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If lads can't play for Chris , beano or billy then we may forget it .

I think this is overly simplistic for the modern game. Of course lads will respect those ppl for what they did as players. They will give them every chance. However they are now managing the team. If they dont have to required communication, organisational, coaching skills etc. their currency will lose value very quickly. Then the team will fail and not because 'lads wouldnt play for Chris, Beano or Billy'.

Ive looked at Abbeyleix a few times and admit Rowland is a rare talent. His striking and power are incredible. Does his influence stifle the overall team tho? Just an example: if Abbeyleix get a free anywhere in their own half everyone is waiting for ER to come out and have a shot. There is no movement as everyone knows what is happening. Similar at times with long puckouts. Id have thought with a young mobile team and a goalie with a really sharp puckout Abbeyleix would have looked to play a more possession based game. Just a thought.

What happened to Slieve Margy isnt a solution and it will only copperfasten the idea that hurling in Port is only a passing fad. This cannot be allowed to happen. An adult hurling club needs to be formed and maybe let it encompass Port and O'Dempseys (possibly others even) together under a different banner/jersey etc and let it be about hurling rather than parochialism. Maybe if players have ambitions to play at higher level they could play with a senior area team until Port come up the grades. This set up would allow Port etc. players to represent the new club at junior c and play at higher level if able and interested with area team. This development in Port must be given every chance to develop into an adult club and not seen as a chance for other clubs to cherrypick players.

Its a messy situation. The GAA club own OCP and are within their rights to rent it as they see fit. OCB want a rent drop but have really got zero bargaining power as there is no other facility in county capable of hosting games so they must rent it. Tullamore GAA are driving a hard bargain on it but Im not sure what OCB were hoping for. A rent drop as a show of good faith to new regime? If that was the aim it all should have played out behind closed doors. Nobody budging now.

Couldnt watch the u20 game last week. Is it online anywhere?

County Board basically saying the hurlers will be bet on saturday by fixing 2020 games for following week. Be great if they could upset the apple cart.

Unfortunately it looks like our team has thrown in the towel. Scored avg 10 per game for 3 games, conceded avg 20 pts a game. No drive. No leaders. Aging in players right through the spine with no replacements. This team has been roundly criticised in Laois and where is the backlash? Where is the pride? Where is the passion? Zero. We heard that this is the best panel in years in the media. The players dont want the ball unless its an uncontested, sideways or backways pass.

I know this may sound extreme but the Leinster Championship is a dead duck and with no back door I would nearly rather see the Laois team pulled from the championship and put priority on finishing the 2020 championship in July and starting the 2021 club championship in early August. I know I'd much rather watch two potentially exciting club semi-finals and county final on my tv than a Leinster championship game that is ultimately meaningless with Dublin over the horizon if you do win.

I thought this was extreme when I read it first. Now having watched Laois v Kildare I agree.

We soloed into trouble as the players ahead of the player in possession were completely outnumbered by defenders. The optimism of our forwards about actually winning the ball seemed to wane very quickly when they were so outnumbered. They were chasing shadows for most of game and when they did get the ball they shot straight away as there was no support.

It looked like we played a formation of:
1
4
4
3
2
1
Then carry and shoot any time we see the goals.

Containment game plan. We need Kav, Lyons etc back quick

Great point South Laois. The social aspect must be nurtured. The days of people driving and having a few pints are well gone but a supporters bus could generate comraderie and fill this void. People would have to consistently avail of it though to make it work. Maybe a football, hurling and dual away game season bus ticket could be bought upfront to ensure it was well supported?

https://www.laoistoday.ie/2021/02/18/13-transfers-granted-by-laois-gaa-ahead-of-2021-season/

Few interesting bits in this.

Im delighted that Derek McGrath is involved. While most view the one game v Offaly as how to judge 2020, I personally dont.

From talking to players and parents McGrath did everything he could for this group. I know they developed as hurlers and people during the year. They definitely learned a lot and McGrath too.

If taking a setback on the chin here means bouncing back and moving on stronger then that great. Everyone is getting wound up about one result. No county does it better.

We havent won a Leinster minor since the 60's. 2020 didnt change that but we do have a great chance to develop young hurlers with McGrath on board. Lets not get notions about ourselves and slate him.

Hes a quality operator.

Thanks for that Liam 👍😉

That's a great read Clonadmad. Big money, facilitates and resources needed to get these type of underage structures right-having UL on their doorstep, people like Cregan and an enviable budget certainly played their part in achieving what they achieved.

A major reason for upturn in Limerick's fortunes has been the promotion of hurling in the city. Huge increase in numbers and interest in GAA. Sadly, previous strategic plans in our own county have noted the need to do something similar in Portlaoise. We are still waiting to see the same upsurge as what Limerick experienced. In fact, I would suggest GAA in Portlaoise at juvenile level has nosedived in the other direction.

Someone suggested earlier that Portlaoise's move out of town has been a blow to the club and Id agree. A very low % of the town population could conveniently walk or cycle to the new pitches. This adds a new layer of difficulty as lifts out and back are now needed.

Its a bit like leaving your hurl at the back door. If its there you are much more likely to pick it up because its handy. But if you put it on a shelf in the garage that needs a ladder to get it, you will never use it.

Perhaps Portlaoise and The COE would have suited better the opposite way around with Portlaoise retaining their pitch beside O'M Park?

PS5 far superior to PS4? Ive a PS4 a few years. Play a bit of Fifa but was mostly using for netflix!