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.