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There were only 3/4 points in it when the odd substitutions started. Quinlan cannot really be blamed. A young lad with very little experience anywhere near this level and it was unfair on him. The last two games I felt our wing backs have not been aggressive enough in the air. Countless times the ball was only half contested or contested with little aggression and the ball passed thru putting full back line under more pressure. Kelly seems to want our backs to work the ball out and this backfired in first half with possession being turned over and fouls committed. Direct ball to King, Foyle and Cha would have worked better in my opinion.

Plus we're going for six-in-a-row v the Dubs in the league.

Are we?!

Stapleton looked to settle before half time but was quiet after. Quinlan was handed the unenviable task of marking an in form Joe Bergin and struggled from the off with Bergin rattling the net immediately. Looked a bit more at home in the half line. Mark Kavanagh scored a sideline and maybe one from play. Got bottled up when looking to take on his man but won some good ball. McKane looks lively but its a huge ask for him to compete against lads 3/4 stone heavier than him. Panel is threadbare. Worried for cship.

An absolute mile off the pace today. No bite to us whatsoever. You'd have question some of the switches made by Kelly too. We didnt compete in the air at all. Defenders batting the ball with no conviction or bite. It was over with 25 mins left and the scoreline flattered us.

Just curious to know who you would have in there that hasn't been asked already. What players are better than the current squad?

Please don't include lads that were asked and declined or lads that are injured at the moment.

Apologies I was lamenting the overall current standard in Laois that allows this to happen not the players themselves.

As far as I can see jerseys are earned in Kk on back of club form. These lads getting a chance are hungry to impress and hell bent on taking their chance. Laois on the other hand are handing jerseys to lads who havent proved themselves at club level nevermind county.

This game highlights how shallow our pool of hurlers is. We still havent recovered from the early retirements of the likes of Butch Stapleton, John A Delaney, Joe Fitz etc. Very young panel. We really lack a core group of 24 to 30 year olds. A good few starting with Laois are not even the mainstay of their club teams yet. Tipp demolished us with their 2nd string.

Anyone else feel the league schedule is a complete disgrace? Does it start even earlier next year? All group games plus Walsh Cup over by March 4th. Then we not even in the Leinster cship in 2018. Approx 8 competitive games from Jan to March. Why? Hurling is a supposed to be a summer game.
Also what is the structure of our new group of 'sub-standard' teams? Play everyone once? Is there a final? Does anyone even know?

Fixtures for Laois underage hurlers next weekend. Good to see the U15's bringing two teams and the U14's up against KK and Limerick.


http://www.laoistoday.ie/2017/08/21/laois-gaa-fixtures-next-week-8/

Arrabawn Co-op U-16 Hurling 'B' Tournament
Meath v Laois in Dunesk, 10.30am
Limerick v Laois in Cahir, 12noon
Kerry v Laois in Dunesk, 1.30pm
Semi Finals in Cahir, 3.15pm
Final in Clonmel at 5pm

Michael Foley U-15 Hurling Tournament Division 1
Laois v Kilkenny in Ferns at 11.30am
Laois v Offaly in Ferns at 12.30pm
Semi Finals in Ferns at 1.30pm
Final in Ferns at 2.30pm

Michael Foley U-15 Hurling Tournament Division 3
All group games in Marshallstown in Wexford
Laois v Kildare at 10.30am
Laois v Wicklow at 12.10pm
Laois v Westmeath at 1pm
Laois v Meath at 1.50pm
Final in Ferns at 3.15pm

Tony Forrestal U-14 Hurling Tournament
Group games and semi-final in Mount Sion
Kilkenny v Laois at 12.30pm
Limerick v Laois at 2.10pm
Semi Finals at 3.50pm
Final in Walsh Park at 6.45pm

The 2 teams playing in A competitions will provide good insights into where we are. These are prestigious competitions. Pity to see the U-16s playing in the B Arrabawn. Surprised to see Limerick there.

I would imagine Limerick have entered two teams.

[urgency]

I'm telling you that your thinking is flawed if you believe defending can be coached but attacking cant. Tell that to German FA 20 years ago who put structures in place to develop skilled players. Now they have two squads of quality playing an attractive brand of football and are the standard bearers on an international level. Bet they regret not hiring Jack Charlton instead.
What we should be doing with urgency is putting coaches in place to develop as many u6,8,10s that are well balanced, have good functional movement and using left and right sides equally. Maybe in 10-15 years we would have a team playing quality football.

[as opposed to kicking the ball over the bar a talent you are born with.]

I agree Butch, he was, but where would he enjoy that sort of freedom outside of Laois? This is a big part of problem. Work without the ball and tackling. I have no preference for a coach, but I think we need Mick Dempsey to come and teach us some things. Our defending is pathetic

We've had this discussion more than once HF and the good news is tackling and good defending can actually be thought as opposed to kicking the ball over the bar a talent you are born with.

I like your suggestion to bring in a coach for this purpose, that would improve things but hard and unglamorous work required for this is not part of our DNA and that needs to change.
In short whether we like it or not the "fancy dan"culture must come to an end.

Are you joking here? If not u should be banned from ever commenting on football again. Not just on the internet either, in your local pub, at the gaa field, on public transport and anywhere gaa is discussed. 

Thats pretty aggressive language you're using there, perhaps you might explain yourself.

Stop deflecting from the fact that you on here trying to rectify the ills in Laois football while holding the opinion that you can coach defending but kicking a ball between two posts is a skill you are 'born with'. This statement discredits any other comment you will ever make on coaching or games development.

[as opposed to kicking the ball over the bar a talent you are born with.]

I agree Butch, he was, but where would he enjoy that sort of freedom outside of Laois? This is a big part of problem. Work without the ball and tackling. I have no preference for a coach, but I think we need Mick Dempsey to come and teach us some things. Our defending is pathetic

We've had this discussion more than once HF and the good news is tackling and good defending can actually be thought as opposed to kicking the ball over the bar a talent you are born with.

I like your suggestion to bring in a coach for this purpose, that would improve things but hard and unglamorous work required for this is not part of our DNA and that needs to change.
In short whether we like it or not the "fancy dan"culture must come to an end.

Are you joking here? If not u should be banned from ever commenting on football again. Not just on the internet either, in your local pub, at the gaa field, on public transport and anywhere gaa is discussed. 

Why dont we go after Dessie Farrell or someone else who is cutting their teeth in Dublin football. That is who the whole country is chasing. He would put structures in place and bring professionalism anyway.

Just on a side note regarding the Cumann na mBunscoil county panels. At U10 and U12 club GAA has moved towards raising participation and away from the winning a all costs attitude. This attitude is similar to that of CnaB.

However now we have an intercounty panel for CnaB players. Surely this is a step towards making all these games hugely competitive.

Are we casting the net too narrow at a very young age? I believe only 20-25 players are involved.
Is there not the possibility that 100-150 children could avail of  this organised coaching and up the standards throughout the county?

Not saying its a bad idea but it will not solve all our problems at underage.

All the sendings off would be somewhat understandable if we were a physical team playing on the edge and difficult to play against. The opposite is actually true. We seem to track runners even if the ball carrier is running straight down the middle. We rarely get in a decent tackle or force the carrier back or surround him. Makes it more frustrating.