Laois Senior Football Championship 2018

[High Fielder]

You said everyone hates you, you don't help yourselves in that regard.

What do you mean by that Don?

[Don Draper]

You said everyone hates you, you don't help yourselves in that regard.

What do you mean by that Don?

Portlaoise's continued inability to cater for the youth of Portlaoise town is wrong. The state of hurling in Portlaoise is inexplicable. The decision to move the club out of Portlaoise will damage GAA in Laois for decades, unless something is done. Fix 2 of those and we'll all love you.

[High Fielder]

I'm not from Portlaoise but the attitude towards them sometimes grates me. I'm not aware of any young lad being turned away from the gates of Rathleague. As for the hurling, the opportunity is there I'm sure to hurl, but they've gone through a lean time recently. They're dominating at Senior in the football and getting dog's abuse for the numbers at their disposal, so where is the balance and how do you strike it? The move to Rathleague was a financially sound one until the deal broke down. It was too late then but they weren't the only ones to get burned. A lot of their problems stem from the fact that they can't cater financially for all the lads who come through their gate. I'm not exactly sure how guilty they are in that regard.

As for the Bruno decision, it looks mealy mouthed in comparison to all those who had their decision reversed. The CB were never going to do Portlaoise a favour in a county final, yet they somehow saw fit to let the other lads off. It's the latter and not the former that makes you wonder

[Don Draper]

I'm not from Portlaoise but the attitude towards them sometimes grates me. I'm not aware of any young lad being turned away from the gates of Rathleague. As for the hurling, the opportunity is there I'm sure to hurl, but they've gone through a lean time recently. They're dominating at Senior in the football and getting dog's abuse for the numbers at their disposal, so where is the balance and how do you strike it? The move to Rathleague was a financially sound one until the deal broke down. It was too late then but they weren't the only ones to get burned. A lot of their problems stem from the fact that they can't cater financially for all the lads who come through their gate. I'm not exactly sure how guilty they are in that regard.

As for the Bruno decision, it looks mealy mouthed in comparison to all those who had their decision reversed. The CB were never going to do Portlaoise a favour in a county final, yet they somehow saw fit to let the other lads off. It's the latter and not the former that makes you wonder

Ah would you stop, what a real "I'm grand boss, everythings grand boss" attitude. You see no problems in Portlaoise, well good luck to you so.

[High Fielder]

I've pointed to a number of issues previously that concern me about Portlaoise. In my opinion, money would solve a lot of them. Their own Development Officer maybe too. They can't afford to implement the improvements we need from them.

[Don Draper]

I've pointed to a number of issues previously that concern me about Portlaoise. In my opinion, money would solve a lot of them. Their own Development Officer maybe too. They can't afford to implement the improvements we need from them.

I disagree.  A GDA would only develop the players already coming through the gates, it won't help cater for more, meaning a huge swathe of the town is still uncatered for. I hear it said that there isn't a big GAA community in Portlaoise, well there wont be if they cant get the chance to develop their game simply because they don't get the chance play the game. Money won't solve everything, in fact, going back to my first point, money caused one of the major problems they have, leaving the town.

[High Fielder]

It did, but if the deal had been done successfully, it would have benefitted the club financially. As things stand, they are in hock to the bank. They can't afford to kit out and run any more teams than they do, and if they had a highly functioning second team for instance, they couldn't afford to even pay a manager's expenses. So for the moment, I don't see any point making promises to youngsters that they can't honour. There is a problem in Portlaoise for sure, but I'm not sure if Portlaoise GAA are in a position to fix it

[Laoiseabu]

Just seen today why Portlaoise don't win leinsters anymore . Were very very average today

[SCFC]

Just seen today why Portlaoise don't win leinsters anymore . Were very very average today

Didn't need to get out of third gear really. Good effort by O'Dempseys but really a shock was never on. Ricky Maher is a transformed player. I'd imagine Sugrue will be taking a look.

[Laoiseabu]

I'd disagree they were there for the taking today . O'Dempseys got very close to them on a few occasions

[High Fielder]

They did but they also got detached and opened up at times too. It was an odd game really. There is no doubt Portlaoise have problems at midfield. It is rare for them to claim possession from kick outs. They were also at sixes and sevens facing runners. Meredith and Kehoe punctured holes a number of times. But O'Dempseys were naive close to goal and, particularly up front, despite Portlaoise under performing, they didn't win enough personal battles. They had the best player on the pitch in Meredith, but nothing to accompany him. I thought Boyle was Portlaoise's main man. He put them on the front foot so many times and always used the ball well.

I don't know what the situation is with the hurling, but to my eye, Healy and McEvoy looked tired today. If the hurlers have to play in Leinster one week, and the footballers the next, I can't see that as being a good thing for dual players. Healy in particular was nowhere near his best today

[Laoiseabu]

I thought Healy was actually better than a lot of them . McEvoy was poor though . Wouldn't beat a Moorefield on that performance

[the sash]

thought healy was poor by his own  standards.  still a very good player but by the looks of it today i don't think he would have the pace for inter county football anymore. thought he was beatin rather easily at times when run at. portlaoise done enough to win and  never really looked like they were going to lose out having said that they did look vulnerable in the full back line and o'deas had 2 good goal chances which they missed and thought portlaoise's two goals were rather scrappy in the build up and could have been avoided

[Don Draper]

Ricky Maher man of the match in a senior county final, maybe it's true after all, Portlaoise are that far ahead of everyone that anyone could win a county title on that team.

[Laoiseabu]

Ricky actually played decent enough this year compared to previous years I thought Don