The future of laois hurling

[Laois man]

Best team won i think Camross apart from keyes had no scoring forwards harps got a lucky enough goal in the second half and finished strong to win it. A lot of the Harps team would be hurling senior already.

[Spiritof1915]

Harps were the better team alright in a tight dogged affair. Camross were too reliant on mossy keyes and Dan delaney frees. Lot of young talent in The harps.  They need to make a statement at senior level next year.
Terrible week for Abbeyleix on the other hand. Strong favourites for that u20 championship and went out poorly yesterday. I hope they can still kick on next year. Hurling in Laois needs the likes of Abbeyleix and The Harps to be competing strong at senior level.

[Laois man]

Shocking week for Alex I said last week after watching them again Camross that they won't win in wicklow with half team hurling yesterday.

[mcwregor]

Indiscipline has been an issue with laois teams for a long time. Our county team has suffered a lot from red cards in recent years. Indiscipline again put to bed ballacollas hopes of another leinster final appearance. Its a pity as they had a good chance of winning that game today with the carlow champions up next.
Its something that needs addressing with the senior county team too. The way the game is played now you literally have no chance of winning a game with 14 given that possession and keeping the ball is vital. Referees will not give you a second chance either any infringement is a yellow and then you are on thin ice. Anything off the ball even the smallest dig will see you on the line. They are the most frustrating ones. Always needless.

[redsetanta]

The sending off yesterday certainly didn't help but the two quick goals were the real problem as Crokes always kept Ballcolla at arms lenght.

In saying that they did make a fight of it but it was a big ask.

Willie just has enough of the pulling and dragging he got all afternoon and the game was up at that stage.

[clonadmad]

inability to recruit suitable coaches for the inter-county squads has been labelled 'one of the biggest problems in Laois GAA'.

So says secretary Niall Handy who made the comments in his report ahead of Convention.

Mr Handy made the statements during his report on the Minor footballers who struggled this year.

He explained how it was initially difficult to put a management team in place for this group – a problem that he says is all too prevalent.

He says that hundreds of 'suitably qualified' people have been approached to get involved with academy and inter-county panels.

But these people continually turn down the opportunity to come on board.

Mr Handy said: "It is one aspect of the "job" that really disappoints me, whereby on a weekend or maybe a Monday morning, after taking a "beating" at some grade of Inter County level, be it Minor, U-20 or Senior, you get the call or hear the jibes from the usual brigade.

"Whether it be the lads at the barstool counter, who seem to have an outstanding knowledge and expertise on football and hurling, to the usual press personnel, and of course the keyboard warriors, as to the faults and tribulations of our panel and management and Laois GAA in general.

Now while many would be nowhere near qualified to get involved as a mentor or any other potential role within a team,
the real disappointment is the hundreds of suitably qualified personnel that have been contacted to get involved in numerous different roles with our Inter County panels and academies in recent years, and offer the same disappointing excuse for not committing.

"If you were to ask me, what is one of the biggest problems in Laois GAA, I have no hesitation in stating that it is our inability to recruit suitable coaches / mentors for our Inter County panels."

[Zooming around]

It isn't very dignified of a county secretary to be making comments like that in his annual report.

[Junior Ex Laoistalk]

It isn't very dignified of a county secretary to be making comments like that in his annual report.

Maybe not but unfortunately what he says is true

[clonadmad]

It isn't very dignified of a county secretary to be making comments like that in his annual report.

Maybe not but unfortunately what he says is true

Making the question should be asked

Why are well qualified people refusing to go in and help?

It seems a lot of those that do go in are very quickly disillusioned

Underage development squads particularly in hurling are in a very poor state in this couny and I can't see it getting any better anytime soon.

[High Fielder]

Too easy to blame those who won't volunteer. A ridiculous statement coming from I'm assuming, one of the only well paid employees of Laois GAA. Not that I'm saying it's his fault either, because this issue could never be solved by apportioning blame.

My own opinion is that we are small time. The whole machine of Laois GAA is designed to keep costs down and balance the books. There's no room to employ more coaches, badly needed, or full time employees in the main offices. Also very badly needed. Marketing, admin, website etc. Therefore, if we think small, we are small, and there is no incentive for anyone to go in and volunteer because it's thankless and generally pointless.

We have massive skills shortages across all areas of Laois GAA that in my opinion need financial resourcing, not volunteerism. Where that comes from I have no idea, but that's my take on it.

[clonadmad]

Too easy to blame those who won't volunteer. A ridiculous statement coming from I'm assuming, one of the only well paid employees of Laois GAA. Not that I'm saying it's his fault either, because this issue could never be solved by apportioning blame.

My own opinion is that we are small time. The whole machine of Laois GAA is designed to keep costs down and balance the books. There's no room to employ more coaches, badly needed, or full time employees in the main offices. Also very badly needed. Marketing, admin, website etc. Therefore, if we think small, we are small, and there is no incentive for anyone to go in and volunteer because it's thankless and generally pointless.

We have massive skills shortages across all areas of Laois GAA that in my opinion need financial resourcing, not volunteerism. Where that comes from I have no idea, but that's my take on it.

Laois GAA has run a Surplus of over €881,000 the past 2 years.

Why isnt that money being spent prudently and in areas where there will be a return on investment ?

https://www.laoistoday.ie/2021/12/01/laois-gaa-report-surplus-of-over-e500000-in-latest-annual-accounts
https://www.laoistoday.ie/2022/11/23/laois-gaa-report-surplus-of-over-e370000-in-latest-annual-accounts

[Zooming around]

It isn't very dignified of a county secretary to be making comments like that in his annual report.

Maybe not but unfortunately what he says is true

Making the question should be asked

Why are well qualified people refusing to go in and help?

It seems a lot of those that do go in are very quickly disillusioned

Underage development squads particularly in hurling are in a very poor state in this couny and I can't see it getting any better anytime soon.

A bit of personality and manners might help. We had great people involved and they were all basically ran out of it.

[SCFC]

There's no room to employ more coaches, badly needed, or full time employees in the main offices. Also very badly needed. Marketing, admin, website etc.

As we seem to have a few quid in the bank, I wonder would it be worthwhile for Laois GAA to employ a full time PR and marketing person. Someone good at a job like that could pay for themselves. A part time PRO is almost unrealistic in this day and age.
We seem to struggle to hold on to our coaches. There seems to be a problem retaining the good ones. New coaching officer incoming so hopefully he may bring some new ideas to the job.

[Zooming around]

There's no room to employ more coaches, badly needed, or full time employees in the main offices. Also very badly needed. Marketing, admin, website etc.

As we seem to have a few quid in the bank, I wonder would it be worthwhile for Laois GAA to employ a full time PR and marketing person. Someone good at a job like that could pay for themselves. A part time PRO is almost unrealistic in this day and age.
We seem to struggle to hold on to our coaches. There seems to be a problem retaining the good ones. New coaching officer incoming so hopefully he may bring some new ideas to the job.

Who's the new Coaching Officer?

[SCFC]

There's no room to employ more coaches, badly needed, or full time employees in the main offices. Also very badly needed. Marketing, admin, website etc.

As we seem to have a few quid in the bank, I wonder would it be worthwhile for Laois GAA to employ a full time PR and marketing person. Someone good at a job like that could pay for themselves. A part time PRO is almost unrealistic in this day and age.
We seem to struggle to hold on to our coaches. There seems to be a problem retaining the good ones. New coaching officer incoming so hopefully he may bring some new ideas to the job.

Who's the new Coaching Officer?

Alan Langton of Barrowhouse