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KK should have been beaten by Carlow the last day.

All this talk about a new manager is BS if you ask me. We're barely a week after our championship exit and maybe my hearing is going but I don't recall Cheddar mentioning or hinting that he would be leaving.

All this talk of next levels, we are out our level.

Look at our record this year. Even though we have improved we still only won one game in the league. We didn't set the world on fire in the round robin but we beat Offaly and we gave the Dubs a right game of it. Dublin, a team that was a score away from an All Ireland final 2 years ago.
This is a journey that the players, management and supporters are on and lads are looking to get rid of the train driver.

I hear the Pillar Caffery is interested and that a local man would be on for funding it!

I'm assuming that's tongue in cheek Unlaoised

We are very lucky to have such a dedicated, passionate and determined Laois man at the helm. I would hope he will stay on as manager but if not at least remain in some capacity as Laois hurling needs him.
He is a strong character however he would benefit from a tactical thinking assistant or selector along side him.

It is clear to everyone that the players respect him and will play for him and he has shown his class with that memo to all the clubs who are also in on his thinking. Clubs will benefit from their players being involved in the county set up.

Resources need to be found for hurling in the county and Cheddar should not have to be paying for anything. Between the GAA Top brass, The county board, Business's in Laois, Friends of Laois hurling and supporters this has to continue. Cheddar is cute enough to also see the marketing opportunity there at the moment. Hundreds of kids out on the field at half time. It was brilliant to see.

The next couple of months may be as important as what's gone before us. Onwards and upwards.

I think the money equated to between €40k to €50 per annum for 3 or 4 years.(Can't remember the exact figures) I would say that the main sponsers for the likes of KK, Cork and Tipp would be paying that amount every year so it's very hard to compete financially.

You can also be guaranteed that Cheddar didn't meet with them without being well prepared with a carefully thought out plan. The fact he says he has presented this to them on more than one occasion without any success and still has to get it off his chest to reporters says it all really.

If a man like Cheddar is prepared to put all this time and effort in for nothing(financially) then the GAA should be committed to helping out. They did it for Dublin, they should spread the wealth.

I hope the likes of Joe Fitz and Jimmy Walsh give it one more year. Joe had a togh afternoon today and was in the wars but he was battling right til the end. He was a great leader this year nine more so than the Offaly game. A few of the lads were poor today by their own standards and it's just a pity that we can't get everyone to play to their potential at the same time on the same day. Cha has been very consistent and really got stuck in again today. Our subs didn't really make an impression. A lot of rushed deliveries into the forwards and it was Dublin men hoovering up the loose ball.
It's terrible to say that the Dublin keeper didn't have a save to make today and we never looked like we'd get a goal. Tried hard though and it was a tough physical battle but Dublin were just that bit better and although we kept in touch they hit some terrible wides that should probably have put them out of site earlier.
We are just not up to the speed of hurling required at this level which will take time. They were alot sharper and faster in their play.
Anyhow we got ourselves out of the round robin and hopefully we can have a decent league campaign next year.

7 changes in the Dublin team from the defeat to Galway. Can't see any more than 1 change with ourselves. If thats how the dubs start its alot so hopefully it backfires.
It's a relief not to be travelling to Tullamore today. Have more than enough of it.

There's a station called Anna Livia which may have it. Maybe one of the other lads would know better.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/meet-the-football-man-at-heart-of-kilkennys-hurling-dynasty-31348227.html

Very good article on Mick Dempsey and the respect he has down the road.

It's a bit of a disgrace that a senior team concedes a game at this time of year. If you cannot get 17 or 18 players together from a club the size of Graiguecullen you're in bother.
I take it there was a wedding or something on. Did they try to get the game changed?
Games should not be conceded though.

How are we all feeling about Saturday. How is Foyle doing? He did get 15 mins or so against Galway so he must be right for this one. Good option from the bench.
Any team news from either camp yet?

For a long time they were but they took them out of Croke Park because the crowd was so small. Even with a double header you would be doing well to get 30,000 there.

Although in recent years the football hasn't been attracting to much more.

Who was involved this time?

Sean not unlike Brian Kerr.

Laois should get him back involved underage if it's something he would do. He hasn't been out of work since leaving Laois. Plenty of set ups have availed of his services.