Messages

I don't subscribe to the "not much coming through" argument. I think there's plenty of good footballers out there. In my opinion, John Sugrue is a mile clear of any other coach in Laois. In my opinion, he is capable of getting the best out of individuals and teams, and I honesty don't believe anyone else in Laois can; be it club or county. Unfortunately, there is only one John Sugrue and not every player will get the benefit of his guidance. If I was an up and coming coach in Laois, I would seriously consider going outside the county to try and gain some proper experience. There is nothing to be learned doing things the way we have done them this last however many years. Our preparation is miles off. Our coaching is miles off. And consequently, our teams have been miles off too. There have always been good footballers in Laois and there will continue to be. It's what we do with them that matters.

Another point to mention here is that Sugrue did have a bit of an unknown quality to him, and given the mess Laois have been in recent years it would be hard har for some to fully commit to inter county level. After seeing how Laois performed this year it is clear to all involved that we have a management team who can get the best out of our players so anyone else out there who wants to commit can no longer go in half hearted. Sugrue will have had a good opportunity to take a look at the club scene.

[06/08/2018]

Interesting first round, some serious big scores put up by second teams. Here are next round of fixtures:
06/08/2018
18:00   Errill   vs Camross
07/08/2018
19:30   Kilcavan vs Baile Uí Laigheanáin   
09/08/2018
19:15   Annanough vs Graiguecullen
19:15   Portlaoise vs Ballyroan Abbey
19:15   Stradbally vs Killeshin
10/08/2018
19:15   Spink vs O'Dempseys
19:15   The Heath vs Portarlington

Expect your lads to take care of Ballylinan Joey.
Annanough should be the team to beat although you'd never know what Graigue might have.
Surprised that Port and The Heath are playing for survival but whoever wins it could go well yet.

Never straightforward with Kilcavan, I guess its the same for most clubs with a small pool of players. As can be seen from the league results Kilcavan lost 7 and won 3, yet the 3 they won were against Annanough, Park & Timahoe. So if Kilcavan have their strongest 15 available they are a match for most teams at junior and intermediate level but even losing one or two players can have a big impact on them.

[06/08/2018]

Interesting first round, some serious big scores put up by second teams. Here are next round of fixtures:
06/08/2018
18:00   Errill   vs Camross
07/08/2018
19:30   Kilcavan vs Baile Uí Laigheanáin   
09/08/2018
19:15   Annanough vs Graiguecullen
19:15   Portlaoise vs Ballyroan Abbey
19:15   Stradbally vs Killeshin
10/08/2018
19:15   Spink vs O'Dempseys
19:15   The Heath vs Portarlington

Laois could have given up the ghost after the first half in that heat, but fair play the gave it everything in the second half. Sugrue certainly has shown he is the man to get the best out of the players. A bit of pride has being restored to the jersey after the past few years. Thanks to the players and management for their efforts this year.

Exactly that Tony. People are saying Super 8 is a step too far for Laois, and if we are honest that is probably accurate given where they have come from. It's not unloyal to suggest this as we can see with our eyes the difference between the ourselves and Monaghan over the past couple of years. Fortunately for us such things are not decided on message boards but on a football field. Today Laois take on a Division 1 team, one of the few to have beaten Dublin and if Laois can beat them then they will more than have earned the right to be in the Super 8s. Best of luck to them.

Would be alot happier if Monaghan had played tougher games than Leitrim & Waterford.  Maybe it won't matter but I would of loved a crack at Kildare as the emotional high of last Saturday will cause them problems this week.

I fully agree, it would be typical Kildare to beat Mayo then lose to Fermanagh. That was a real high intensity game on a hot day which will have taken a lot out of them. It would be an ideal time to face them. Monaghan are in an ideal spot, Laois are a step up from Leitrim but should give them a decent test. I know their game against Dublin in the league was a bit of dead rubber but any team that beats this Dublin side in Croke Park is a serious team in my book.

When u say Monaghan fowards are better than kildares who are u talking about? Is Kieran Hughes the big full foward not injured?

They have plenty of excellent footballers but I was thinking of Conor McManus who is one of the best forwards in the country in my opinion. I watched them against Tyrone and thought they were excellent but they do sometimes struggle against weaker opposition. Laois will be doing well not to ship another serious beating here.

Navan seems to be the most likely venue. Will have times and venues after lunch today!

Glad we didn't draw Kildare to be honest.

Dont think we will beat either but would have preferred Kildare, their forwards are not as good as Monaghans imo. Also Kildare just played a huge energy sapping physical game in the sweltering heat at the weekend which will have taken its toll. Monaghan are all well rested and recovered from the Fermanagh game at this stage. If Laois are up for it we could be in for a decent game if its not one sided as Monaghan are not as defensive as most Ulster teams so let the opposition play.

All-Ireland SFC Round 4 draw

Fermanagh v Kildare

Laois v Monaghan

Cork v Tyrone

Roscommon v Armagh

Well there it is, we are in against one of the better Div 1 sides. Huge ask for our lads to beat them but might give us a slightly better yard stick of how much progress we have made. Monaghan are a very strong experienced side who will be red hot favourites to beat Laois comfortably like they did with Leitrim and Waterford. Will it be in Portlaoise or whats the story? Laois certainly need every advantage we can get.

Is this accurate:
Each team will have a home game, an away game and a game at Croke Park. The first group will contain the Munster champions, Connacht champions, Ulster runner-up (or qualifier team that beats them in Round four), Leinster runner-up (or qualifier team that beats them in round four). The second group will be made up of the Ulster champions, Leinster champions, Munster runner-up (or qualifier team that beats them in Round four), Connacht runner-up (or qualifier team that beats them in round four).

So Laois (or their victors will be in with Kerry, Galway & Fermanagh or their victors). The thoughts of getting to Super 8s is exciting even though Laois are probably a year off being at their best development wise under current management. Kerry and Galway would beat us badly I think and while we would do ok against Fermanagh, I don't think Fermanagh would beat many of the qualifiers, a bit like ourselves. I think it would be best for Laois not to draw Armagh, Im not saying we would definitely beat them but we certainly could. Better to get a Kildare, Tyrone or Monaghan and see where we stand after the Dublin game. If they can beat anyr of those then they deserve a place in SUper 8s without a doubt.

I'd give them some chance against the winners of Armagh and Clare and that would be a good measure of how far we've come and of the others IMO no chance

Hard to disagree. A lot depends on how we bounce back from Sunday. They're in the gym tonight, and out tomorrow night. I'd love a crack off either of the above two. Failing that, its a descending scale of Mayo-Tyrone-Monaghan, depending on venues, most likely Croke Park double headers inevitably.

I watched Meath v Tyrone and  thought Tyrone were very lucky to get out with a win.  Themselves and Monaghan are above Laois in terms of development but I think Ulster football is in decline. Their is no doubt that Laois will be the team everyone wants to get in the next round however. A team from Div 4 who don't play a blanket defence and just shipped a hammering. I thought Laois showed sparks of progress in the first half against Dublin, hopefully they can give a better account of themselves in the qualifiers.

Has relegation been decided yet?

Graiguecullen, Kilcavan, Annanough & Ballyfin all ended up on 6 points each. As there were walkovers I believe score difference is not used so not sure what happens here. Maybe a playoff?

I have to agree with the previous posters, I think Laois gave it everything and were just up against a far superior outfit. But in saying that we exposed the frailties in their back line in the first half but crucially could not fully make it count in the first half. Our use of the foot pass was very good at times, but you can tell we have been plying our trade at a lower level. It may sound odd considering they conceded 1-25 but i thought our defence played very well in the first half, in the sweltering heat they worked tirelessly when there were waves of Dublin attacks coming at them. It was a  penalty in my opinion but the ref did Donie no favours. Donie himself did not have a great game, especially from placed balls, the missed free just before halt time was a sickner. But we also had a great goal opportunity when Farrell broke through but Donie ran across his path which ruined it.

In fairness the Dubs are some animal, I genuinely felt sorry for our lads when after a battling so hard in the firs halt, the Dubs bring on Jack McCaffrey for the second and he was bombing it through the middle before long. It shows what an amazing squad they have.

For Laois I thought Begley was outstanding in the first half and also Brody.

Geraghty is entitled to his opinion, in the cold light of day what he says is true. We are a division 4 team who have beaten 2 division 3 sides and a division 4 team to reach this stage, all 3 of which were beaten in the qualifiers since. Now we play the best team in the country, so to anyone's eye you would imagine today's will be a landslide win for the Dubs. One thing not factored into this line of thinking is the experience Laois have. They have all faced the Dubs before, a lot of our lads are well used to big games in Croker. Laois have improved in each game this year and while it's difficult to see them keep today's score line respectable they are decent footballers who should not be underestimated. It's a huge test for the players and management to see how far they have come this year.

It really is a strange game on Sunday, the heart cries out for a Laois performance of the ages and really put it up to the Dubs, whereas the head struggles to see how we will beat the spread of 15 points.  Looking at Laois logically if they were to perform to their maximum they would be a competative Division 2 side at best, but they would struggle in the top tier, and now they meet teh big dog from the top tier.

Regardless of results all most posters have wanted on here is to see Laois be well organised and go out and give it 100%, they are certainly doing it so far this year which is a joy to see. We can ask no more of them if they do the same Sunday. Best of luck Lads