Laois footballers the Championship 2018 What went on and the review!

[Giovanni]

I think we have to start Donie, but let's not be drama queens. He's not "getting a going over on here". 2posters pointed out that he hasn't been at his best this year. That's not getting a going over. Brody's not getting a going over either. We're full of praise for Brody with the exception of one poster who thinks he mightnt get an all star nomination. Again, that's not getting a going over.

I agree with this. The fact of the matter is that Donie would be expected to work harder, train harder and play harder if he was playing with the top teams. He is well capable of it and on his day is as good as any of them. But noone should be guaranteed anything simply by virtue of being "talented". I think he has been handled very well by John Sugrue this year and hopefully we'll see a big game from him on Sunday.

[BallyroanAbu]

I think we have to start Donie, but let's not be drama queens. He's not "getting a going over on here". 2posters pointed out that he hasn't been at his best this year. That's not getting a going over. Brody's not getting a going over either. We're full of praise for Brody with the exception of one poster who thinks he mightnt get an all star nomination. Again, that's not getting a going over.

I agree with this. The fact of the matter is that Donie would be expected to work harder, train harder and play harder if he was playing with the top teams. He is well capable of it and on his day is as good as any of them. But noone should be guaranteed anything simply by virtue of being "talented". I think he has been handled very well by John Sugrue this year and hopefully we'll see a big game from him on Sunday.

Agree with your Sugrue point but it is helped by the fact that their is a buzz in Laois football at the moment long may it continue.

P.S PortlaoiseKid there is a fair difference in a going over and debating whether or not he gets an All Star nomination just saying.

[portlaoisekid]

I think we have to start Donie, but let's not be drama queens. He's not "getting a going over on here". 2posters pointed out that he hasn't been at his best this year. That's not getting a going over. Brody's not getting a going over either. We're full of praise for Brody with the exception of one poster who thinks he mightnt get an all star nomination. Again, that's not getting a going over.

I agree with this. The fact of the matter is that Donie would be expected to work harder, train harder and play harder if he was playing with the top teams. He is well capable of it and on his day is as good as any of them. But noone should be guaranteed anything simply by virtue of being "talented". I think he has been handled very well by John Sugrue this year and hopefully we'll see a big game from him on Sunday.

Agree with your Sugrue point but it is helped by the fact that their is a buzz in Laois football at the moment long may it continue.

P.S PortlaoiseKid there is a fair difference in a going over and debating whether or not he gets an All Star nomination just saying.

Nothing got to do with an all-star nomination or not , that means very little in the overall scheme of things. But I do believe his kick outs have been top class and overall I wouldn't swap him for any keeper in Ireland.

[Junior Ex Laoistalk]

While I admire Donie as a footballer I don't think he has improved as much as he is capable of. I've been watching him play since he was 16 and was always impressed by him but over the years compared to other forwards in the country he hasn't reached his peak as regards scoring. In Div 4 a man of his calibre should have been up there amoung the top scorers but he's not.

Here is a list of the top scorers in the 2017 League:

Division 4
Gary Walsh, Laois 2-24 (30)
Paul Broderick, Carlow 1-16 (19)
Liam Gavaghan, London 2-12 (18)
Paddy McBride, Antrim 0-14 (14)
Keith Beirne, Leitrim 0-14 (14)
Jason Curry, Waterford 0-14 (14)
Seanie Furlong, Wicklow 0-13 (13)
Ryan Murray, Antrim 1-9 (12)
Jamie Lee, Limerick 0-12 (12)
John Murphy, Carlow 3-0 (9)
Darragh Rooney, Leitrim 2-2 ( 8 )
JJ Hutchinson, Waterford 1-5 ( 8 )

While I know he is a fabulous footballer his scoring averages are not up to scratch from the amount of possession he gets and the frees he takes. We have the top scorer in the country on our panel and he's only getting on for five minutes at the end of some games. I don't think you would see that happening in many counties in Ireland.
As Tony has pointed out this is not Donie getting a going over from me, I'm simply stating a few facts about what most people see as our best footballer. I know he has massive talent but sadly he hasn't delivered this year so far but can you imaging the lift it would give the team if he came on early in the second half and set out to prove something to himself and people like me...

[BallyroanAbu]

Dont think he started many games in Div 4 though, he was late back to the set up so I think scoring charts could be misleading in that respect.  I thought he was decent against Dublin in a hard role, game had disintegrated by the time Gary came on.  Hard to compare the two in that game.

[High Fielder]

Monaghan are very set in their ways. Very orthodox. They love playing 15 on 15 and will overpower most teams who try to go toe to toe. The Wylie fella at full back is one of the best traditional style full backs in the game, and I don't think any of our lads would get much change out of him. I'd be looking to drag them around a bit. Come deep and play our way in rather than kick long and go with two target men. Crowd the midfield and compete hard for the breaking ball and be patient. Even against Dublin in the first half, I was happy to see our lads holding on to the ball and looking for options, rather than kicking aimlessly.

[Don Draper]

While I admire Donie as a footballer I don't think he has improved as much as he is capable of. I've been watching him play since he was 16 and was always impressed by him but over the years compared to other forwards in the country he hasn't reached his peak as regards scoring. In Div 4 a man of his calibre should have been up there amoung the top scorers but he's not.

Here is a list of the top scorers in the 2017 League:

Division 4
Gary Walsh, Laois 2-24 (30)
Paul Broderick, Carlow 1-16 (19)
Liam Gavaghan, London 2-12 (18)
Paddy McBride, Antrim 0-14 (14)
Keith Beirne, Leitrim 0-14 (14)
Jason Curry, Waterford 0-14 (14)
Seanie Furlong, Wicklow 0-13 (13)
Ryan Murray, Antrim 1-9 (12)
Jamie Lee, Limerick 0-12 (12)
John Murphy, Carlow 3-0 (9)
Darragh Rooney, Leitrim 2-2 ( 8 )
JJ Hutchinson, Waterford 1-5 ( 8 )

While I know he is a fabulous footballer his scoring averages are not up to scratch from the amount of possession he gets and the frees he takes. We have the top scorer in the country on our panel and he's only getting on for five minutes at the end of some games. I don't think you would see that happening in many counties in Ireland.
As Tony has pointed out this is not Donie getting a going over from me, I'm simply stating a few facts about what most people see as our best footballer. I know he has massive talent but sadly he hasn't delivered this year so far but can you imaging the lift it would give the team if he came on early in the second half and set out to prove something to himself and people like me...

Ah would you go away, you're drunk.

[Tony]

I really think Gary has been given a raw deal to be honest. He's the top scorer out of all 4 leagues earlier this year - and since then he's played maybe 10 mins in all the championship. Not sure if there's something else going on there but he's a proven scorer and very cool under pressure and gives you something different. If not starting, I'd give him a good 30min+. In my opinion, we've no better free taker. In a match that could be close and tense like Monaghan could be, you need almost all your frees going over the bar to have a chance. That's why I was a little bit disappointed with Donie vs Dublin. He missed some very scorable frees and chances that could have made a game of it for longer vs Dublin. Free kicks are massive. Not having a go at Donie, he's a great player and still deserves his place. But maybe lets take some of the edge off it for him by starting Gary and have him main freetaker. I'd have faith in him keeping the scoreboard ticking over for us and contributing from play, too.

[Tony]

Listen Snowflake, saying that I was "a little bit disappointed with Donie vs Dublin" is not offending anyone but you. I clearly stated that he's a great player and clearly deserves his place. Crawl back under your rock there and continue to listen to Fall Out Boy.

[les Antiques]

Chrimtain, that's a bit out there don't you think . Hardly Criticism in fairness . Is there something your not telling us .
Personally I think Gary Walsh starting would take some of the burden off Donie Sunday . Wylie and Monaghan will be targeting Donie and perhaps Walshs presence in beside would be advantageous. Evan playing further put where I think he's more effective at This level .

[Tony]

I'd go with something like this:
         

          Brody

Strong Timmons Dillon
   
   Damien O Connor

Crowley Begley Collins

        JOL Lillis

Evan O'C  P Kingston Donoher

   Donie    Gary Walsh

[les Antiques]

Going with that team Tony except I think Farrell will start , perhaps at Paul Kingstons expense .

[Junior Ex Laoistalk]

Hard to disagree with that team Tony, I think it would be perfect..

[Gmac]

Hard to disagree with that team Tony, I think it would be perfect..

monaghan corner backs and Wylie would be up and down the field all day I think with those 2 inside , also Donie has a good height advantage on Wylie which could be exploited by the occasional high ball in . Laois have to score about 1-16 to win and allow no more than 1 goal .
think it could be a close one .

[Don Draper]

A full forward line of Donie and Gary, Jaysus