SHC 2026

[Smallballbigballs]

They've shown they can may hay from weedy crops across there before but then they had generationals in David and Paul. Will see what this generation do.

But there's certainly an opening or two coming in Laois hurling with some traditional powers about to drop off, despite what some lads here are deluding themselves about. Not being competitive at underage B should have set off warning signs a long long time ago in some areas. And don't get me started on Portlaoise.

[Laoisred]

I agree there is an opening or two at the top end of Laois hurling. But that has always been there for a decent group of players/club who get their act together. The reality is that 3 Clubs have dominated the Laois Championship for the past 20 years CB 8, RE 6, Camross 5, BK 1. Its hard to make the break through and even harder to stay at the top table. Often the top-level clubs win counties with average enough looking teams because they are hard to beat in semi-finals and finals. These top teams re-set too with a new management team and fresh approach and the culture of winning and competing is passed on. I agree that it looks like there is a changing of the guard happening at the moment but it  really hard to  break in and stay there. The evidence is there in every hurling county around us, and in Laois.

I hope the Harps break through and they should stay at the top table given their numbers and quality. I'm not sure about Castletown yet. The tests of the Harps will be if they lose 3/4 of the current team to travelling and of course who keeps the plan on track when Hogan and Carroll move on which will happen sooner or later. (Hogan moved on after BK). They have to win one first though and I think they will, but surely Camross won't be as bad as they were in last year's final. Really looking forward to the final.

[Border Rail 26]

In fairness to them ballacolla squeezed everything out of their juvenile succes in the late 90s and early 00s more than many could have expected at the time. That has largely dried up tho and i think The Harps have shown how to beat them with hige energy and fitness levels so its hard to see how theyll be able to recapture that strength as they get older and The Harps enter there prime.

Rathdowney have dropped into decline and like ballacolla theyll be able to have individual games here and there but to consistently compete for championships looks beyond them.

Borris i have heard have a good underage setup but they look like a middle tier team right now. I dont know about the rest of the teams and ehere they go but maybe abbeyleix could come again if they get everyone back playing from Australia and ballyroan.

If im right and those teams are all a little off competing then you could see 2 things happen very quickly. 1 The Harps and or camross winning a lot of championships and starting a rivalry that hasnt really been there before and 2 castletown challenging very quickly to break into that second tier alongside abbeykeix boris and ballacolla/rathdowney. Casletown have a juvenile rivalry with The Harps and i respect that they have lot og good players if they can stay focused on hurling and competing at high level. There manager this year shud try stay on to keep them all improving for a few years i think. That might be the next big 3 in a few years i think

Does anyone expect camross to bring joe phelan back and i also heard a rumour that mark dowling could be available. There will be pressure on camross as they lost the final last year and beat The Harps already.

[Laois man]

Mark Dowling is not available.

[Verbal]

10 points for a win

12 points for a draw
Score at end of normal time counts for the above.


Senior Hurling Championship
Camross v The Harps DRAW

I think the referee chosen makes a draw more likely than usual.
Doesn't necessarily know what he's doing a lot of the time 
Doesn't want to upset anyone

[oneshot]

Harps by 6 they have a good man over them in ken hogan also has great record of winning titles with clubs.

[Border Rail 26]

It could really go any way with camross likely to handle the pressure better than a young Harps team. However the Harps are fearless and the 2 Duggans were held the last day and it will be hard stop them 2 games in a row so that scoring power could be the differene in the end as goals win games. I dont think camross full and corner backs will have enough

Harps by 3

[Genocide Organ]

Indeed. Speculation Joe Phelan might start to shore up Camross at the back a bit, and - of course - no shortage of opinion on who should and who shouldn't start for either team. Personally, I think the only thing that can stop The Harps is nerves and maybe being put off by 'sledging' and 'antics'. They're the better team, and it's theirs to lose - they may 'seize the day', as they say.

Someone said the last time they did up the pub in Cullohill, Cullohill won the county title. Maybe it's a sign!

A tentative vote for The Harps.

[Ballygowen]

It should be a good game on Sunday. I can't call it. The harps look good and are a young team. A lot of that team has won underage comps so they're not fearful of anyone. On the other hand, camross have experience in finals, although lost their fair share of them too in the last 20 years. If the occasion doesn't get to the Harps, I think they can do it. I hope they do for the greater of laois hurling.  but for the purpose of our tipping comp I'm going for a draw. (cos verbal has too  )

Harps V Camross - Draw

[Verbal]

The Harps full forward line and half back kine.
I don't think Camross can get on top in both of these areas.
That might well be the difference

[les Antiques]

Camross by 5

[SCFC]

Camross by 1. They are "hard bet"!

[G@@]

It's an intriguing final ahead today. Even the responses of predictions here are a mix of both and everything in-between.
For the Harps it has been a fairytale championship campaign with their confidence gradually growing from a mixed start to the year. Camross have been operating at a level that speaks 'lets just get over this game and keep one eye on the final' throughout.
Camross have been hurt over the last few years, losing a final and a semi-final, so for them a chance to correct that today along with a wealth of experience operating at the business end of the championship will install them as favourites.
I see today being a high-scoring affair like the opening championship match between these sides. The weather is perfect, sunshine and barely a puff of a breeze out there. Ideal conditions. The Harps have plenty of quality firepower up front to inflict heavy damage in the form of goals, whereas Camross have a players that can fire over points from well out the field. With no breeze there today, the Harps HB line and the Camross HF line is where it's at today as to where this game will be won.
If the Harps can smother Camross like they did CB in the semi - they'll be in with a shout coming down the final straight. Camross won't panic though and like CB the last day, they patiently got back level with The Harps in the final minutes. If Camross are ahead around the 50th to 55th, then their collective experience will see them home.
It's gonna be an interesting contest and the Ken Hogan factor will play a big part too. I'm probably leaning for a Camross 2pts to 6pts win but only very slightly, whereas The Harps are not out of their depth here either, a plucky 3pt win again for them? Hard to call.

[Verbal]

Border Rail & Genocide the only ones to score as far as I can see.

Well done!


Genocide   69
Verbal           68
Border Rail   62
Ballygowan   54
Les Antiques   48
Laois Heritage   32
SCFC           21
Laois 345   16

[Laois345]

An incredible win for the harps. congratulations to them thoroughly deserved win, brilliant to a man across the field. Camross on the other hand were absolutely terrible. Zero plan, shocking performance.

I will hold my hand up at say I was wrong about the harps. I questioned their ability to push forward in the senior championship at the start of the year and referenced previous failure. They have been excellent this year and proved even the most hardened of doubters wrong, well done.