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Big Dan really lives up to that name. Some unit. This is a very nice crop, especially considering the players missing.

In general the game was a disappointment as a spectacle. John's a shrewd hoor, we learnt our lessons and didn't play into their hands. I think Dinny Booth proved myself and quite a few more wrong. Dillon outstanding. All debutants acquitted themselves really well. To lose someone like Timmons and still hold the opposition scoreless for about 15 minutes more, albeit with wind advantage, is some going. Very proud of this group, they are as honest and as hard working as it gets. Onto Croker, albeit a big improvement needed.

Special mention to Dicey. So happy to see him back and firing, worked his arse off all day. Some going for a lad who's only played 2 or 3 competitive games in a year.

Very happy with that team. Laois by 4.

Only 4?

John's started the mind games

Attride is captain, Dillon and O'Connor were picked as vice captains.

Given injuries, I think 1-9 picks itself for Sunday. Brody; Attride, Timmons, Dillon; Scully, Begley, O'Flynn; O'Loughlin, Lillis.

Predicting the forward line-up is practically impossible, aside from Donie and Evan. Not even worth speculating over. Sean Byrne would be an interesting selection if fully fit. Dicey if fit would bring real pace and energy to a team that looked slow and ponderous last time out.

Benny Carroll master manipulator, successfully mugged Sugrue off for a half zip, polo shirt and gear bag before riding off into the J1 sunset, absolutely beautiful.

I apologise profusely for my late night Saturday ramblings Monument Road regarding Joseph's especially . I'd had a few pints by that stage. To have their intermediate side in amongst senior teams is quite impressive. l would still be concerned about Stradbally though, shipping those kind of beatings like last night is concerning, albeit Ballylinan had a very decent side out. Mind you the league is a pretty useless yard stick. I stand by my horrifically biased Courtwood claims as well. Small crop yes, but a good one.

Can't help but be dismayed by the truly dismal standard of our league's this year, in particular this one. Stradbally and Joseph's between them provide 2 players to the county set-up and yet anytime I've seen them play this year both sides have been inexcusably poor. Conceding 7 to Ballylinan - is that a piss take or what? 6 to Emo? I have great respect for Stradbally as a club but Jesus what on earth is going on there?

On the other hand Courtwood are a breath of fresh air. They've seemingly overtaken more established clubs with literally 1 crop of young talent. They've a much stronger nucleus than the likes of the Arles clubs, Stradbally, Joes, Cretty, Ballyfin, The Heath and possibly Emo and Ballylinan.They won't just survive comfortably they are at worst quarter final standard in this year's championship despite arguably, in my opinion, being short about 4 or 5 players to get to within maybe 7 points of Portlaoise.

Huge credit to Ryan Mullaney. On a wretched week personally to go and hurl like he did is testament to the character of the man. Good to see Paddy back hitting the onion bag, Ross back into the fold, Mark Kav outstanding and a great impact from the bench. Would be nice if RTÉ gave it a mention (however unlikely) tonight and perhaps approached it from the angle of Laois being good instead of Offaly being awful and in decline.

Based on current evidence this team probably won't compete with the likes of Meath and Kildare. You've got to admire their perseverance though, that's twice they've dug out results now. And it's twice that Brian Whelan kicked the decisive score.

Laois Today named Sean Greene as their motm and it's hard to argue with that. Hopefully Donnacha will have words and tell them to make it easier on themselves next time out. The heart can only take so much.

Possibly the strangest game of football I've seen in a while. Takes some going to come back from a dreadful start like that. Not entirely sure how they won but a win is a win!

At least they didn't let in 10 this time

[A bastardised term from thugby,]

What does bolter mean ?

A bastardised term from thugby, and specifically the Lions, to signify a player who will come from nowhere to make the starting 15.

Example in GAA terms, Munnelly in 2003.

Thugby. If you don't already, you should definitely start commenting on The Journal's sports articles. Feathers would be ruffled.

We won't see another Ross. There was a time when he couldn't even make the Arles U14 team. Luckily for him and Laois football that man hasn't known anything other than Ballygowen. Unreal servant.

A lack of a scoring threat between our half back and forward lines, as well as a glut of diabolical wides, killed us. They were cute and managed the game very efficiently. We paid for our wastefulness big time, we could've been out of sight early on. Timmons and Attride best on the day for us I thought. Our play was slow and lateral, it was easy for them to funnel back in numbers and strangle us. They were very disciplined in defence (black cards aside) whereas we were coughing up frees easier.

I'd still be confident we can catch them in May. They play like a slightly more progressive Carlow, not sure that style will lend itself well to summer ball.

Is his job to mark Ger Egan?

He'd have it in him I'd say. It's a tactic John isn't shy to use either. Could see him shadowing someone alright