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Clough Ballacolla v Rosenallis was a very poor game. Rosenallis struggling for scores outside of frees. CB looked very lacklustre but they will improve as the season goes on.

The team that played Offaly two years ago in the Joe McD final was probably stronger than the current team. That day against Offaly they probably were he better team but weren't as clinical.

With Picky and Dunphy back in team and back nearer to their full fitness it made a massive difference to the team. The biggest compliment you can give them is to say that with them in the team they make the players around them look better as well. Winning primary possession and being able to score from out the field. If we are to be competitive next year we badly need them involved in twelve months time.

I would love if we were going out this weekend against an Offaly or Clare team. The buzz after the win and a big support in Portlaoise this weekend for a game against either Clare or Offaly would have been brilliant. A Double header with the Laois v Down game would have been a great occasion. Still think we shot ourselves in the foot taking out the winners of Joe McD from the championship.

On a separate note-If Tommy isn't involved next year will Davy Fitz we in the running!!!!

I'd say there would be budgetary concerns there.

[How can we go from being so competitive for 50 odd years to what we have become in the last decade.]

The one that really stands out is minor football. Horrendous record over the last 4 years. 1 win in 12 games in that time. Surely there must be accountability in relation to people/person in charge of the development of GAA football in the county over that time and the years of development leading up to these results. We have seen some positive change in the last year or so but it is going to take a number of years for the fruits of those labours to bear fruit. Sadly, other counties e.g. Louth continue to expand the development of the game at underage in their schools and clubs. We have fallen well behind and it is going to be a difficult game of catch up to some of the other counties within the province.

Longford, Westmeath, Louth and Longford have passed us out at underage level on a consistent performance level. Laois GAA are sadly reaping what they sowed. It's so disappointing for a county that once ranked itself as a competitive force at minor level in Leinster from the great sides of the 1960s right up to the 00s. How can we go from being so competitive for 50 odd years to what we have become in the last decade.   

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[Funny thing is Cork and Limerick could meet 4 times this year.]

Big win for the Treaty men last night in Semple Stadium. Hard to know were Limerick that good or were Tipp that bad? Probably a mixture of both.

Limerick never tested Hogan at all in goals but when you can shoot that number of points, it is some going in them conditions and soft sod. Not sure what it was but Limerick's scoring conversion was high.

Tipp looked flat enough. Connor's sending off sucked the life out of the game and it was like  training game after that. Funny enough that Aidan O'C is on the frees instead of Gillane. I wonder why this is and will it continue on into the season?

Bull O'Brien is so good at ff. Just play him any sort of ball - high or low and he'll not shy away from it. Plus he's so strong. Craig Morgan was literally hanging off him at times but O'Brien just shrugged him off.

Matt F. seems a real good find in defence for Limerick. Showed well last night. Adds a bit of freshness to defence and is similiar to Barry Nash in a way. Byrnes, Tom Morrissey and Reidy all came on in the second half. No Finn or Lynch either. Competition for places is strong.

Strange seeing the Mc Graths playing so early. I thought they'd be doing a 'T.J.' and only playing in last 2 league games - to get ready for championship.

Munster will be another dog fight this year. With O' Connor adding that bit of steel and fire to Cork, the Tipp/Cork game will be savage.

High scoring draw between Dublin and Wexford in Croke Park. Plenty of action there. I thought Dublin would have beaten them but Chin is a solid boost to Wexford. Definately makes a difference.

Kildare just get edged out by Clare. Hard to know if playing in Div. 1A or Div. 1B is more beneficial. Some people say you'll be undercooked in 1B while others say you'll be overcooked in 1A before championship. You could say the two are valid...depending on how your season goes.

But great to see Kildare are pushing on. Maybe a bit over reliant on Naas players. In a year or two, if they bring a few more players on, they'll be moving upwards. They have the population.

It always surprises me that Wicklow aren't doing a 'Kildare' and rising up through the leagues, both in hurling and football. I assume they have a big population bordering south Dublin and Bray is a big town. I think Bray play in the Dublin hurling league - similiar to what Nass did in Kilkenny.

Big day for Antrim and Davy Fitz today. I think it'll be tight but they should edge Carlow. Might be a red card or two as Carlow will not take a backward step and leave thm timber in. Could be their downfall. It's cost them before in crucial games but they're a credit to be so consistent at that level, considering the no. of clubs they have at senior level.

Derry have  50/50 game away in Trim. After a good home win V Mayo, this game will be a good test. Div. 2 is a league of 2 leagues. Monaghan not pushing on in hurling - a bit static but Cavan had a good win over Lancashire. Sligo had a big win over Warickshire...who only acored 3 pts. In saying that I think the NHL needs these 2 English teams in the league as it's an extra game for teams in the third tier. But crtainly they have regressed in recent years. London will always be strong.

I see Andrew La Touche Cosgrave played for Louth yesterday. I remember him playing underage for Limerick. I think it was Limerick? Not sure if it was the minors or their excellent U21 teams. Just that the name stood out.  I wonder did he ever play senior for Limerick? What actually helps these lower level teams is the parent rule, as well as people working/moving to the county. Be good to find the accurate stats for this in the third tier teams.

As an aside, good wins for Antrim and Down camogs yesterday. 

Waterford V Tipp game off tomorrow. Michael Kiely's passed away. RIP.

Kilkenny are very average. Only Kenny doing any damage. Galway look as if they have an extra man every time they have possession. KK can't win anything in their own half-forward line. Hanrahan and Ryan looks likes they're tidy operators in defence. 

As above, Derry had a poor day out V London at home last week.  Just edged out by Meath the week before but didn't do enough in the 2nd half in Celtic Park Up against it V Westmeath tomorrow. Them and Down could both be relegated - after the hope of coming up last year. Disappointing from an Ulster point of view if it happens.

Funny thing is Cork and Limerick  could meet 4 times this year. Will it happen?  It should be a good battle. O'Connor will have Cork spitting fire. Be interesting to see how it goes. Limerick have a strong team out. A good few lads to come back in for Cork also.

They could meet 5 times this year.

Some good hurling and excellent shooting by the lads yesterday. The lack of a goal and Mossy's injury are worrying but overall a decent day at the office.

It was tough going on Sunday with the conditions. Kilkenny got a very fast start and were 1-5 to 0-0 ahead after 6 minutes. Laois settled well with Jack Kelly getting into the game. Our backs did well but the full forward line struggled.

Good win last night. Impressed with Eoin Murphy at wing back and the forwards were lively. Colin Byrne and the two Keyes looked dangerous. Great to see Reilly back. Holland and Gaughan struggled amongst others but overall it was a good night's work.

Well done to Willie Dunphy on a great service to Laois hurling.

Who actually decides on this award and on what merit is it given out for ?

Hard luck, keep working hard and you might win it next year. For now congratulations to Colin

Recent hurling match - time was almost up and free was awarded to team 1 point down.
Free was taken and hit post but ref blew whistle in error thinking ball had gone dead.
Referee gave a retake due to his error and team equalised to bring game to extra time and subsequently won.
Supporters and mentors on team who subsequently lost were calling for the ball to be thrown in on the 21.
Is there a specific rule in the GAA rule book on this or what was the correct course of action?

The correct decision here would have been a hop ball on the 21.
The ref can't give a retake of the free just because he made a mistake.

He's well within his rights to blow the whistle when he likes. Even with the ball hitting the post and he blew the whistle the game was over, end of.

Not sure why he felt the need to allow the free to be retaken, let along a throw ball on the 20 metre line.

My reading of it is that he blew the whistle because he taught the ball had gone dead. Not sure it was for full time. For full time, you're right, he can blow it whenever he likes but I don't think that's the case here.

Recent hurling match - time was almost up and free was awarded to team 1 point down.
Free was taken and hit post but ref blew whistle in error thinking ball had gone dead.
Referee gave a retake due to his error and team equalised to bring game to extra time and subsequently won.
Supporters and mentors on team who subsequently lost were calling for the ball to be thrown in on the 21.
Is there a specific rule in the GAA rule book on this or what was the correct course of action?

The correct decision here would have been a hop ball on the 21.
The ref can't give a retake of the free just because he made a mistake.

On what grounds was Rathdowney/Errill's appeal upheld?

These games are lost in O'Moore Park. Need to be moved out to club grounds to generate a bit of atmosphere. We must be the only county who plays every championship game in the county ground.

Are all the games in O'Moore Park or are some of them in club venues?

Does anyone have the full senior fixtures for Round 1?

Is everyone still on board for Saturday? Hopefully nobody left the panel.