laois fans and didnt remember anything nasty being said. In saying that it can happen. As much as I hate all things Tyrone the worst experience I ever had was in Newry against Down in a qualifier (Skinner scored wonder goal) and some Down boll*x didnt stop going on about Londonderry from the first to last minute!! Not even sure he realised that the Down full back that day was a Bellaghy man Scullion!!!

[blanketattack]

Maybe Laois people have an inferiority complex from this...

The county was formerly known as Queen's County (Irish: Contae na Banríona) until its name was informally changed on establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Despite the county's name being upheld as Laois through the 2001 Local Government Act, no legislation was ever enacted after independence explicitly changing the name from Queen's County, the name formally established under the 1898 Local Government Act which continued to have legal effect. When land is sold in the county the relevant title deeds are still updated as being in Queen's County.

I was buying some electrical goods from a UK site last year and after selecting Ireland, for the dropdown list of counties it included 3 counties with 2 names i.e. County Derry/Londonderry, County Offaly/King's County, County Laois/Queen's County.

[Feckitt]

I have to object to the Laois poster who is obviously and rightly i suppose sticking up for his own county.  Firstly it has nothing to do with Billy Sheehan, as I wasnt at that match, and the matches that I refer to all happened before the Sheehan incident. 

Armagh have no border or any real reason for rivalry with Laois.  In fact there is no rivalry.  However, the match in 2005 was unprecedented for the nasty atmosphere from Laois fans.  There was no apparent call for it, and I still cannot figure out why?  Nor was it from a bunch of teenagers.  Almost every Laois person that was anywhere near me in the stand was in very bad form.  I have no problem with any other county.  A few years later at a nothing league match in the Athletic Grounds, the same horrible atmosphere was there.

I have never had this experience with any other county ever.  A few other posters have mentioned the 2005 match.  It is unlikely we were all sitting in the same section.  It just seems very strange.

Was that the double header with Tyrone/Fermanagh on before when Tyrone won by about 15 points?? As a neutral I was at it (supporting Armagh) in the middle of Laois fans and didnt remember anything nasty being said. In saying that it can happen. As much as I hate all things Tyrone the worst experience I ever had was in Newry against Down in a qualifier (Skinner scored wonder goal) and some Down boll*x didnt stop going on about Londonderry from the first to last minute!! Not even sure he realised that the Down full back that day was a Bellaghy man Scullion!!!

No, i think there was only one match on.  Throne beat Dublin in the QF that year.  Armagh had just won the greatest Ulster Championship ever won, and strolled into this match as hot favourites.  Laois could not have realistically have expected to win.  Armagh blew them away and didn't even have to get their hard hitting game going.  I wouldn't be on here complaining about 1 or 2 loudmouths.  Every county not least my own has plenty of them.  I am talking about middle aged men and women, young men, couples, basicly everyone was in extremely agressive form.  And they all got stuck into shouting partitionist stuff throughout the match.  It's happened at 3 matches v Laois, and I've never seen it at this level from any other county.  Sin é

[Walter Cronc]

I have to object to the Laois poster who is obviously and rightly i suppose sticking up for his own county.  Firstly it has nothing to do with Billy Sheehan, as I wasnt at that match, and the matches that I refer to all happened before the Sheehan incident. 

Armagh have no border or any real reason for rivalry with Laois.  In fact there is no rivalry.  However, the match in 2005 was unprecedented for the nasty atmosphere from Laois fans.  There was no apparent call for it, and I still cannot figure out why?  Nor was it from a bunch of teenagers.  Almost every Laois person that was anywhere near me in the stand was in very bad form.  I have no problem with any other county.  A few years later at a nothing league match in the Athletic Grounds, the same horrible atmosphere was there.

I have never had this experience with any other county ever.  A few other posters have mentioned the 2005 match.  It is unlikely we were all sitting in the same section.  It just seems very strange.

Was that the double header with Tyrone/Fermanagh on before when Tyrone won by about 15 points?? As a neutral I was at it (supporting Armagh) in the middle of Laois fans and didnt remember anything nasty being said. In saying that it can happen. As much as I hate all things Tyrone the worst experience I ever had was in Newry against Down in a qualifier (Skinner scored wonder goal) and some Down boll*x didnt stop going on about Londonderry from the first to last minute!! Not even sure he realised that the Down full back that day was a Bellaghy man Scullion!!!

No, i think there was only one match on.  Throne beat Dublin in the QF that year.  Armagh had just won the greatest Ulster Championship ever won, and strolled into this match as hot favourites.  Laois could not have realistically have expected to win.  Armagh blew them away and didn't even have to get their hard hitting game going.  I wouldn't be on here complaining about 1 or 2 loudmouths.  Every county not least my own has plenty of them.  I am talking about middle aged men and women, young men, couples, basicly everyone was in extremely agressive form.  And they all got stuck into shouting partitionist stuff throughout the match.  It's happened at 3 matches v Laois, and I've never seen it at this level from any other county.  Sin é

My bad. Did yous play Laois in 2003??

[Syferus]

From Armagh

Happy to support any ulster county bar Down. Its their arrogance that I struggle with. Tyrone we love to beat but at same time will support them when they are playing a non ulster county. Out of all the other counties the only ones that I really had a bad experience with was Laois. Go home british b**tards etc in the 1994 league final. Same thing again in 03 1/4 final. Some of the best fans I have met were the Dubs, great craic and get a bad press for some reason.

I forgot about Laois.  The 2005 All Ireland Quarter Final is long forgotten because it was such a one sided game.  Basicly Armagh (at their peak) absolutely just stuffed Laois.  It was like boys against men.  At no point in the game was it even close, and Armagh who were famed at that time for hard hitting football never really had to up the ante.

This description of the match and circumstances makes the atmosphere at the game all the more remarkable.  The Laois fans were horrible, bitter, and aggressive.  They were foul mouthed and partitionist.  I've never seen the like of it before or since.

Had one fella giving out to my (at the time) 6 year old nephew outside the hoganstand bar saying f**k off back to Britain. Seems to be a thing with them. Anyway you cant let yourself be dragged down to the their level. On a more positive note best fans I think are Roscommon. The craic out of them is deadly. Plus it helps I have some friends from the disputed territory of Ballagh and the one sided town of Loughlynn. Cork fans I like for their stoutness, its like defeat is not an option but can take it when it doesn't work out for them.
Mayo I feel for. Jesus what is it gonna take.

If you have friends from Ballagh then you have friends from Mayo.

No Ballagh is inside the Roscommon border is it not ?

Basic geography isn't Mayo GAA peoples' strongest suit, God help the poor things.

Always liked the craic out of Armagh lads, by the way. Derry and Down tend to be good too but I haven't had many occasions to see our counties play.

Athlone expanded to take in the Hyde yer? 

All in good time, Monksland first.

I usually see the maroon jerseys, pause for a second and then realise 'ah, sure it's just Westmeath'.

[maddog]

I have to object to the Laois poster who is obviously and rightly i suppose sticking up for his own county.  Firstly it has nothing to do with Billy Sheehan, as I wasnt at that match, and the matches that I refer to all happened before the Sheehan incident. 

Armagh have no border or any real reason for rivalry with Laois.  In fact there is no rivalry.  However, the match in 2005 was unprecedented for the nasty atmosphere from Laois fans.  There was no apparent call for it, and I still cannot figure out why?  Nor was it from a bunch of teenagers.  Almost every Laois person that was anywhere near me in the stand was in very bad form.  I have no problem with any other county.  A few years later at a nothing league match in the Athletic Grounds, the same horrible atmosphere was there.

I have never had this experience with any other county ever.  A few other posters have mentioned the 2005 match.  It is unlikely we were all sitting in the same section.  It just seems very strange.

Was that the double header with Tyrone/Fermanagh on before when Tyrone won by about 15 points?? As a neutral I was at it (supporting Armagh) in the middle of Laois fans and didnt remember anything nasty being said. In saying that it can happen. As much as I hate all things Tyrone the worst experience I ever had was in Newry against Down in a qualifier (Skinner scored wonder goal) and some Down boll*x didnt stop going on about Londonderry from the first to last minute!! Not even sure he realised that the Down full back that day was a Bellaghy man Scullion!!!

No, i think there was only one match on.  Throne beat Dublin in the QF that year.  Armagh had just won the greatest Ulster Championship ever won, and strolled into this match as hot favourites.  Laois could not have realistically have expected to win.  Armagh blew them away and didn't even have to get their hard hitting game going.  I wouldn't be on here complaining about 1 or 2 loudmouths.  Every county not least my own has plenty of them.  I am talking about middle aged men and women, young men, couples, basicly everyone was in extremely agressive form.  And they all got stuck into shouting partitionist stuff throughout the match.  It's happened at 3 matches v Laois, and I've never seen it at this level from any other county.  Sin é

The game I am referring to was after Tyrone destroying Fermanagh. Im sure it was 03 a 1/4 final and I think we won 0-15 to 0-13

[Feckitt]

I was in England in 03, so wasn't at that game.  I think it is lazy and pc to say that all supporters are as good and as bad as each other.
I have nothing against Laois,  I don't even know anyone from Laois!  I am sure that Laois is a nice county and a good place.  However bad experiences dating back 10 years and more have been common at matches against Laois.  I have no explanation as to why this is the case.  However plenty of other Armagh people on this thread have backed up what I have said.  Partitionist abuse is sickening and the people who indulge in it, let themselves down and their county down.  In fact a GAA match is the last place on earth where you should hear this.

[Walter Cronc]

I was in England in 03, so wasn't at that game.  I think it is lazy and pc to say that all supporters are as good and as bad as each other.
I have nothing against Laois,  I don't even know anyone from Laois!  I am sure that Laois is a nice county and a good place.  However bad experiences dating back 10 years and more have been common at matches against Laois.  I have no explanation as to why this is the case.  However plenty of other Armagh people on this thread have backed up what I have said.  Partitionist abuse is sickening and the people who indulge in it, let themselves down and their county down.  In fact a GAA match is the last place on earth where you should hear this.

Totally agree but is it any worse than the abuse Derry fans have to put up with from Tyrone/Armagh supporters about Londonderry??

[armaghniac]

In 2005, the Armagh=Laois game was on a Saturday and had a modest attendance. I was in a premium seat and recall clearly the abuse coming from one Laois supporter near me, I couldn't understand this coming from a county we had no history with at that stage. Of course a sample of one is basically useless, but I hadn't heard the like before or since.

Like the booing in Dublin, most people do not do this, but the minority is bigger in some places than others.

[maddog]

I was in England in 03, so wasn't at that game.  I think it is lazy and pc to say that all supporters are as good and as bad as each other.
I have nothing against Laois,  I don't even know anyone from Laois!  I am sure that Laois is a nice county and a good place.  However bad experiences dating back 10 years and more have been common at matches against Laois.  I have no explanation as to why this is the case.  However plenty of other Armagh people on this thread have backed up what I have said.  Partitionist abuse is sickening and the people who indulge in it, let themselves down and their county down.  In fact a GAA match is the last place on earth where you should hear this.

Totally agree but is it any worse than the abuse Derry fans have to put up with from Tyrone/Armagh supporters about Londonderry??

Have never heard an Armagh fan mention Londonderry and if I did there would be words. A GAA match is indeed the last place you should here such crap.