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I'm fairly sure Clough or Ballacolla were never separate clubs and have always hurled together. They have hurled under different names throughout their life time alright. From memory they have been called Ballygeehan, St Canices, Ballacolla and then Clough Ballacolla. But always represent and drew their players from the parash of Aghaboe.

On the topic of Ballacolla. Myself growing up and hurling for Portlaoise in the 90's, if you had to tell me then that Clough Ballacolla would be winning 3 in a row within the next 25 years I'd have sent you to get checked out. I don't know what started the revival but surely it could be seen as inspiration to other clubs  who have always sat on the periphery that it can be achieved.

I don't believe Cbolla were in second gear in the Sfinal they got a good test until the Ref decided to give them every thing going in the second half.

From what I seen they didn't look anywhere near the team they can be in the 1st half. Went up the level required in the 2nd and got the job done, they never looked in danger of losing that once the 2nd half got under way. I don't remember the ref doing anything outrageous that would have suggested the result going any other way way. They won by 10 odd points pulling up...Anyway Ill stick with what I said previously, Camross to cause an upset against a potentially flat Ballacolla.

County hurling finals Sunday what's yer views. Cbolla and Aleix one would think. But Camross will be hard to beat.

Abbeyleix to win and Camorss to cause an upset. CB are in a county final without really getting out of 2nd gear and its very hard to just turn it on when required after a summer like that. That semi final win will stand to Camross no end.

Great appointment and I wish Willie Maher all the best as laois manager. Im looking forward to seeing big Dan on the side line with the laois baseball cap turned backwards!! He will bring a bit of blaa buzz to the set up.

Goalkeepers
E Rowland
C Dunne
E Fleming

Backs
D Hartnett
P Delaney
L Cleere
S Downey
P Dunne
R Mullaney
D Conway
J Kelly
C McEvoy

Midfielders
P Purcell
F Fennell
J Keyes
A Corby
C Stapleton

Forwards
P Maher
C Dwyer
R King
A Dunphy
M Keyes
J Duggan
M Kavanagh
E Lyons
B Conroy
PJ Scully
M Dowling
C Collier
J Ryan
B McGinley

I may have left out an obvious one or two by mistake

The panel above would go very close to winning the Joe Mc. I think the incentive is there for these lads to commit. A big day out in a national final in croke park for players and supports alike should be on the cards here with the chance a la 2019 v Dublin also possible.
I do believe the non-committals will regret not doing all they can when they have the opportunity. The summer in America can still be done as the Joe Mc will be over by then so that's not really a valid excuse anymore either.

The only one I think that could consider retiring is Willie Dunphy. Has had plenty of injury issues down the years and certainly owes the county nothing. Very committed player over the past 10-12 years. Of the panel above id say only maybe 1 or 2 are over the 30 mark and all have lots to offer at county level.

Lets hope Willie can convince them this is worth the effort

I'm fairly certain Lee Cleere is off to Australia in December for the year.

Jasus that ref was absolutely terrible today! His decision making gave Galway at least 5/6 points in the end, awful stuff. Good performance again from the lads, they could have had 5 goals today. Galway keeper pulled off some great saves.

12,451 at the Leinster Hurling Minor Final between Offaly and Laois.
The novel pairing helped but still fair going for a Monday evening.

I'd hazard a guess it was even a much bigger crowd than that. O Moore Park has a capacity of 22k and there's not a chance you could have put an extra 10k in there last night. An extra 5k would have been a push...I've never seen scenes like it for and underage final. Hopefully there was lots of kids from Laois and Offaly there last night who will be inspired to play on such an occasion...it would be some boost to Leinster hurling if the GAA could get these 2 counties playing regularly in finals like this in the coming years!

Not much point being in the gym and bulked up and only one player that started scoring from play. What's the story with Corby not starting he was the best club player in laois this year. Podge Delaney had a fine game.

What did he do when he came on? Same with Jordan Walshe?!
Obviously it's not good that only one of the starters could score from play, but we've been saying for years that Laois don't have the physique other teams have. I think spending time in the gym early in the year would be a good idea!

Didn't Corby not get on until the 69 minute. I'm not sure how he could influence the game with that cameo.

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

Aaron Dunphy is a big loss here. He's not only the best half forward in the county currently but he is athletic and well conditioned to the demands of intercounty hurling. We unfortunately don't have too many like him within the county! If Aidan Corby can carry his club for the county it would be huge for us also.

I was chatting to a few CB members in Croke Park yesterday and they were under the impression that Adian Corby has yet to be called in. surly that's not right?

Do we know yet what players wont be committing for 2022? I know they're riding the crest of wave a little but to me Clough Ballacolla are currently highlighting what we have in Laois, lads with good honest attitudes and most importantly no shortage of skill!!! We actually have a genuine crop of 17 to 20 players in Laois now who are all well able to hurl which couldn't be said 10 years ago, so it would be a shame if some of those lads are not around next year...the most evident thing to me in the CB, Kilmacud game was how much better stickmen the Laois men were, just a lot tidier players! I think where we will get unstuck at the highest level these days is unfortunately down to physical size, the top 6to8 hurling teams are togging out monsters these days and its very difficult live with the physicality they bring over 70 minutes.

Never as happy to be wrong about a pre match prediction in my life. Huge congrats to CB, I felt they were the better team all over on the night and thoroughly deserved their win. Darren Maher was outstanding on their main man.

Just for clarity, 3/1 for the win and evens with the handicap.

It will take a Laois type performance from 2019 game against Dublin for CB to get something from this. This is a seriously strong Crokes team, I'm living up in Dublin myself these days and from talking to a few of local GAA lads in the know the talk is this Crokes team are fancying there chances at taken down Ballyhale and going strong for the All Ireland.... hopefully that is in their thoughts tomorrow and they slightly underestimate the CB lads!

Heard a rumour not sure how true it is that the Laois U20 hurling management have gone against a recommendation by a CB sub committee to have regional trials for this year's squad. Instead favouring a hand picked group of 25 - 30 players starting next Friday. If true I seriously fear for Laois hurling. Have they not learnt anything especially from diastraous minor set ups of the last 2 years in particular. Even colm bonnar in a stronghold like Tipp sees the wisdom of a complete trawl of the county.

I don't know if many counties have open trial sessions for all to attend these days from my experience. I know when I lived in Kildare for a few years and I was semi involved in the local club. Players u14 up to u21 were invited to come into the county panel. There was some occasions where additional players were invited to form an expansive panel for some challenge matches and the likes but that was it. I'm now living in Dublin the last number of years and it seems to be similar, the club might get a phone call to send player x or y but that seems about it. Obviously I cant speak for the whole country and maybe that's just the way its done up here, Kildare and now in Laois. Cant say I'm fully for or against it, I just accepted it as the norm.

[F Camross 3-9 James Stephens 1-14]

Put the information below together for no particular reason. It has been a competition that has been very good to Laois teams and particularly to Laois hurling supporters. If not in terms of trophies, then in terms of something to follow and a consistent ability to compete with the best in the province.
The information is from Wikipedia, but from memory it's accurate in terms of results and opposition anyways.
Unfortunately, I remember almost all of them!

Played- 101 (incl. replays/excl. 3 All Ireland games)
Won- 47, Drew- 6, Lost- 48
Replays Won- 3 , Replays Lost- 3

*= Provincial Winner
**= All Ireland Finalist
***= All Ireland Winner

1970/71
QF- Clonad 2-6 St Rynaghs**1-12

1971/72
R1 Birr 0-6 Camross 2-7
QF Bennettsbridge 1-9 Camross 1-1

1972/73
R1 Eire Óg (Kildare) 1-7 Borris in Ossory 2-7
QF Borris in Ossory 3-7 The Fenians 4-12

1973/74
QF Camross 2-2 St Rynaghs 1-8

1974/75
QF St Rynaghs 2-3 Camross 0-9
QF (R) Camross 1-6 St Rynaghs 2-8

1975/76
QF Clonaslee 3-8 St Rynaghs 2-14

1976/77
QF Camross 2-10 Kilmacud Crokes 2-8
SF Camross 2-8 St Rynaghs 1-8
F Camross 3-9 James Stephens 1-14
AISF Ballycran 0-7 Camross 3-12
AIF Glen Rovers*** 2-12 Camross 0-8

1977/78
QF Eire Óg (Kildare) 0-3 Camross 2-12
SF Camross 1-5 Rathnure 1-9**

1978/79
QF Kilmessan (Meath) 0-11 Camross 3-12
SF Ballyhale Shamrocks 4-12** Camross 2-2

1979/80
QF Camross 6-12 Castletown Geoghegan 3-9
SF Camross 3-10 Rathnure 2-12
F Crumlin* 3-5 Camross 0-11

1980/81
QF Ardclough (Kildare) 3-13 Camross 3-9

1981/82
QF Naomh Eoin (Carlow) 0-5 Portlaoise 5-11
SF James Stephens*** 2-15 Portlaoise 0-9

1982/83
QF Portlaoise 2-8 St Vincent's 1-5
SF Buffers Alley 1-14 Portlaoise 1-9

1983/84
R1 Avondale (Wicklow) 1-8 Portlaoise 8-8
QF Buffers Alley 0-14 Portlaoise 2-9

1984/85
QF Portlaoise 3-16 Raharney 0-10
SF Kinnity 2-20 Portlaoise 0-5

1985/86
QF Arklow Rock Parnells (Wicklow) 2-5 Clonad 1-9
SF Buffers Alley** 5-11 Clonad 0-11

1986/87
QF Camross 3-8 Faughs 0-14
SF Camross 1-7 Clara 2-3
F Rathnure** 2-16 Camross 3-9

1987/88
R1 Portlaoise 2-21 Kiltegan (Wicklow) 0-7
QF Portlaoise 0-14 Glenmore 1-8
SF Portlaoise 1-12 St Rynaghs 0-7
F Rathnure* 3-8 Portlaoise 1-13

1988/89
QF Portlaoise 1-9 St Vincent's 2-6
QF (R) St Vincent's 5-13 Portlaoise 5-6

1989/90
QF Brownstown 1-9 Portlaoise 4-14
SF Ballyhale Shamrocks*** 1-12 Portlaoise 2-6

1990/91
R1 Camross 2-15 St Patrick's (Wicklow) 1-6
QF Camross 2-9 Rathnure 2-8
SF Camross 3-8 O' Toole's 2-6
F Glenmore*** 0-15 Camross 1-9

1991/92
R1 Naomh Eoin (Carlow) 0-7 Portlaoise 5-5
QF Portlaoise 1-4 Buffers Alley 1-12

1992/93
R1 Raharney 0-11 Clonad 0-11
R1 (R) Clonad 2-11 Raharney 1-8
QF Clonad 1-9 Buffers Alley* 3-10

1993/94
QF St Rynaghs* 2-13 Camross 1-13

1994/95
QF Oulart the Ballagh 1-12 Camross 0-5

1995/96
QF Castletown 0-8 Oulart the Ballagh 2-17

1996/97
QF Camross 1-17 Loughlene Gaels 0-8
SF Camross 2-6 Rathnure 0-10
F Camross 1-12 O' Toole's 2-5
AISF Athenry*** 4-17 Camross 3-3

1997/98
R1 Castletown 3-17 Loughlene Gaels 2-10
QF Castletown 0–17 Oulart the Ballagh 1-14
QF (R) Oulart the Ballagh 0-10 Castletown 1-8
SF Castletown 3-8 O' Toole's 2-9
F Birr*** 0-11 Castletown 0-5

1998/99
QF Portlaoise w/o Trim scr
SF Portlaoise 0-6 Graigue Ballycallan 0-5
F Rathnure** 1-13 Portlaoise 1-6

1999/2000
QF Faughs 2-2 Castletown 1-12
SF Castletown 1-14 St Martin's (Wexford) 1-9
F Birr 1-16 Castletown 0-11

2000/2001
R1 Castletown 2-10 Coill Dubh (Kildare) 0-11
QF Castletown 2-10 Birr 1-8
SF Graigue Ballycallan** 2-12 Castletown 0-7

2001/2002
QF Kiltegan 0-4 Castletown 2-12
SF Castletown 1-10 Faythe Harriers 1-5
F Birr 0-10 Castletown 1-7
F (R) Birr*** 2-10 Castletown 0-5

2002/2003
R1 Castletown 2-2 Carnew Emmetts (Wicklow) 0-8
R1 (R) Carnew Emmetts 1-9 Castletown 2-13
QF Castletown 1-12 Birr*** 2-12

2003/2004
R1 Glenealy (Wicklow) 0-6 Castletown 2-11
QF Castletown 0-14 Craobh Chiarain (Dublin) 1-9
SF Birr 4-17 Castletown 1-9

2004/2005
R1 Castletown Geoghegan 1-12 Portlaoise 2-17
QF Portlaoise 0-11 UCD 1-20

2005/2006
QF Glenealy (Wicklow) 2-10 Castletown 2-16
SF James Stephens* 5-14 Castletown 0-8

2006/2007
QF Rathnure 2-13 Rathdowney Errill 0-14

2007/2008
SF Ballyboden St Enda's 2-9 Camross 1-11

2008/2009
QF Ballyhale Shamrocks* 1-18 Rathdowney Errill 1-11

2009/2010
QF Clonkill (Westmeath) 1-21 Clough Ballacolla 2-12

2010/2011
QF Rathdowney Errill 0-14 O' Loughlin Gaels** 3-16

2011/2012
SF Oulart the Ballagh 3-12 Clough Ballacolla 2-11

2012/13
QF Rathdowney Errill 1-12 Clonkill 0-12
SF Kilcormac Killoughey** 2-12 Rathdowney Errill 0-14

2013/14
QF Camross 1-10 Kilcormac Killoughey 1-18

2014/15
QF Kilmacud Crokes 0-23 Rathdowney Errill 0-22 AET

2015/16
QF Clough Ballacolla 0-13 Oulart the Ballagh 3-8

2016/17
QF Cuala 4-16 Borris in Ossory Kilcotton 1-14

2017/18
QF Camross 0-13 Mount Leinster Rangers 0-19

2018/19
QF Camross 2-16 Naomh Éanna (Wexford) 3-18

2019/20
QF Rathdowney Errill 4-16 St Rynagh's 0-10
SF St Mullin's (Carlow) 2-17 Rathdowney Errill 1-19

2020/21
Not Played

2021/22
QF Clough Ballacolla 1-17 Raparees 0-12
SF Clough Ballacolla         Kilmacud Crokes

Excellent Post

Laois teams were very competitive in the 70's/80's/90's

3 wins in the last 10 years in the Leinster championship is poor return in comparison to what had gone before

Very poor, I know when you look back at the year winning the county is always the main objective but I'd say there is some regrets in the RE and CB camps over some of the games. The 2012 RE loss to Kilcormac and 2015 CB loss to Oulart stand out. Both seasons the KK champs had been turned over on the other side of the draw and both games both CB and RE should have won. I remember the CB game in particular and I've never seen a team with such potent forwards miss as many chances, think there was 2 missed penalties thrown in for good measure too and Oulart then went on to win out Leinster. The RE loss against Kilcormac was another one, they were such a better team on the day and couldn't get it done...

Hopefully CB can make amends for the Laois clubs over the past 10 years or so this year but it will be very hard done. This Kilmacud crowd is a good if not better in some areas as the Cuala teams from a few years back and it's very hard to see CB beaten them. Hopefully they can play to their full ability on the day and if they do that then you never know!

Shite, he'll be a big loss alright.

What has him out?

Game being shown on TG4 as well.

Think the game is actually on RTE? Must be a first for a Laois club to be on RTE live!!

Not sure what has him out, had a fella from Clough on site with me yesterday and he was telling me that he's gone.
Big loss to them for the weekend.