Laois senior hurlers 2026

[Laois345]

U20s lost to Tipp minors that's fair poor.

The Under 20s are a weak enough group, unfortunately. I would be surprised if they beat Tipp minors. Tipp 20s, for example, beat Antrim in a challenge last week.

[Podge72]

That laois u20 team has no game plan,no structure,no designated free taker and no keeper

Management trying to shoe horn lads into positions they have never played in

You'd wonder did they watch a minor or u20 game last year

Tipp minors beat them 4-16 to 2-12

There's no way a team of 16/17 year olds should be beating a team of 18/19/20 year olds by that margin

You'd dread what the tipp 20's would do to them seeing as they are beating senior teams and they missing 6/7 lads eligible but gone to their seniors

[Genocide Organ]

The above is true. Byrne was easily the best forward they had today (as he should be), but he was poor on the frees. He may either practice a lot, or they may get someone else.

I heard (and this is only hearsay) that Delaney got a three year contract because he got to the semi-final last year? So maybe he has a long-term plan...

[Laois man]

3 year contract ó lord jesus.

[Genocide Organ]

3 year contract ó lord jesus.

Now, as I say, that's only hearsay, so... We shall see. On the other hand, how many would be pushing forward for the job?

[Voice of tReason]

I believe minors and U20s have struggled in practice games recently. But our U15s had a big win over Offaly and the U14s would be the first group to have come through the revived Setanta Programme.

For our seniors, we have a forward line crying out for a dry sod. But the reality is that we need more physicality in our forwards. Picky will be a help but he's into his 30s now, coming off a serious injury (second ACL?) and it's a big ask for him to shoulder that responsibility.
I think Ryan Mullaney may need to be moved forward if a couple more defenders regain fitness.

[G@@]

GAA Congress today: A motion to dispense with All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals, featuring Joe McDonagh Cup teams, also got the green light with 94.1% voting yes.

Absolutely shameful. I hope our delegation voted against.

[Verbal]

It was our motion!

[G@@]

It was our motion!

Christ. We really have people in this county actively trying to kill hurling.

[Verbal]

I wouldn't be surprised if it came down to the cost associated with an extra week's training.

Surely as a first step they could have had it that the winner only gets a shot at Preliminary Quarter Final.

[Smallballbigballs]

It was the right motion. Sure we had our great day out, but it's a silly butchering ground 9 times out of 10. Win the Joe Mc and focus on competing in Leinster the following year. It's not sensible to have the winners of one competition enter another at the knock out stages and it's absolutely nonsensical to have the losers of it allowed compete a grade up. We don't expect the Premier Intermediate Champions to contest the Senior Hurling quarter finals, let alone the losers. The players and managements argued for this and I can't say I blame them.

And by the way, this was passed by our clubs at our convention so I'm surprised hurling men weren't aware of where it came from.

[SpeculativeEffort]

When Laois beat Dublin, the GAA changed the format of the Leinster cship making it a 6 team cship.

They should have left it at 5 as Laois winning actually showed that it was possible for the 11th best team in Ireland to (sometimes) pull off a shock against an 8th best (3rd in Leinster + 5 in munster).

The 12th and 13th best teams has proven to be a bridge too far.

[Hurling lad]

When Laois beat Dublin, the GAA changed the format of the Leinster cship making it a 6 team cship.

They should have left it at 5 as Laois winning actually showed that it was possible for the 11th best team in Ireland to (sometimes) pull off a shock against an 8th best (3rd in Leinster + 5 in munster).

The 12th and 13th best teams has proven to be a bridge too far.

Leinster became 6 teams to prevent Dublin or Wexford from being relegated to Joe Mcdonagh covered up as a way of helping laois, carlow, offaly,etc.

[SpeculativeEffort]

When Laois beat Dublin, the GAA changed the format of the Leinster cship making it a 6 team cship.

They should have left it at 5 as Laois winning actually showed that it was possible for the 11th best team in Ireland to (sometimes) pull off a shock against an 8th best (3rd in Leinster + 5 in munster).

The 12th and 13th best teams has proven to be a bridge too far.

Leinster became 6 teams to prevent Dublin or Wexford from being relegated to Joe Mcdonagh covered up as a way of helping laois, carlow, offaly,etc.

Oh absolutely 💯 correct. I wasn't saying they did it to help Laois etc. It was an ideal cover story.

Teams like Laois,Westmeath, Carlow Offaly are actually much better equipped for a preliminary quarter final than the rigors of a 5 game (in 6 weeks) Leinster cship. All have smaller hurling bases and smaller numbers of top quality players.

They often have a real cut off teams in first 2 games but at a cost. Injuries can turn these counties from a just about competitive Liam McCarthy team to a Joe McDonagh team very quickly.

[Ogie]

Be good result to get a win in Mullingar today and have league final and promotion secured.

Great to see Picky named on todays panel.

I'm surprised at the lack of game time Eoin Fleming is getting, he was the best keeper in the Laois Championship last year and not getting any chance to challenge for the number 1 spot.