Messages

Watching Naas go all the way in the intermediate championship and Kilmoley of Kerry make the final, it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility for a club like Abbeyleix (if they were to win Laois this year) to give the Leinster intermediate championship a right rattle. They have a good age profile and with some experienced campaigners to boot, 2022 should be a year that they really target getting everything right and everyone on board. Clough Ballacolla showed what Laois clubs are capable of on the Leinster stage with a bit of confidence, determination and drive.

Usually a Kilkenny team lurking in there having just won the ultra-competitive KK intermediate title that makes light work of the rest of the teams. Naas form the backbone of the Kildare team which will probably rise through the ranks to the same level as we are in the coming years.

I know the conditions were atrocious but I thought that too many of our lads didn't really reach the levels of intensity needed to win a game like that. At least 6 or 7 were well below what we know they're capable of. I thought the substitutions were a bit slow in coming too.

Having said that, there were some real standout performances - Podge Delaney was probably the best player on the field. Sean Downey and Hartnett were really good. Jack Kelly did ok and Picky was very good. In this league though, we'll need all 15 to be going well.

It's a shame - I didn't think Tipperary were up to much really.

I agree 100%. We had the hurlers on the field and quite a few performed well below their own standards, especially in the forwards. We probably gave them a bit too much respect. I thought Tipp were pretty poor by their own standards and quite a few of their hurlers won't make it to be Tipp senior hurlers come summer time. The key difference was the scores they got when they got the chances. They took them, we didn't. Both teams created about the same across the match.

3 savage points from James Keyes when it mattered from way out the field against the wind. Has to slot in the next day.

Might not be a popular thing to say but I would rather we tried some of the faster players on the panel from the start rather than persist with the slower more experienced players. Not going to name players out of respect for the contributions and undoubted abilities of the more experienced guys. We might get bigger beatings to begin with but I would rather see us lose by 10 points and gain invaluable experience than lose by 6 points and gain nothing.

The gym had very little to do with all the terrible wides and missing an open goal chance in the first half. The shooting was shocking. I thought Laois looked well bulked up to be honest. Hurling skills in the forwards was the only difference between the two teams.

Unfortunately, the Kerry win against Tipp will make sure they are not complacent against us.

Would imagine most of the team will be made up of the U20/U21 all-Ireland winning teams of the last few years with a spine from their older lads (Ronan Maher, Noel and John McGrath, Jason Forde, Seamus Callanan).

Hard to know how we will go but would take a competitive showing.

v Louth Jan 30 at 2pm in Ardee
v Westmeath Feb 6 at 2pm in Portlaoise
v Fermanagh Feb 19 at 6pm in Enniskillen
v Antrim Feb 26 at 6pm in Portlaoise
v Wicklow Mar 13 at 2pm in Aughrim
v Limerick Mar 19 at 7pm in Portlaoise
v Longford Mar 27 at 2pm in Portlaoise

All winnable. All losable. Nice few Portlaoise outings.

In some ways, the intensity with which Laois played for spells on Saturday reminded me of the Micko years. Individual players seem to getting the best out of themselves and have a bit of belief. Loads to work on and far from having a settled team but definitely going in the right direction. A couple of early league wins would provide a nice panic-free platform for the Billy era.

Yeah, they probably should have pushed on to win that. However, it had all the hallmarks of a Walsh cup match. Lads straight back into the team with no training done, experiments everywhere, loads of changes and heavy legs in the second half.

Lots of work to do but a decent panel building.

Lots to be happy about yesterday going forward..
I really believe a half back line of podge, Liam o connell and Ryan mullaney could be a serious platform. 3 big, physical and intelligent hurlers who I'd like to think can keep most counties half forward lines under pressure.

I agree with one of the previous contributors the our half forward line has an inability to win primary possession which is a foundation for any successful team. Maybe the likes of eanna lyons and Cha will work in that respect. Picky an option on half forward line too.
Throw in scully and roddy in the full forward. An athletic midfield to pick from with Fiachra, aidan Corby, Jack Kelly and John Lennon all vying and whoever else comes out of the pack, I'd like to think we have a chance of turning over one of the so called big teams this year

Would prefer to see one of Fonsie / Mullaney in centre back with two mobile half backs - Jack and Podge. Half forward line has been a problem for us for years. Picky and Cha can win it a bit of ball. Is Willie Dunphy back? Pity Collier isn't involved. Jordan Walsh worth a look. Maybe with Roddy, PJ and Ben Conroy in the full forward line.

Always think Paddy Purcell is better at midfield, maybe alongside Corby or Fennell.

My starting 15:
Rowland
Conway
Downey
Hartnett
Kelly
Mullaney
Delaney
Purcell
Fennell
W. Dunphy if available, John Lennon otherwise
Cha
Picky
Conroy
Roddy
PJ

Lots on the bench too. I have cheered myself up with this post.

I will personally judge Billy on his ability to stand up to / ignore the short timers who want results now.

We have to let to old guard retire gracefully. If we pick teams for the league that are the same as we had for the last few years we are going nowhere. Lads need to be given the chance to fail and gain experience. I would rather we drop to division 4 and slowly build momentum and experience with a pacey and predominantly new team than grind out a couple of wins with the old guard. We are already paying the price for choosing experience over youth in the last few years. Can't afford to keep doing it.

Not too many county champions able to handle Ballyhale on form. No other club team in the country with such an embarrassment of riches in the forwards. They dominate Kilkenny and are possibly on course to go down as the best club hurling team ever.

CB were phenomenal until the goals started and then the confidence drained. They should be extremely proud of their year and represented Laois impressively on the big stage.

They will be the team to beat in Laois next year.

Ballyhale will be very dangerous now after getting out of jail today. What time is game fixed for next Sunday?

Ballyhale are a big step up and have no shortage of marquee players. They have been nearly beaten a few times over the last decade but there is a big difference between that and actually been beaten. With 10 senior final wins they are the standard bearers for Leinster hurling and have played more hurling in Croke park than many county teams.

However, CB at full tilt will give them plenty of it.

Well that was some performance by Clough Ballacolla. Were the better team and had brilliant performances all over the pitch. Hurled like men possessed. The whole county will be behind ye in the final.

I give CB a chance. Very balanced side and when on form they can be very good. If it's close in the second half they have a knack of bringing it home. Saw Kilmacud on TV a couple of times and thought they looked about the same standard as our top 4 teams.

Made the mistake of listening to it on Midlands radio 3 who don't even pretend to be impartial. Spent more time talking about Gerry Buckley's book about former Westmeath players than they did about the Port performance after the match.

I can't imagine it would make much economic sense but would be great to have a Laois only radio station. Bring back LCR.

I had meant to post something similar. I was driving home from the west yesterday and had to listen to it. Jesus, it was like listening to Radio Mullingar. After the final whistle was a disgrace. They ran through how well 7 or 8 Lomans lads had played in defeat and then proceeded to plug some book about Westmeath GAA!

And it's not the first time either. They love Offaly and are mainly a Tullamore based operation.

For sure. Offaly, Mullingar and Laois last seems to be their prioritization. I don't ever remember it being any different. Would only listen to it as a last resort but businesses in Laois should never bother advertising with them.