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At U13 level football which is best place to start they had a team that finished middle of the road in the top division. Their second team was in the bottom division and were far too strong for it. However, were playing mostly hurling clubs who weren't taking it anyway serious at all. With the population boom in Portlaoise there is no reason why they couldn't develop their nursery and underage development to field three teams at that particular age group.

Hurling is pretty much the same at that level. Mid table in top division and second team is one of the stronger teams in the bottom division. The worrying thing from games I saw at that age group is the fact that a Kildare club Ardclough looked the best coached and organised of all the teams in the competition. That tells its own tale.

Thought this was an interesting read today and a perspective I 100 percent agree with.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/hurling/2026/0624/1580091-culture-gap-cant-be-bridged-with-development-squads/

Appreciate the response but you didn't really answer anything

With all the money being pumped into Portlaoise and the facilities there, the next thing you would love to see is them tapping into the huge numbers in the town to get the kids in Portlaoise all playing hurling and football again.

How many underage teams have Portlaoise at each grade

Worst 6 backs i have ever seen in blue and white goalkeeper kick out terrible forwards bar the full forward doing OK full forward physically weak

Thoroughly uncalled for behaviour and patently not true. Usual internet rubbish.

McNulty and his team are there 3 years, and its usually time enough to put a clear style of play, build the squad they want,and show progress, now it's time to deliver, no more excuses.

A very strange outlook. Any observer would say that Justin and his team have pushed the needle forward consistently over the 3 years. Granted last years Tailteann was a disappointment but given the injuries and the squad they were left with for that you just had to write it off. I don't believe they ever really made any excuses.

I will say this, this weekend is the ideal draw. Home to the favourites who have less than a weeks rest while we have been recovering, a practice match or two including one against Kildare, and ready to go at home. Minds will he focused, no doubt.

I just hope they get a big crowd now.

We'll ate Carlow alive in Croker. The timbering they done in netwatch wont work in Croker. Last year we weren't right either day against Kildare, as we thought we just had a bad day the first day and went again. We've torn it up this time and the build of the forward line has changed. We'll ate them.

Not as comfy as I suspected but comfy in the end. Delighted for Tommy Fitz, a gent of a man and deserving of his moment. He took some blackguarding the past year and half, here and other places, there's not a bad bone in Tommys body and his love and care for our county is always foremost.

Well done also to Picky, what a servant, what a warrior. He had no need to come back, he'd give us plenty, but back he came, and partly down to Tommy also. He had his day again today, and was my MOTM, without him we'd not have had the platform from puck outs for a start. A legend and his name is well made in Laois hurling now.

Two pieces of silverware. Enjoy it, we'll  worry about next year next year.

We won't ate Carlow but we are fit to beat them the team for the final will be different than the team that played them in the first round.

Once we have a referee willing to punish the liberal use of timber that occurred, we have every chance

We'll ate Carlow alive in Croker. The timbering they done in netwatch wont work in Croker. Last year we weren't right either day against Kildare, as we thought we just had a bad day the first day and went again. We've torn it up this time and the build of the forward line has changed. We'll ate them.

They horsed us out of it. Plain and simple.

Massive overhaul needed with underage squads.I observed under 14 level hurling & football squads this year and also observed it previous years.Huge amount of nepotism exists in Laois Gaa. Kids who played v well in trials not selected over kids who were weaker but have connections i.e dad is a Gaa coach, dad is a juvenile secretary, Laois referees son, well know family names etc etc. everyone on the sidelines during trials can see what is going on. I was in shock at some of the selections, fellas who didn't touch a ball getting through because of who they are, huge favouritism towards Portlaoise Gaa. 40 kids were picked in total, around 20 kids are great footballers, the other 20 are only there because of who they are or because they are Portlaoise Gaa,The good footballers who were dropped say they will never do a trial again because of the favouritism & unfairness and what is the point, so they focus on soccer and basketball!  I actually don't believe academy's are working, leave the kids at their clubs and support the clubs/ coaches. My brother watched a Laois u14 hurling match recently, he couldn't get over the low standard compared to other counties! Some physically tiny players and very poor skill levels, they were clearly not ready for a squad but again they were there as they have the connections. Serious work needs to be done by Keegan and co at underage level.

Tha axe should be grand and sharp after all that grinding.

15 and 16 year old boys. Remember that.

Minor should go back to U18. It won't solve our problems but it will make them more mature and advanced. U17 is simply wrong for this sort of scrutiny.

Great win on Saturday. Very strong and mobile in the "middle third". Impressed with Burke and Tyrrell particularly. Two lads who are new to the team and have added so much. Evan was excellent. What would we give for Mark Barry up beside him?!
Offaly were woeful though. Should be a lot tougher next Saturday night!

Don't see any point lamenting the lads who choose not to be there. Applaud the lads who sacrifice to be there.

Enough of this nonsense - this is a Laois Senior Footballers 2026 thread and those who post here are genuine supporters who are 100% behind Justin McNulty and the panel.

Here's hoping they continue with the same attitude and fight and do the county proud again next Sunday.

I admire your optimism and I am an optimistic fella myself but you'd be foolish to believe 100% of the posters here are behind Justin. There's a lot of sharp axes looking for grinding sadly in our county.

By the way, we are incredibly lucky to have a mam of Justin's integrity and honour involved. Considering what he picked up from, he has done massively well and our young footballers are very lucky to have him managing them, alongside Ross and D of course. 

You should address your criticism to the specific post(s) and poster(s) same as you might talk to their face(s).

Your gloating on the previous page was fairly juvenile - Offaly are a great sporting county with a record to be envied.

They are indeed but we should never worship at their altar as some are prone to do.

Next time the posters come in to give everyone and sundry a kicking I'll highlight them for you if you so wish but I'm not one for digging up old posts unnecessarily

Came on here expecting 2-3 pages of discussion about the match. Just 2-3 comments to be found. Is interest at an all time low or would it be busier if we were bet out the gate?

The history of this forum shows lads only post when they want to have a moan

That comment is very offensive to the many genuine Laois supporters on this forum who faithfully followed Laos teams down the years. In the main the posts on this forum are insightful and the posters have Laois's interests at heart.

I wasn't able to make the game last Saturday but listened to Midlands Radio 3 commentary. What a heartwarming result.

It's not wrong though. Read back. When times are bad the kickings come. When the results are good, there's the tumbleweed.

It's why players shouldn't pay a blind bit of notice to shit posted online anonymously by arseholes like us, myself included. Listen to the lads who talk to your face, and your family.

They're the ones who matter.

Was like kicking a dog when it is down.   

Fuuck um. They never shied away from handing down a kicking when the chance came and neither should we. Thats the nature of the beast. Lovely to see Swayne and Fingleton give it the big licks after goaling on Saturday, as it should be. Sew it in.

Some great lads kicking with Laois nowadays, young and born leaders. Follow them.