Underage squads 2024

[The infidel in exile]

Quick opinion, watching live on YouTube. Laois 1.07 Wexford 0.11. Laois losing easy ball byno shooting quicker but running in too much and overplaying but playing well. As I sign off Tom of has just equalized on the brink of half time. The Wexford number 11 O'Brien is doing all their damage

[The infidel in exile]

Sadly Laois minor hurlers went down by 4 points today against Wexford, Although we lost and I was personally disappointed, but on reflection I have to say that I, in my humble opinion, watched one of our best minors in a long time. Firstly, I actually think that if certain situations went our way, we could have won by a couple of points on another day.

These lads will hopefully learn a lot for u 20 level, if they stay Hurling. I was very impressed by some of our lads, and they most definitely have the mineral's to be very good senior hurlers. Tony O'Mahony, Tom Og Phelan, O'Keefe of Abbeyleix, Young Delaney was excellent.

Let's be honest, the best player by a country mile, was Sean O'Brien of Wexford. He scored 0.12 points, 6 from play, and I don't blame the Laois Hurling coaching team, as I personally don't believe that whoever marked the lad would have stopped him, as he is a brilliant hurler.

I personally felt that with 8 minutes left when we drew level 1.15 to 0.18, Tom Og and young Delaney both had great chances to put us one up, but we just didn't get ahead, and sometimes when you see a team come from behind to take the lead, the opposition starts to get wayward.

But in all honesty, Wexford were just about the better team on the day. The hand passed through the thirds off the shoulder, hence their handling was better, we were more direct.

Well done lads, and finally on another note, Kildare seniors after beating Carlow, means that if we put away Kerry and Kildare, we are in Croke park. And Kildare could be the opposition as they have Down to play, and if we put Carlow away. Kildare and Carlow might end on the same points and go through after beating Carlow already.

[Laois man]

Why was ó brien left free to hit 6pts from play he was there best player the last 2 games he should of being man marked from the throw in. But a nice minor pity they didn't get over the line.

[Spiritof1915]

Why was ó brien left free to hit 6pts from play he was there best player the last 2 games he should of being man marked from the throw in. But a nice minor pity they didn't get over the line.

I definitely agree with this comment. He was left with too much room and he orchestrated most wexford scores, especially when laois when in the ascendancy.  It's a shame, another laois win over wexford would be some return for 2025.
In saying that there's a real positivity around laois hurling this year. We have hurlers coming thru that are as good as anyone in the country. The S and C should continue now more than ever.i appreciate the players will go back to their clubs with heavy schedules but once a week going forward is not too much to ask for

[The infidel in exile]

At first I thought the exact same as you, questions like why wasn't he double marked, or why wasn't a more sticky hurler put on him, but I watched it again and I came to the simple conclusion that the young fella is just too good.

We had young Tony O'Mahony, who was excellent on the day, and he amongst other lad's couldn't mark him.

I also noticed that Wexford crowded the midfield and half back line on EVERY SINGLE Laois puck out. They clearly had coaches up at the Offaly game, and weren't going to let the Laois forwards run through and score at will. In the first half, the Laois lad's tried to do what worked against every other team, get the ball on the stick and take the backs on directly, but unlike the other games the Wexford boys doubled up on them every time and forced them into a Cul de sac, and rarely gave away even a free. In the first half every time young Jones went on a run, he was crowded out.

Wexford were just too clever on the line as they knew that without O'BRIEN, Laois were slightly better all over. But Sometimes you find a hurler that has everything, and unless something happens to him, he has a big future. Finally remember that he done the same to Galway Kilkenny and Dublin, so what's off to him, but the future is a lot brighter because at least Six u20s are good enough to step up and if the Minors keep going, there is definitely five more at least.

Finally I believe that at least 11 or 12 of the panel are Minor next year and the current u16s are going well also. Hope and pray.

[G@@]

Looking back at today's minor match - it's one we kinda let slip. Wexford had their homework done on us, knew which playmakers to hound and they executed it perfectly. Laois as a team didn't look composed today, jittery and by God did Lady Luck desert them on almost every 50-50 ball. In addition, the referee didn't pull WX for alot of throwing the ball. Wexford were happy to crowd the back and we didn't retreat out the field and try a few more long-range points which I think if we did, we'd have left Portlaoise today with a semi-final to look forward to. We carried too much ball into cul-de-sacs and with a bit more tactical awareness, could have won this. Alas, it wasn't to be, but that is a decent crop of players and should be encouraged to keep progressing. Our county needs them.

[G@@]

Finally I believe that at least 11 or 12 of the panel are Minor next year and the current u16s are going well also. Hope and pray.

The U16s were very impressive V Kildare this morning in the COE. Think the final score was 2-28 to 1-10 or thereabouts. Even though, Laois were only 1pt up at half time we came out chomping at the bit in the second half and blitzed Kildare. A few very strong players on this team to supplement next years Minors - good to see.

[Hurling123]

Reflecting  on yesterday on minor game i believe  the management  team got alot wrong..I feel sorry for the bunch of players I truly believe  they could of won this one. With a injury  to dan whelan o brein was left do what he wanted. Should  it not a clear plan to neutral / spoil his game from start to end. Tom og was injured and unable  to run and to leave him on and drive ball into him was madness  .the wexford  system  of play was to drop players on set play and leaving  our spare man wondering  what was going on.  Again this year minor hurlers out due to lack of management .no game plans .I have voiced  from a early stage this management  team wasn't  what this team requires. This management  team should  move on ..this practice on a management  team coaching  kids from 13-16s then to taken on by a bunch that doesn't  known has to end.  It really  makes a difference.

[The infidel in exile]

I'm certainly not going to argue with you 123, as I firstly no longer live in Ireland and you have clearly watched this team for at least a couple of years, thus you know the team more intimately than most.

I will add one caveat to the conversation. With 52 minutes gone, we leveled it up 1.14, 0.17,we then had TWO OPPORTUNITIES within 90 seconds to go one up, but Tom Og and young Delaney missed chance to put us one up. Of course it doesn't mean that we would have went on to win, but it would have definitely rattled Wexford. Finally I don't for the life of me, understand why Daniel Jones was the first to be taken off, simply because he was as good as at least three other forwards, and had scored 6.6 in three previous games. He wasn't great on the day, but as oppertinist hurler, needs only one break to rattle the net. But I'm probably clutching at straws.

Finally I actually believe that the Joe Mc final, could be between Laois and Kildare

[John1]

Reflecting  on yesterday on minor game i believe  the management  team got alot wrong..I feel sorry for the bunch of players I truly believe  they could of won this one. With a injury  to dan whelan o brein was left do what he wanted. Should  it not a clear plan to neutral / spoil his game from start to end. Tom og was injured and unable  to run and to leave him on and drive ball into him was madness  .the wexford  system  of play was to drop players on set play and leaving  our spare man wondering  what was going on.  Again this year minor hurlers out due to lack of management .no game plans .I have voiced  from a early stage this management  team wasn't  what this team requires. This management  team should  move on ..this practice on a management  team coaching  kids from 13-16s then to taken on by a bunch that doesn't  known has to end.  It really  makes a difference.

Was Dan Whelan not 11;, hard to mark O Brien from opposite end of the field is it not or were we watching different games  😄
O Brien an All Star last year am I right in saying ,?

seem to have a serious gripe for Management Team. Are you going for job yourself next year seen you know the squad so well & what they need ? 

Minors were not as reactive / fast on the ball as other days even though it may have been Tier 2 games judging performances they showed they've got real ability to compete with higher level teams.  Overall I think Laois playing below par looked every bit good a team collectively but it just did not stick for them and silly mistakes on the ball cost them at times, I sensed nerves within them perhaps which is only normal. The Ref no way consistent, blew Laois at start for a throw ball & not once after that & Wexford were showing no clear release with numerous passes ..clutching at straws it's gone now
Wexford won some of the central & main big battles & that what got them over the Line on the day in my opinion. Air of Optimism within the group once can be kept together

[redsetanta]

Best of luck to the U20 hurlers tonight against the Cats.

Hopefully they give a good account of themselves.

[redsetanta]

This on clubber tv

[redsetanta]

It's live on the sport Tg4 YouTube channel. Wides killing Laois here as kk aren't flying by any means.

[Hurling123]

U20 just never got going in the second half . Definitely  a game of two halves.  Contrast of work rate was unbelievable.

@ john1. I am not looking for a role with the minor team next year I certainly hope that Brendan Phelan and team are let do the job next year.
This year minor panel had very few of this year's u16. I believe  overall maybe 6 named on the panel over the season. About 30 of the lads named are all over age next year.
I had watched last year minor team with some intrest last season and the level of mis management I seen was evidence every time they trained and played. They went out of the championship v offaly to bad decisions on the line.
I was hoping that the the cb didn't appoint them again this year.  But they did. I watched  this group come up 14-16 and seen them hammering teams like offaly, kerry ect..I seen them beat galway in ballinasloe and limerick in limerick. This year's management team again did not drive this team on , and again lost the important game on the line,(no game plans,players  in wrong position  ect) to be fair to this year's mmagment team is it fair to give them a bunch of players in November and field a team in March ?? How well do they know the group at this  stage ?? I simply believe that if a management team that has brought a group from 14 to 16 and shown promise with them they should be left continue on with them ?? Is this not about developing management teams as well as players?? Where are the management team from the last two seasons i know some of them and conversation I had with them they have no time or respect left for laois gaa . Is this what we want ??

[Plentymorehurlsontheline]

Thought the under 20s were decent in the first 40 minutes last night, competed well and missed a few scorable chances. The last 20 minutes, they either completely ran out of steam or became very naive. Kilkenny full forward line had 60 yards of space to run into and it was impossible for our full back line to deal with that quick ball. Anyway, some very good hurlers between them and the minors I think. The minor county final last year was as good a minor final as I've seen.