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Abbeyleix v The Harps was even enough. Harps snuck it in the end, but they had the slight breeze in the second half. Nothing between them, really.

Conor Headen a massive player for Pickas. A lad like that - on county u20 panel - should be having a big impact at that level, and he seems to be. Don't think they'll have enough to get to the final, though. Often wondered if he'll stay put, or will the much-mooted amalgamation w/ Ballinakill now come back on the agenda?
Some collapse from Trumera, though - conceding 1-14 without reply in the last quarter. They're in big bother.

Mountrath result was a big surprise to me. And Slieve Bloom, I'd say. Mountrath have a few back, I believe, and seem stronger than last year. In reality, for a town like them in the hurling area, they should be competing at a higher level.

There will be no amalgamation between Pickas and Ballinakill by all accounts so he's stuck there. Concerning for his development as a player.

Trumera look in real, real trouble. A seriously heavy defeat. They are always fighting for numbers I know but it's a worrying scoreline.

Massive win for Clonad. 2/2 now. Huge for them.

When are those "drainage lines" going to be sorted out in OMP? They are like that for over a year now and they look dreadful.

Looks like never to be honest. Grass doesn't seem to be taking to them too well for some reason.

Ballacolla by 1, although I think this could either way.

Borris by 5+, they nearly always get the better of Ballinakill somehow and Ballinakill look a bit disjointed on the pitch this year.

Rathdowney by 6+. Rosenalis are a decent team but not sure they have it in them to beat Rathdowney.

The Harps will win I feel but only just. They are superior to Portlaoise but I feel the game could be a tight one.

Abbeyleix will beat Ballyfin by 3+. Abbeyleix much better than they've been playing, will surely churn out a performance against Ballyfin.

I do wonder was it initially due to an element of distrust over the collection of money at the gate?

I've no idea how these things work. Some better places might offer insight.

It's great for senior teams to play in the county ground but I feel it certainly takes from the atmosphere.

Ballacolla by 5
Borris by 5
The Harps by 1
Camross by 2

Round 1 Predictions

The Harps V Camross - Camross win by 5+
Clough/Ballacolla V Rosenallis - C/B win by 3+
Portlaoise V Ballyfin - PL win by 2
Rath/Errill v Ballinakill - R/E win by 8+
Abbeyleix V Borris - Borris win by 6+

Done ok here.

Harps beaten, unsurprisingly. They'll be fine but I think people need to adjust their  baseless expectations for them.

Ballinakill should have beaten Rathdowney if they had anything about them, they were there to be bet. But Ballinakill just seemed a bit all over the place on the field.

A decent win for Portlaoise, one they absthad to win. Nice to get it done early for them. That's them safe now really, you'd imagine. With Ballyfin all tough games left.

Abbeyliex looked miles off it. Thought it would be a bit closer. Borris looking sharp for this time of year they are normally a slow burner. Possibly the addition of an S&C coach might be helping?

Clough + Ballacolla deservedly won, they took over mid second half and Rosenalis struggled to score but a tight game.

Round 1 Predictions

The Harps V Camross - Camross win by 5+
Clough/Ballacolla V Rosenallis - C/B win by 3+
Portlaoise V Ballyfin - PL win by 2
Rath/Errill v Ballinakill - R/E win by 8+
Abbeyleix V Borris - Borris win by 6+

The Harps hammered ballacolla less than a month ago. How is that not laying a glove? And dont give me some nonsense about it being the league, ballacolla were close to full strength like Harps were.
They won 4 Under 20s in a row and will be big favourites to win number 5 this year.

I know people dont want to hear it and I know there is a lot to prove in championship but their the best bet in the championship at 10 to 1.

Didn't Abbeyliex win the league last year? Or get to the final? The league means next to nothing.

Until there is some actual progress made at senior they have absolutely everything to prove. Regardless of U20, minor, etc. Other clubs have done better than the harps for plenty of years and not half as much talked about them.

Bar John Brophy, I'd say there's not many, if any, players in that team who have ever played in a county semi final? I'd have to check but it would be very, very few.

The obsession with the Harps continues. They have done nothing in years and years. They have as much to prove as any other team in it.

It's shocking to say that in our last 4 cship matches (2 vs Carlow and 2 vs Kildare) we have managed 1 draw and 3 losses by an average of 10 points (11,10,9 pts).

It's an absolutely shocking statistic. Laois are going the path of Offaly in the latter part of the 2010s decade. We are going to have a stint in the Christy Ring Cup yet.

I don't like criticising anyone, but I think Tommy Fitz is way out of his depth at the helm of Laois. The writing was on the wall last year after taking two bad beatings from Kildare. Tommy was only supposed to fill the gap left by the unfortunate circumstances that prompted Darren Gleeson to withdraw from the role. Laois County Board obviously don't give two hoots about the county hurlers by leaving Tommy in the role - after last year's final loss to Kildare an experienced manager should have been sought.

Barring a miracle, Laois won't be in any JMD final this year and if we continue with the same game plan we brought to Carlow, we will be in a dogfight to survive JMD and not make the drop to Christy Ring for 2027. Well done the so-called brains in Laois, if we put as much effort in to doing things right as we put into absolutely embarrassing ourselves and making ourselves a laughing stock it would be energy far better spent.

Interesting to look back at posts such as this.

As an outsider, is Eoin Reilly a relatively new goalie? Can't remember him last year.

Hurled in goals for Laois for years prior to Rowland. Recently returned from abroad, and has rightly taken the #1 spot based on the evidence I have seen.

I would worry about Chris Nolan in particular. Have we a player to nail him down? Not sure. If we can nullify him and maybe Doyle or Kavanagh, it would go a long way towards beating them. Laois have the players, they just have to turn up.

You'd worry about their big players, Nolan, Kavanagh, etc. However, I think Laois management got their selection wrong the first day. The team seems much better now and settled.

Going to be tight.

All but through to a Joe McDonagh final. Serious credit needs to be given to management as they rectified the mistakes made in the Carlow game, selection & tactical. They look to be hitting form now.

This forum is always quiet when things are going well.

A strong performance today and a good win against Antrim. All the talk will be about Antrim and Davy but Laois hurled well there today.

Management spot on with selection choices. Reilly in goal was streets ahead of Dunne's performance last week. Martin Phelan very good. Subs made a big difference too.

They can kick on now.