Joe McDonagh Cup 2025

[Voice of tReason]

I've heard nothing negative about the camp; purely the opposite to be honest.

There will, of course, be disappointed individuals but that's the game.

I would have said the same.
But the whole county seems to know who is in and who was dropped.
That's not a good sign.

It's not but it's a reach to jump straight to issues in the camp. Laois hurling circles are small and these things happen unfortunately.

[G@@]

I've heard nothing negative about the camp; purely the opposite to be honest.

There will, of course, be disappointed individuals but that's the game.

I would have said the same.
But the whole county seems to know who is in and who was dropped.
That's not a good sign.

It's not but it's a reach to jump straight to issues in the camp. Laois hurling circles are small and these things happen unfortunately.

Laois has always suffered from big fish in a small pond mentality with regards to some players that have commanded an almost sure-start position on the panel down through the ages. Some of them have went on to throw the proverbial toys out of the pram as a result when things went against their way.
Thankfully, the pipeline of younger talent coming through is increasing somewhat in volume. We need this, because when players whose egos are too big to fit through the gates of O'Moore Park, there needs to be a queue of players of equal quality right behind them awaiting their shirt.
The Laois hurling circle is getting bigger and it's not before time either. As a county we need to be able to afford to dismiss the head melters. We have an unfortunate history where some of our finest hurlers were out and out head melts and we had nobody of equal quality to replace them.
It happens in every county across Ireland. Brian Cody turfed out a fair few in his reign - Charlie Carter a fine example. Cody was fortunate he had such a pipeline that Carter's shirt was easily filled.

[Laois man]

Best of luck to laois today laois by 6🙏🙏

[John1]

Best of luck Lads,early start to settle any nerves or doubts and they are in it towards the end like Carlow game it is there for the winning.
A loss could set hurling back which we don't want to be debating.
Purcell or Corby coming out to midfield would be a good move hurling wise and for the engine room
Laois to get over the Line

[mountrath1]

Best of luck today to all involved. Be great to get this one over the line. We have enough experience and desire to go get us there.
Ps. Regarding the whole cha episode.  He carried on the same when Eddie brennan was there and unfortunately he got the same result. Yes he will be a loss just like enda, but doors open for other guys within the squad and it's up to them then if they want it bad enough.
LAOIS LAOIS LAOIS

[Plentymorehurlsontheline]

Great crowd on the train up, plenty of support for the lads. I think they will do it....just. Purcell and Corby will do damage today!

[LaoisAbu20]

Jesus, it's hard to watch. Kildare out working us all over the field, you can really see Brian Dowling's influence on the team, reminds me of Laois under Eddie Brennan. Our wides and forced goal chances are really coming back to haunt us. Pity the management didn't learn much from the last Kildare match, especially with the backs. Duggan should have started.

[Verbal]

That's very disappointing.
Kildare will now get a major major push. That's the hardest pill to swallow.
We may never catch them.

[John1]

Really thought at half time with chances we were creating that we were going to do it in the second half. Once they got that lucky goal Kildare just totally took over and dominated, Again I thought Kildares athleticism shown through and outworked Laois completely in the second-half and punished some or our short puckouts once again . Laois trying to do Limerick with 4 on 21 for our own short puckouts just don't have the quality to carry it out.  Was Tom Cuddy injured that he got no run today after playing all games up to date ?

[Blueforever]

Think after today we have a fair idea where we are in the bigger scheme of things no plan very little skill we are well behind the likes if Kildare in hurling gid only knows where we go from here

[Leixman]

Not just on here but a lot of people think Croke park pitch is bigger than any other pitch. The COE pitch where Laois train is approx. 600m2 larger than Croke park so the size of Croke park won't matter to the Laois lads. there no magical extra space in Croke park.



Laois to win by 5 plus. you heard it here first   

The middle pitch in the COE is outstanding. A lovely pitch to hurl on.

Yeah, once you avoid the rabbit holes. It's a disgrace

[SCFC]

Fierce disappointing.
So many mistakes. Terrible decision making. First half wides were a killer.
I think the years and years of poor underage teams (as in football) are really starting to hurt us now.

[Joeythelips]

You might get unlucky once but that is twice this year Kildare have beaten us comfortably with 10 points to spare in both games. I know myself and others here called out The infidel in exile for his posts about our management team but after watching Laois in the Joe McDonagh you would have to say he was spot on, it has not been good enough at all.

I get we may not have the best hurlers in the world but we seem to be very poorly coached, the amount of mistakes we make you would wonder what sort of training is been done at all. The lack of a plan B also when things are not working all indicates a poorly prepared side. Simply not good enough. Tipp will put a cricket score on us by half time going on that.

After a disastrous season in both codes the county board also need to take a look at themselves, Laois GAA is in a bad place that is for sure but with some good underage hurlers coming through we need a plan to ensure we get the best out the pool of talent we have.

Fair play to Kildare, they have shown what can be done. Christy Ring winners to Joe McDonagh winners is a serious achievement. Who would have thought that after the Kerry defeat. Its a big step up to take on the Dubs but they certainly wont be find wanting and will learn loads to help their step up to Leinster next year.

Might as well end the post on a bright note, although it was an awful weekend for Laois GAA one player can  hold their head up high after producing one of the greatest saves I have ever seen at Croke Park. Incredible double save from Cathal Dunne.

[bluespower]

We are where we belong in the Joe McDonagh and there is not even a guarantee we will make the final of that every year.
I was shocked after the first beating by Kildare but then after the Carlow game i was just depressed, i could tell we weren't going any further
One forward playing against Carlow kept us in the game and only for a lucky last minute goal we would not be even playing today.

In the earlier games we were banging in goals against inferior opposition but when it comes to half decent teams we just don't know where the goals is.

We just don't have it unfortunately and it will always be the same with Laois hurling.

[The infidel in exile]

Plenty of opinions, that I shall defer from mentioning. Well done kildare, out taught, outfought and out played Laois. I shall leave the postmortem to those that know what is going on in the County, and are far more clued in than I.  I would love to hear from others about the starting xv, and Mossy being taken off, as I  personally thought that both Corby and Mossy were two of our better performer's. But I'm sure I'm wrong. Finally, what must James Duggan be thinking and wondering what he needs to do to get on an average Laois team. Heart goes out to Paddy Purcell, to go out like that, after all the effort love and passion that he has given to the County. Thank you paddy