Laois Senior Football Championship 2020

[Keyser Söze]

Didn't see yesterday's game, but would it be fair to say that Joseph's seem to have almost decided as a club to go with this type of game plan? It seems to have transcended a few different management teams?

[redsetanta]

Despite underage success Josephs have been fairly poor the last few seasons at senior level. Locally they would have the tradition and consider themselves top dog etc but in recent times the likes of Kilcruise, Kileen and Ballylinan have performed much better in the championship. When was the last time Josephs made a serious challenge?

[Laoiseabu]

Anyone know what the situation is with Colm Murphy , Ronan Coffey , Paddy OSullivan and Diarmuid Bennett from portarlington? Can't see them going all the way without those four .

[The PRO]

Laois SFC Quarter-finals

Ballyfin v The Heath
Emo v Portlaoise
Graiguecullen v Ballylinan
Portarlington v O'Dempseys

I think it's a very good quarter final draw. Both The Heath and Ballyfin won't have minded drawing one another one bit. Graigue and Ballylinan is not quite a derby but nearly and it will be interesting to see if Lillis can manage to get Ballylinan back to another semi final.
Emo v Portlaoise should be a decent game and despite the obituaries surrounding Portlaoise, they are still there and will be hard to beat.
Port and O'Dempseys is the one I'm most looking forward to. Port seem to have a huge crop of young talented players but I do think O'Dempseys will make it difficult for them.

[Helix.]

Arles Kilcruise relegated tonight 0:11 0:09. End of an era for them at senior for a while. You'd wonder what it will take to have them senior again: be it on their own or joining like juveniles na fianna og.

[Hospital Pass]

Delighted for Courtwood, odd year for them with so many players missing. Not that I have anything against Kilcruise but their race is run and from a senior championship perspective I think Courtwood will be stronger next year.
Seen a post on the Courtwood facebook page about the 1999 Intermediate final. went a had a look. Kilcruise actually had a number of players playing this evening that played in that final. Remarkable really.
Arles  Team in the 1999 final - E.Kelly, E.Mulhall, J.Conway, J.Wall, JP.Conway, P.Conway, M.Mooney, G.Harkins, N.Kelly, C.Conway, L.Wall, B.Conway, JM.McDonald, K.Kealy,E.Mooney, subs R.Munnelly, A.McElroy, K.Kealy, E.Warren, A.Hughes, T.Wall, F.Tully, M.Munnelly, J.Condron, M.O Shea

Whos the oldest player in this years Senior Championship is it Chris Conway? I reckon he's at least 43. some servant.

[SCFC]

Streamed it last night too.

Father Time eventually just got to Arles. It wasn't in their legs anymore. They gave it everything but the bit of luck possibly went with Courtwood on the night.

Feel for lads like Chris, JP, Ross, Davy and Digger. Have given a lot to club and county for a long time. Hard to see them bounce back quickly but one thing I'd say is never write them off.

Don't know what to make of Courtwood. Missing a lot of players to be fair. 6 to 8 starters apparently. Hope they can get some of them back for next year and build on the crop of young lads they seem to have. Donoher was outstanding. Absolutely ran the show. Still a class act at 34.

[redsetanta]

Arles have a decent amount of young lads in the 12 to 14 age bracket at the moment with a few more younger still. Basically the next generation. Sons of current and former players so it's be a while before any of them are making an impact at senior.

The underage group are doing well though so the signs are not bad. The life of a small rural club.

At least this team went the whole way and can look back at the senior win as well as their final appearances against an all powerful Portlaoise team. With a bit of luck they might have won another one. Plenty of teams in Laois who haven't managed that.

[SCFC]

Arles have a decent amount of young lads in the 12 to 14 age bracket at the moment with a few more younger still. Basically the next generation. Sons of current and former players so it's be a while before any of them are making an impact at senior.

The underage group are doing well though so the signs are not bad. The life of a small rural club.

At least this team went the whole way and can look back at the senior win as well as their final appearances against an all powerful Portlaoise team. With a bit of luck they might have won another one. Plenty of teams in Laois who haven't managed that.

Good to hear Arles have a few young lads coming through. It's been too long since they produced a decent crop. I'm sure there are a few young Conways and Walls!
And you're right. They will always have 2003 which a lot of other clubs don't.

[Heshs Umpire]

Sean Moore for Laois?

I've always thought Laois should be using him. This stuff about him being too light is rubbish. He is a class player and I'd love to see him playing off Evan O'Carroll. He's well able to win his own ball too.

[Keyser Söze]

No semi final draw for a month? That's absolutely ridiculous. How did the clubs allow that to happen? Very disrespectful towards the SFC all round.

[Keyser Söze]

If ever there was a cause for 4 clubs to unite and go to war with the board. Publically if necessary, I'm sure the likes of Midlands 103 would love a story like that to run with.
And I don't say any of that lightly, I'd believe in things being settled rationally, by consensus and in house as a rule.
How the hell can you use the next 4 weeks properly to prepare when you don't know what you are preparing for?

[Countyminor]

Portlaoise out at the quarter final stage. Unprecedented really, but very much in tune with their constant, agonisingly pitiful decline over the past while. Nobody seems to give a damn in the town anymore. Awful championship overall but at least we'll have a drought ended to bring this clusterf**k of a year to an end. Something very tangible on the line for every team left.

[steven seagal]

Problem now for Quirke is convincing lads from Port, Graigue, Emo and Ballyfin to come onto county squad. They all have their best chance in recent memory of winning an SFC, not likely to win anything with Laois, so why take the risk of getting injured or not preparing with the club.

[Keyser Söze]

Correct Steven, but a problem of the boards own making.
The championship could have been wrapped up this weekend or next without the need for huge imagination .