Laois SHC 2024

[Mad Mentor]

This weekend could be make or break for some teams. If Camross, Castletown, Abbeyleix or Ballinakill lose they will be running out of games to turn it around.

[Laois man]

Same as rosenallis borris! Kcotton it's tight

[Voice of tReason]

Friday:
Abbeyleix need it more than Rathdowney/Errill and they've caused RE plenty of trouble over the last few years...but I can't see it. They're not scoring enough from play whereas RE have plenty of threats. I think RE will win by 5.

Saturday:
Rosenallis coming in on a high against Castletown who will be disappointed to have let a lead slip the last day. A loss for Castletown would probably end their championship hopes and a lot might depend on Aaron Phelan's availability. Rosenallis are undoubtedly fitter overall, Donnchadh Hartnett could be home and they might just have enough. Rosenallis by 2.

Ballinakill have had two decent performances but nothing to show for it. The Harps were desperately disappointing the last day but are due to have James Duggan home. Both teams need a win here but I'm backing The Harps greater firepower to make the difference. The Harps by 4.

Sunday:
Borris/Kilcotton and Portlaoise could be the game of the weekend. I think BK need a win. They were decent enough last week without 3 of their best players in Scully, Noah Quinlan and Stephen Dunphy. Get them back; they should be favourites. But I've a feeling Portlaoise are fitter and stronger and will take beating. I'll sit on the fence and call a draw.

On paper, Clough/Ballacolla and Camross should be a cracker but I fear this won't feel like championship. Camross simply have to bring a performance and come away with at least a draw, realistically a win. With Mossy and Mark Dowling back, their backs against the wall, I'll back them to get the result they need. Camross by 3.

[Voice of tReason]

Super win for Abbeyleix tonight. Massive boost to their chances of getting out of the group.

They brought pace and energy to the game and RE were a little lacking in both.

[Laois345]

Good win for Ballinakill tonight. Beating the Harps. Ballinakill have very little numbers in comparison to the Harps, but brought massive fight. Cha and young Ben O Mara excellent.

The Harps, despite all their underage success, looked very ordinary this evening. Something not right over there.

[Verbal]

Something not right in The Harps.
What is wrong with Castletown? Brutal

[Laois345]

Castletown are not in good condition physically and do not seem to be prepared right as a team either.

With that said they'll be hard bet for anyone in a relegation scrap. Showed some glimpses against Abbeyleix and were unlucky not to win that game with McKelvey striking a late free wide.

[Laois man]

Fair play to camross

[Leixman]

The double header on Sunday evening was like someone had died. Zero atmosphere

[Laois Rising]

Something not right in The Harps.
What is wrong with Castletown? Brutal

This has been mentioned before. A lot of the Harps success over the last 5-6 years at underage is built on numbers as opposed to having a couple of serious outstanding hurlers who are head and shoulders above the rest of the team and carrying the team to success. What this means is that a lot of the younger players that are filtering through to senior are no real if any improvement on the senior players already there. Their second and third sides might benefit more from the juvenile success than their senior team.

Castletown are like a dying wasp. If they end up in a relegation payoff expect them to come with one big performance to preserve their senior status.

 

[ottoman]

Something not right in The Harps.
What is wrong with Castletown? Brutal

This has been mentioned before. A lot of the Harps success over the last 5-6 years at underage is built on numbers as opposed to having a couple of serious outstanding hurlers who are head and shoulders above the rest of the team and carrying the team to success. What this means is that a lot of the younger players that are filtering through to senior are no real if any improvement on the senior players already there. Their second and third sides might benefit more from the juvenile success than their senior team.

Castletown are like a dying wasp. If they end up in a relegation payoff expect them to come with one big performance to preserve their senior status.

 

Exactly, there's no Picky, Lee Cleere, Cha, Roddy or a Paddy Purcell type on those Harps teams. None of those mentioned have barley 1 minor medal between them, but they were destined to carry their clubs to the next level when they got to senior. To be successful at senior, you need to produce 1 or 2 guys like that every few years.

[Laois man]

Lads the harps have being the same since the 80s good hurlers but struggle as a team.

[Voice of tReason]

Camross were excellent on Sunday. Should have won by more and their backs dominated a CB forward line that look a little short of scores.

Rosenallis' obliteration of Castletown was really excellent and I think they're genuine dark-horses now. They still have work to do to get out of their group but they could certainly come through against any of CB, Abbeyleix, Portlaoise or Ballinakill.
I know a lot of posters here rate Castletown highly and I think I was tricked into it too but unless their change of management brings a considerable bounce, I think they're in big trouble.

I, and others, have been sleeping on BK a little. I think there's every chance they'll get out of the group now and if injuries clear, they are still a talented group. They lack a little strength in depth but if they can be competitive and strong defensively, they certainly have the forwards to threaten any team.

I think The Harps will still have a big part to play this year, if, and it's a huge IF,  they can beat Rosenallis next week. They have underperformed and some hard questions need to be asked but it's unfair and inaccurate to say they don't have huge individual quality in Podge Delaney, Cody and Ciaran Comerford, James Duggan, Eoghan Murphy, Pauric Dunne and Ciaran Flynn. Their backs are to the wall now; I think they'll come out swinging and if they hurl with a touch of freedom and abandon, they could push themselves back into contention.

In all honesty, I could never have expected the new format to have worked out so well. I called it wrong. I'm still not convinced it's seeing an overall better standard but that's down to the clubs not the format. Hopefully at least 8 teams are going into the last round of games with something to play for.

[Laois345]

I fail to see how the Harps are going to have a big part to play. They have been very poor, even in the Abbeyliex game, which they won, they didn't set the world alight. Some strange, strange decisions being made on their line. Playing Podge Delaney at wing forward is all great in theory, but when the performances don't come, you've made a rod for your own back.

Castletown are out of the equation, regardless of change of management. Their conditioning is poor. Some good players dotted through the team but it's a year of survival for them. And I think they will survive. I believe they have changed management since being dismantled by Rosenalis?

Camross are back. They play Ballinakill next which will be interesting. Ballinakill have been decent so far and are unlucky not to have two wins under their belt. I still think Camross will have too much for them with the return of Mossy and Mark Dowling but who knows, this format has turned up some strange results are of late.

[Laois man]

Any update on who is in Tommy Fitzs backroom team yet?