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With the senior management now in place has there been any progress on the minor and u20 set up?
I think the u20s should have a decent outfit plenty of good hurlers around that age. You would expect a good number of this years minors to make the step up too.
Derek McGrath hasn't taken on any other role that I know of, hopefully he can be convinced to stay on. He has improved a lot of the players that he has had under him in the past couple of years.
I think Ollie Hally was mentioned to keep hold of the u20 job. If he does I think he could try to get someone with a bit more experience at a high level with him. Cheddar would add to the u20 set up imo, he would bring a bit of professionalism and passion into the group and set them up for senior county hurling.

Otherwise and ideally I would like to see Cheddar get involved and help drive the setanta programme and possibly oversee the development squads. I think there is a role there for someone and Cheddar would be the ideal candidate for it. Until we get our house in order here its hard to see us making much tangible progress at adult level.

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

So has Maher actually said no to the job?  Its gone awful quiet.
The player opt out is worse in laois than any other county. Its a poor reflection on us. Inter County hurling is only for a few years and I think the lads that opt out will regret it down the line. Is it a mental weakness that has crept in or why is it always such an issue. I dont mind a lad going travelling, that has to be done but opting out for no apparent reason is disappointing.

I think players might/should look at this year as a good opportunity. If we have a good set up and good commitment I think we will win the Joe Mc. That should be enough to entice lads in. With things going well then a shot at one of the big guns in a preliminary quarter final would be on the cards. There should be a good few additions of new young players this year hopefully with the likes of James Duggan and Mossy keyes being exciting talents. Being down the likes of cha and paddy would be detrimental.

If be happy with willie maher or derek

7 years since I started this thread.  The set up underage appears to have gotten worse in that time. What will it be like in another 7 years?? Why can't we set up a robust long term plan for hurling in laois that encompasses the setanta programme leading on to our development squads. It should be that difficult or cost that  much. The senior managers job is almost not worth talking about until we get our act together underage

This is horrendous. What are we at? Who is responsible?
After all the good work done with resurrecting the setanta programme and this years minors its a real shame to see this happening.

Ryan O Dwyer - please please NO!!

Swallow your pride co board and offer the job to eddie brennan. P.S give him what he wants. Thanks

I hope they don't just fill the position to get it done. Id prefer wait a bit if we had to to get a more suitable candidate. Trouble is nobody of credible standing seems to be interested. It will come back to haunt them of results dont go the right way. Also players nowadays won't commit unless they think there is a top class set up. You wouldn't blame them either.
I still maintain our ambition as a county sucks. Offaly are getting there house in order, why can't we. Some will say Lowry is backing them which is true. Why can't we put a robust aggressive and ambitious plan for the future in place and then approach potential financial supporters. Unfortunately the draconianism will continue I suspect

Good to hear. Buglers tactics are more defensive than anything i have seen before, very hard to watch.
The whole process seems very slow compared with other counties that have changed manager but its worth delaying to get the best possible man for the job

spose its hard to get through all the fellas bateing our door down

[/Sheedy and O Shea going to take the offaly job. Was it so ludicrous of me suggesting them for the laois job now? I was laughed at by most on here for suggesting the same a few weeks ago.  I did question our ambition in who we could go for, nothing wrong with Offalys ambition. Please spare me of any comments on Shane Lowrys bank account in relation to Sheedy's pending appointment. I read enough rubbish on social media.]

You would really have to wonder what the issues are here. I believe there was a great number of coaches turned out for the setanta programme this summer with great numbers of kids too. Very disappointing to see this happen at an important age group. What are these u14 kids impressions of standards at County level? The set up in there clubs is likely to be better. I thought part of the idea of Gdo's in the clubs was to allow the county gdo's to drive on the county development squads? Are they not involved here. Hard questions need to be asked and this cannot be allowed to happen in the coming years. After the positivity around the minors this year now is the time to drive on the groups coming behind them.
How did u15s get on? There set up any better?

Good to hear. Buglers tactics are more defensive than anything i have seen before, very hard to watch.
The whole process seems very slow compared with other counties that have changed manager but its worth delaying to get the best possible man for the job

Cant believe they are giving the job to bugler. Birr can't wait to get rid of him. Hasn't worked out with them at all.

I dont think I'm deluded at all. Davy fitz is with Cork Camogie.  Surely laois would be more desirable for him and surely we could afford to pay him as much as cork camogie are.
Anthony Daly is only with his own club this year. Who knows maybe he would like the challenge.
The expectation in laois for success is low. However there is a good chance of winning the joe mc with a shot at one of the big guns in a preliminary quarter final. Its not like we haven't had success here before.

I dont see the harm in trying get the best man we can.
Looking at some of the posts here we are a total lost cause and its like as if we shouldn't bother putting out a team at all