Underage squads 2024

[Smallballbigballs]

Things probably looked better when it was all knock out.

[Laois Rising]

The one that really stands out is minor football. Horrendous record over the last 4 years. 1 win in 12 games in that time. Surely there must be accountability in relation to people/person in charge of the development of GAA football in the county over that time and the years of development leading up to these results. We have seen some positive change in the last year or so but it is going to take a number of years for the fruits of those labours to bear fruit. Sadly, other counties e.g. Louth continue to expand the development of the game at underage in their schools and clubs. We have fallen well behind and it is going to be a difficult game of catch up to some of the other counties within the province.

Longford, Westmeath, Louth and Longford have passed us out at underage level on a consistent performance level. Laois GAA are sadly reaping what they sowed. It's so disappointing for a county that once ranked itself as a competitive force at minor level in Leinster from the great sides of the 1960s right up to the 00s. How can we go from being so competitive for 50 odd years to what we have become in the last decade.   

[Zooming around]

The one that really stands out is minor football. Horrendous record over the last 4 years. 1 win in 12 games in that time. Surely there must be accountability in relation to people/person in charge of the development of GAA football in the county over that time and the years of development leading up to these results. We have seen some positive change in the last year or so but it is going to take a number of years for the fruits of those labours to bear fruit. Sadly, other counties e.g. Louth continue to expand the development of the game at underage in their schools and clubs. We have fallen well behind and it is going to be a difficult game of catch up to some of the other counties within the province.

Longford, Westmeath, Louth and Longford have passed us out at underage level on a consistent performance level. Laois GAA are sadly reaping what they sowed. It's so disappointing for a county that once ranked itself as a competitive force at minor level in Leinster from the great sides of the 1960s right up to the 00s. How can we go from being so competitive for 50 odd years to what we have become in the last decade.   

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[Sideline12]

Just putting this out there for discussion...

I genuinely believe that across all clubs in Laois, we need to start  identifying tall, fast underage players as early as possible - particularly at under U13 and U15 level - and bringing them into the county development squads.

Obviously skill is crucial, but if we're serious about competing at minor, U20, and ultimately senior levels in the years ahead, we need to be developing physically strong, quick players from a young age. That kind of raw athleticism, when paired with the right coaching and game intelligence, can give Laois football the edge we've been lacking at the highest level.

Every year we see top counties feeling powerful, mobile athletes who also have great football brains. We should be building our future around the same model - players who can cover ground, win primary possession, and transition quickly.

Would be interested to hear what others think. Are we doing enough at developement squad level to build for this kind of future?

Just putting in this post again,
anyone agree ?

[The real town]

That all sounds great.there's always a but. Do we have the coaching staff in the county board that can develop these players. Obvious answer to that based on results no we don't. The last 3 minor jobs have been given to guys who also have sons involved.so you ask yourself the question are they there for improvement of laois or for the photo of their son wearing the laois jersey.
I agree with all of above and you make some good points.but can you trust the C B to do the right thing

[Podge72]

That all sounds great.there's always a but. Do we have the coaching staff in the county board that can develop these players. Obvious answer to that based on results no we don't. The last 3 minor jobs have been given to guys who also have sons involved.so you ask yourself the question are they there for improvement of laois or for the photo of their son wearing the laois jersey.
I agree with all of above and you make some good points.but can you trust the C B to do the right thing

Lads seem to think there is a queue of well qualified people willing to get involved in underage intercounty teams and they are breaking down the doors of the county board offices to step up

There isn't

[Laois Rising]

Past appointments have come back to bite us badly in the last decade. Granted, in a county like Laois, plentiful number of top coaches are not there. However, look at Louth and bringing in Gavin Devlin a number of years back as head of underage football. Kildare appointed Brian Murphy head of football at the end of last year which appears a shrewd appointment and building further upon the good work in that county of the previous 10-15 years. Westmeath have had Darren McGee as lead of their games development over the past number of years. When these counties were getting their houses in order and putting the graft in, we were podding along without any real initiatives or strategic, long term planning. In fact, I firmly believe we went backwards. Where someone with potential took on a role, unfortunately, they moved on again too quickly to make any lasting impact. Thankfully, things have taken a turn in the last year and hopefully things will begin to turn over again over the next few years.