The future of laois hurling

[LOVEGAA]

Hope this works out for them. Best of luck to both clubs

[Blow-in]

Both clubs not in the same parish

[Rusty]

Article states that if amalgamtion goes ahead the two clubs will create junior c football teams each keep clubs alive instead of going fully together. Could someone play hurling with the new team , junior a football in ballyroan and junior c football with abbeyleix? Is that allowed?

[BallyroanAbbey]

Its as cowardly a move as has been seen in a long time, they have taken the easy way out instead of trying to take the final step, both have been to semi finals in recent years, i hope they remember that for every rathdowney/errill there is a harps also

[Blow-in]

How our county board can allow this is a joke. They have no interest in promoting hurling. What's to stop Castletown and Portlaoise from joining up for example??? Hurling is on its knees in this county. I would have no problem with this join up of they were the same parish. Shambles of a decision but nothing surprises me with the attitude and short sightedness of some people in this county. I'm completely fed up and disillousioned with Laois GAA being honest.

[hurlingmad]

Both teams have been in semi finals in the last 3 years, but its only hurling im sure the county board are more interested in the junior c football teams they plan on setting up

[The PRO]

Its as cowardly a move as has been seen in a long time, they have taken the easy way out instead of trying to take the final step, both have been to semi finals in recent years, i hope they remember that for every rathdowney/errill there is a harps also

Yes. Or a Ballyroan Abbey!

[Bud Wiser]

If I was in Ballypickas surrounded by Ballinakill, Spink, Ballyroan/Abbey, Abbeyleix, Id feel like a black man in Alabama.

[Keyser Söze]

Article seems to imply that you could hurl for Abbeykill, play football for Ballinakill and play football for Spink. I cannot see how this is possible.

Surely there will be a name change at the Ballaroan AGM, whether this goes through or not.

I think it would be a shocking decision. Both clubs have put huge effort into their underage for the last 5/6 years. Why jump now.

[Don Draper]

As I said elsewhere, Abbeyleix gave up and football a few years ago, and now hurling. I am extremely disappointed in both clubs, but especially them.

[Helix]

As I said elsewhere, Abbeyleix gave up and football a few years ago, and now hurling. I am extremely disappointed in both clubs, but especially them.

The most interesting thing will be whether it gets through both of their agms. 75% majority needed on both sides. Will be absolute madness if that goes through.

[Moregroundhurling]

Its as cowardly a move as has been seen in a long time, they have taken the easy way out instead of trying to take the final step, both have been to semi finals in recent years, i hope they remember that for every rathdowney/errill there is a harps also

You have to imagine that Ballinakill are the ones instigating all of this. You cannot blame them, competing against big amalgamations. Village v Town and Village. They don't have a chance. Kids playing in clubs all over the place in underage teams. Any teams on their own competing in the "B".
But I suppose BallyroanAbbey has a point, it would be taking the cowards way out like the people of Rathdowney, errill,borris in ossory, kilcotton, castletown, slieve bloom, durrow, cullohill, clough, ballacolla, timahoe, rathineska have done in recent years/decades. Actually I'm going to toss camross in there too (Camross, Killenure, Colraine)What kind of a chance would ballinakill have if all of those teams were still on their own
However the rewards for cowardice are greater than ever. Interesting times ahead though, hopefully both clubs Alan Hartnett will keep Alan Hartnett involved in the negotions so the whole county can get all the gossip.

[burdizzo]

Were Ballacolla and Clough ever separate clubs?

[BallyroanAbu]

I'd say Ballyroan Abbey will be alright, there will be no Juvenile Teams off Abbeyleix's Junior C Football Team.  There will be no transfers between both clubs.  Ballyroan Abbey is not an amalgamation thus we have no say in Abbeyleix's decision.  This present's challenges for Ballyroan Abbey which we will have to overcome.  My personal opinion Abbeyleix are giving up quite alot in history and identity on the premise of winning County Senior Titles,  that is not always guranteed.  Ballinakill are the big winners in this,  surely it will be one of the biggest clubs in the country geographically.  I have no idea how the other hurling clubs will react.  Ballypickas & Spink I imagine will struggle,  as Ballinakill already struggling for numbers will now have to form a Junior C football team.

Wonder what the name of the new club will be,  surely not "Kill Abbey"

[Blow-in]

Are Abbeyleix and Ballinakill the same parish? All the clubs mentioned by moregroundhurling are the same parish(I think, correct me if I'm wrong). But then again Parish rule doesnt apply in Laois. We will end up like Carlow with only 5 senior teams and an extremely shallow pool of players to pick from.