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It certainly would be a novel final and I wouldn't begrudge either team winning it.
Graiguecullen are always there or thereabouts but whatever happens to them in finals is hard to imagine and thats right accross the club at most levels.

Their Junior C team were beaten by Stradbally on Wednesday last after extra time but having a Stradbally Ref certainly helped them and was totally unfair and thats coming from a neutral supporter. But its just another defeat in a long list of finals for that club so would be nice if they could win the Senior this year but Port will be very hard to beat in a semi especially now that they have most of their better players back in the fold.

Courtwood have been the surprise package this year but they are playing great attacking football with no fear and could very well be there on county final day but St Josephs are serious opponents and will fancy themselves against Courtwood. Interesting times ahead....

For a club as clever as Portlaoise I was shocked when they brought in Turlough O'Brien as manager. He's the biggest bluffer around as a manager. When he was with Carlow he was carried by Stephan Poacher and would have achieved nothing without him.
He's expert at talking himself up but does nothing for the teams moral and he's very poor tactically. Got hammered with Eire Og last year and the same with Portlaoise this year and had very good players at his disposal both years.
There are some great men in that Portlaoise club and it's disgusting to overlook some of those for this bluffer..

Nice one Joey, great idea for a thread.
How much is it to watch a replay?

Any sign of Zack Touhy making an apperance with Portlaoise this year or is he gone back to Aus. He always said he wanted to give it a go with Port and maybe Laois before he retired altogether.

Fair play to Graigue on their win.

The big thing for Graigue is to repeat that sort of a performance/result at the business end of the championship and get to a final and win one.

True, they are the most underachieving club in Laois for the past 30 years or so. When you think of the footballers they have produced throughout the years yet nothing to show for it, it really strange how they havn't won at least one title. It seems to be a mental thing with them at all levels. I don't have figures but they have reached numerous semi finals and finals from minor up to senior yet you could count on one hand the number of titles they have.
Personally I wouldn't begrudge them winning it this year and the way they are playing they have every chance. They need to get Forbes into the game a lot more, he is a confidence player and could add an awful lot more to the team if he got going.

Two poor games in Portlaoise yesterday. Let's hope today's are somewhat better

I think you got your wish, Courtwood really put it up to Ballyroan and could have won it, Scully is a great warrior for Ballyroan.

Both Graiguecullen and Portarlington served up a thriller and finished off the weekend in style. The football was of a high standard and Graiguecullen just about deserved it. Walker has bulked up a bit and is a very good footballer. He kept going when a few around him were beginning to wilt a bit and I thought he was man of the match. Paddy O'Sullivan was top class too and worked his ass off today.
Happy enough with the standard I saw there today, let's hope there's more like that to come.

Laois Senior Gaelic Football Championship Round 2
Winners Draw Pairings

Portlaoise v St Joseph's
Portarlington v Graiguecullen
Arles-Killeen v Killeshin
Ballyroan-Abbey v Courtwood

 
Laois Senior Gaelic Football Championship Round 2
Losers Pairings

Stradbally v Emo
O'Dempsey's v Crettyard
The Heath v Clonaslee-St Manman's
Ballyfin v Rosenallis


Some interesting pairings there, hard to predict who will come out of those.
On the Clubber thing do they show repeats of the games and at what time??

Well done Louth on finally winning Leinster. We are not that far behind them and that result should give us plenty of confidence for the Tailtean Cup and the following year in the league.

The progress Louth have made shows us that having the right people in charge and a dedicated squad can go a long way to achiving sucess. They are now like we were in 2003, wining Leinster and some great underage talent coming through. Where oh where did it all go wrong for us. We did it before and we can do it again if the desire is there....

Totally agree with all the above, I have been following Laois footballers since 1975 and always dreamt about a big day out and got one at the 1985/86 league final when we beat Monaghan by one point.

In comes Micko in 2002 and in 2003 we won the Leinster Championship final beating our neighbours and former team of Micko's Kildare. That was a day for all Laois gaels and I'll be forever grateful to Micko for giving us that day.
RIP great man and thank you......

He must be gone back to O'Hannrahans so....

Anyone know how we fared against Carlow in the challenge game today?

Nice piece here about Zack Touhy, what a career he's had....

https://mailchi.mp/the42/editors-pick-zach-tuohy-in-the-afl-is-one-of-the-great-irish-sporting-success-stories?e=9b2ef32aa4

Think Joe's vulnerable without Dempsey and Murphy but might edge the Town.
O'Dempseys and Graigue will win easily.
Port v B Abbey could be close. Very hard to call so I won't!

Is Dempsey injured??

what other clubs got transfers in ??

[LAOIS SFC ROUND 2 WINNERS GROUP]

I saw the Graiguecullen v St Josephs game last friday night, it was a very even game all through. Joseph's lost two lads early on through injury,  Dylan Doyle after 10 mins and Cooney the goalie five minutes later. Josh O'Brien replaced Doyle and played very well. Graigue started slow, Joes went ahead but Graigue leveled it and it was 0-5 each at half time.

Josephs looked like they meant business and scored two quick points but graigue fought hard and dominated most of the second half. They created a few good goal chances but were narrowly wide with both of them. Scully in the graigue goals pulled off two good saves and they were level at full time. Then Brian Byrne found a bit of space 40 yards out and kicked a great point to win it for Graiguecullen. Eoghan O'Flaherty had a chance to level it from a free but drove it wide but overall Graiguecullen deserved it with great performances from Aaron Dorgan, Ben Dorgan  and Daniel O'Reilly.
Graiguecullen will now face 2022 champions Portarlington in the 2nd round, tough draw for them after playing the 2023 champions in the first round. If they're going to win it they will certainly have to do it the hard way.

LAOIS SFC ROUND 2 WINNERS GROUP
Arles-Killeen v Courtwood
Ballyroan-Abbey v Rosenallis
Portlaoise v Emo
Graiguecullen v Portarlington

LAOIS SFC ROUND 2 LOSERS GROUP
Killeshin v Ballyfin
Clonaslee-St Manman's v Stradbally
St Joseph's v Ballylinan
O'Dempsey's v The Heath