Joe McDonagh Cup 2025

[Joeythelips]

Yes I completely agree. Theres no point in looking backwards. There was a narrative emerging from the comments that we should be more like the 2019 /2020 set up.
I was merely pointing out that we had the same head coach this year as 2019.
And by the way Eddie and the group had a pretty awful 2020 which often gets lost in the blue tinted glasses.
There should be a review and I hope there is. I also hope the entire group gets a chance to put things right themselves. That includes Rowland, O'Connell who stepped away during the year. Maybe another player or two will choose to commit next year and that the championship unearths one or two as well. Here's hoping for an improved Laois in 2026.

Surely any review would focus on any success we achieve, winning Joe McD would have to be in that. Im sure it was not perfect but that set up had us on the road to improvement. Laois might not have won many games in 2020, but they avoided relegation in the league (just) and although well beaten by Dublin in Leinster they were only knocked out of the AI by Clare by one point.

[Laois man]

Is that John mark foley that transfer to plaois? Who ever is the manager for 2026 go chat with cha and these lads and see are the available to come on board we are too small of a county to lose players.

[Spiritof1915]

Yes it is. Local guard. Serious athlete. Would offer loads to a laois panel.

Is that John mark foley that transfer to plaois? Who ever is the manager for 2026 go chat with cha and these lads and see are the available to come on board we are too small of a county to lose players.

[The infidel in exile]

Regarding Foley, he can't be more than 27 (in his prime) because he won a munster minor title with kerry in 2015 in football. Is there any personal reason that he won't play for Laois???

[Spiritof1915]

You'd imagine Tommy would of brought him in this year but who knows..
Definitely worth an approach again for 2026.

[Laois man]

I don't see him hurling with plaois this year so far.

[Joeythelips]

Lots of negative talk online about allowing Joe McDonagh finalists into AI series after Kildare were heavily beaten by a hungry Dublin side 6 days after the Joe McD final.

Given that Dublin put Limerick to the sword today it shines a better light on Kildare. I think the winners certainly deserve a crack at a preliminary quarter final.

[Mad Mentor]

The winners should certainly get a go. They should also have a fortnight to prepare.

[ottoman]

I was in Croker yesterday. I wasn't expecting that result, but I was confident Dublin would give a better account than what the general public was predicting before it.

I hadn't watched Dublin live in the flesh the last few years, but what really stood out too me was the shear size of them. They're an absolutely massive side, easily matched Limerick in the physical stakes.

Unfortunately that's where hurling is going to be won and lost now. More than ever physicality is the main edge.

[Joeythelips]

The winners should certainly get a go. They should also have a fortnight to prepare.

I think its a great carrot for the winners, I know they were well beaten the last day but Im sure the Kildare players would have watched Dublin beating one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) hurling teams of all time and thought to themselves something that seemed a universe away (being a top tier team) could be achievable albeit with a lot of work still to do to bridge the gap. They will certainly return to training for next year with a boost in their step.

In fact I think this sort of format should me brought into football also. All teams should be seeded for the championship based on league position and last years championship. Then run off the provincials and the 2nd tier cups (all knockout games) and then have All Ireland series after that.

[Laois man]

Any update on senior hurling mangerment are they staying on?