Messages

Fair play to Port. Unbelievable mental strength to get over the line.

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 think that most people are impressed by what Rosenallis have achieved but they need a few more good hurlers to be able to break into the top 4. Maybe with the impressive underage structures they can make it happen and good luck to them. The hurling community is small in Laois and we need more competitive clubs like Rosenallis. However, Rathdowney Errill were fairly horrendous yesterday compared with what they can be and I believe any one of Camross, C/B or B/K would have beaten them comprehensively on that performance. Rosenallis never really looked like they were going to do anything until the last two or three minutes.

We will probably be fighting relegation but sure if we are winning them, then what about it. Nice to be winning something! Of course I hope we can take a scalp or two but it is still a big ask to beat one of the top table teams.

The performance on Saturday shows how hard it is to keep it going every week. Except for the last 10 minutes we never looked like the team that played against Antrim or Waterford. In fact, we looked very much like the team that got hammered by Wexford. All that being said, I remember many times over the years where we lost games we should have won so nice to win one we might have lost!! Westmeath have some super hurlers for sure and plenty of physicality too.

Matthew Whelan is a legend. He gave some service over the years always coming back for more through hardship and good days. Hard to think of too many matches where he was not involved. I remember thinking his best days were behind him before Eddie Brennan took over but he seemed to get better and better instead of fading away. There should be some sort of 'medal of honour' for servants like Matthew and Ross Munnelly.

Don't know how we won that. We were a distant second best for most of the match in every area of the field. Just goes to show that the likes of Laois, Antrim, Westmeath, Kerry and Carlow are all about the same level. I thought we played super for the last 10 minutes but it was the only spell where we looked better than Westmeath. PJ Scully really has turned into a proper inter county corner forward this year, and not just from frees. Cha is back to his old self too. The backs except Podge Delaney looked out of sorts. Jack Kelly is better in midfield and thankfully him and Roddy lifted their games when we needed them. Anyway, job done. Liam McCarthy and Division 1 hurling next year.

Interesting to see the laoisgaels.com fundraising organization. Haven't heard much about them but it looks quite well intentioned and set up.

Anyone on here involved?

As well as the general improvement in hurling standard by the team (which is massive compared to the league and the Wexford game), the availability of quality players has been a serious boost. The quality of our listed bench on Saturday was great to see and was needed to keep us competitive. Ryan Mullaney and Lee Cleere are serious losses but we weathered them. James Keyes, Picky, Ciaran Comerford, James Ryan, Aaron Dunphy and Matthew Whelan were all named as subs. John Lennon and Eanna Lyons are back and then you have back up in Liam Senior, Liam Delaney, Paul Simms and I think Frank Flanagan was there too. Add a few U20s and a returning Mark Kavanagh, Ben Conroy, Diarmuid Conway and other injured players next year and competition for places will be savage. The core of the team are still quite young so hard to see too many retirements.

One other call out - we are not getting bullied physically. Waterford in the past have been far too big for us and threw us around like rag dolls. This did not happen on Saturday. Especially impressed with younger lads like Podge Delaney and Sean Downey who gave as good as they got. Westmeath match is massive. I see we are at home. Hopefully the weather will hold and we can get a nice socially-distanced crowd in.

Best of luck to Laois tomorrow. Hopefully they fight and tackle like animals and can make amends for the Wexford performance. Waterford won't need any incentive, they will be out for a big confidence win.

Last year running tipp close this year it's unreal to beat Antrim ffs it's no different than jumping around the place after winning the joe mcdonagh cup jeez Christ simple as Eddie is a v v v bad loss to Laois hurling know disrespect to cheddar but we have. Regressed totally

running tipp close is getting bet by 10 points?

and no we havent "regressed totally" when at times during the league,we were missing up to 11 starters.

No county could sustain that level of injuries never mind a county with such a small playing base as Laois.

Don't rise to that clueless inarticulate idiot.

Brilliant performance and win. Agree that the sin-bin / penalty rule is a farce and needs to go.

Considering our best forward was sent off and Antrim brought it back to 2 points it was a comprehensive response with leaders everywhere.

There were brilliant performances all around. Scores came from everywhere. Can't ask any more of them.

Isn't the definition of madness trying the same thing over and over and then lamenting the same results?

I personally would like to see much more of the younger cohort starting and take risks. They are all likely to be in next years starting setup anyway and we are not likely to win a Leinster. Give them a chance.

A slow team on a fast day can only mean one outcome.

I don't blame cheddar,far from it.

His heart yet again has over ruled his head for him to come back,if he has any sense he will go and get a club job in a hurling county,when our season comes to its inevitable damp squib conclusion

Cheddar is doing his best, no doubt about it. He gives his heart and soul to Laois and came in when few would have been enthusiastic. However, I don't think hurling tactics has ever been his strongpoint. We got it completely wrong on Saturday and it has been building that way all year (over-playing at the back, ineffective strategy for winning and retaining possession, poor transition into the forwards and no intensity in defending). Eddie was much more shrewd on the sideline. Personally, would love to see Cheddar in an administrative / hurling development role with full control over how hurling is organized in the county.

Saying all that - the goal this year is survival in the league and championship. Hopefully there is some fast learning from the defensive show last Saturday.

Poor showing again on Saturday. I just get the impression that there is a huge emphasis on defence and attack seems to have to look after itself. Whereas we looked like scoring goals every game under Brennan, we look toothless now (with arguably better forwards). We're just not going to be competitive unless we can score goals. We've proven we can do it so I don't see why we don't believe in ourselves a bit more on that front.

They mixed good with bad against a team that is competing extremely well this year. With a few minutes to go we were only a couple of points adrift in Antrim's home patch. We could have won that match, despite all the hype about Antrim. 20 wides including a few missed goal chances. Lots of lads trying to find form after layoffs - Picky, Willie Dunphy and to a lesser extent Cha and Aaron Dunphy. The target has to be to stay in Division 1 (beat Westmeath, no pushovers but a good challenge), give Wexford a good rattle, and keep our Liam McCarthy status (beating Antrim probably required). With everyone available and playing well and a big emphasis on hard hurling in training, I think there is a strong chance we can still have a good year. We are still improving. It is not as if we are targeting winning a Leinster final but the 3 prizes are still there to be won (compete against wexford, stay top tier in both league and championship).

I didn't think it was all that bad to be honest, given how many are missing.

Positives:
- Roddy King
- Backs worked hard and turned Clare over many times for much of the match. All fell apart in 3rd quarter of the game but much of their scoring was done from out the field which we need to watch. Diarmuid Conway doesn't look out of his depth at inter county and Conor Phelan did well enough at times too.
- At half time we were still in it. Not just on the scoreboard but in general play.
Negatives:
- None of the forwards other than Roddy look like they can score from play. This is a pretty big negative. Urgently need lads back (Cha, Aaron etc.) Noises not good from Cheddar on injuries.
- I'd say we gave away another 1-5 yesterday from overplaying the ball in defence. What is this thing of trying to beat a player one-on-one from the corner back position? It should be the last option. What other county does this successfully? Might be fine if you are playing a division 2 team but not against the Clares, Dublins etc. In general we seem to be over elaborate in moving the ball. I sort of understand it from midfield to set a player in space because we have a total of one forward (Roddy) that can win a ball if it is pucked into him.
- Possession. We win one puckout in 10 from our own or opposition puck outs. Clare created a huge amount of their scoring chances from winning a ball on the ground in the ruck and sending a player into space. We won probably 20% of rucks.

I'll add one more of each.

Positive
Sean Downey is blossoming into a very good full back. A bit raw at times but improving no end.

Negative
Our basic skills. I lost count yesterday of the number of times we "almost" rose the ball. Lifting it but not catching it. Fumbling or being knocked off the ball. This sharpness needs to improve.

Totally agree on both counts. Sean Downey is a super hurler who can hurl anywhere. Doing a great job at the edge of the square as he did last year.

The almost rising the ball is the reason we lose so many winnable balls. Laois were impressive at this last year in the Clare championship match so hopefully it is just sharpness. You only get one go to get it clean off the ground at this level. I would imagine inter county teams drill their 'rucks' extensively.

I didn't think it was all that bad to be honest, given how many are missing.

Positives:
- Roddy King
- Backs worked hard and turned Clare over many times for much of the match. All fell apart in 3rd quarter of the game but much of their scoring was done from out the field which we need to watch. Diarmuid Conway doesn't look out of his depth at inter county and Conor Phelan did well enough at times too.
- At half time we were still in it. Not just on the scoreboard but in general play.
Negatives:
- None of the forwards other than Roddy look like they can score from play. This is a pretty big negative. Urgently need lads back (Cha, Aaron etc.) Noises not good from Cheddar on injuries.
- I'd say we gave away another 1-5 yesterday from overplaying the ball in defence. What is this thing of trying to beat a player one-on-one from the corner back position? It should be the last option. What other county does this successfully? Might be fine if you are playing a division 2 team but not against the Clares, Dublins etc. In general we seem to be over elaborate in moving the ball. I sort of understand it from midfield to set a player in space because we have a total of one forward (Roddy) that can win a ball if it is pucked into him.
- Possession. We win one puckout in 10 from our own or opposition puck outs. Clare created a huge amount of their scoring chances from winning a ball on the ground in the ruck and sending a player into space. We won probably 20% of rucks.

More big lads with no pace is not going to help this team, we have a tonne of them already. Athletic, fast players needed urgently.