Laois SHC 2024

[Verbal]

Castletown were possibly the worst prepared senior team I have ever seen.

Portlaoise were good- maximizing a limited bunch. Ballinakill likewise.
Castletown were shocking.

[Leixman]

Great to see it proven the decision to increase the amount of teams in the SHC was farcical and it's only Round 1. Our hurling clubs feel they should be in All Ireland club final each year but in essence they are more suited to junior hurling in most of the big counties. I think it's about time the hurling people in Laois get off their high horse and start to taste the bacon. Clubs afraid of relegation, thought they were better than they were, got the teams increased and I watched every hurling game this week and bar a bit of excitement in Portlaoise v Camross, it was a very poor opening round.

And the standard of refereeing is at an all time low. I do feel sorry for the Portlaoise v Camross referee but it was his first ever senior hurling championship game. What did the county board expect to happen? Camross to win easy so we will put an inexperienced referee into it? That fairly backfired.

Finally, on the new format: Who in gods name thought this would be a good idea? Where has this been done before? I think it's a serious joke

[Spiritof1915]

Great to see it proven the decision to increase the amount of teams in the SHC was farcical and it's only Round 1. Our hurling clubs feel they should be in All Ireland club final each year but in essence they are more suited to junior hurling in most of the big counties. I think it's about time the hurling people in Laois get off their high horse and start to taste the bacon. Clubs afraid of relegation, thought they were better than they were, got the teams increased and I watched every hurling game this week and bar a bit of excitement in Portlaoise v Camross, it was a very poor opening round.

And the standard of refereeing is at an all time low. I do feel sorry for the Portlaoise v Camross referee but it was his first ever senior hurling championship game. What did the county board expect to happen? Camross to win easy so we will put an inexperienced referee into it? That fairly backfired.

Finally, on the new format: Who in gods name thought this would be a good idea? Where has this been done before? I think it's a serious joke

Poor games all round with exception of ballinakil and Bk.
Offaly have had 10 senior teams the last couple of years and it certainly hasn't stopped their progressionat IC level. Clubs remained defiant when the county board looked to reduce the numbers.

A big problem with the games this week is the lack of atmosphere. 4 rounds should be played in local grounds where the you'd expect much more passion. I agree with castletown summary,  looked like a junior team. Their decision to play 4 to 5 young lads in junior b league finals came back to haunt them

[Zooming around]

These games are lost in O'Moore Park. Need to be moved out to club grounds to generate a bit of atmosphere. We must be the only county who plays every championship game in the county ground.

[Verbal]

Those responsible for pushing the 10 team championship should hang their heads.
The County Board tried to be clever at the time as well with the proposals that actually went to county committee and that backfired.

8 teams.
Open draw format.
Winners side & Losers side.
Draw after every round.

What we have now is an underage development blitz format.

It is an horrendous decision.
No basis for thinking that we have more than 8 Senior teams.

It didn't stop Portlaoise & Abbeyleix building back up following relegation.

It will promote mediocrity all round. 3-4 clubs every year knowing that all they have to do is beat X or Y to avoid relegation.
This has a direct impact on training levels and quality.
Which has a direct impact on the quality of play.
Which has a direct impact on the standard of hurling in the county.

The idea of "exposing more players to senior is a myth".
We are exposing them to mediocrity.

[Downtheroad]

Those responsible for pushing the 10 team championship should hang their heads.
The County Board tried to be clever at the time as well with the proposals that actually went to county committee and that backfired.

8 teams.
Open draw format.
Winners side & Losers side.
Draw after every round.

What we have now is an underage development blitz format.

It is an horrendous decision.
No basis for thinking that we have more than 8 Senior teams.

It didn't stop Portlaoise & Abbeyleix building back up following relegation.

It will promote mediocrity all round. 3-4 clubs every year knowing that all they have to do is beat X or Y to avoid relegation.
This has a direct impact on training levels and quality.
Which has a direct impact on the quality of play.
Which has a direct impact on the standard of hurling in the county.

The idea of "exposing more players to senior is a myth".
We are exposing them to mediocrity.

Agree with the points above. It appeared at the time that some Football only clubs who had no direct interest in hurling were actively canvassed which contributed to the decision to go to 10. Rather than 10, we should be looking at 6 teams. Some people will justify 10 teams based on yesterday's result but the reality is that if Mossy Keyes and Mark Dowling were there yesterday, it would be hard to see Portlaoise getting back into the game. The next few weeks will be interesting as I expect some heavy beatings to be dished out. 

[Voice of tReason]

Thursday:
RE should have too much for Ballinakill after a battle. RE by 5.

Friday:
We'll learn more about The Harps against Portlaoise. I think they'll win by 4.

Saturday:
4:00: It's nearly a must-win for Castletown but I think Abbeyleix will bounce back to win by 3.
5:30: Camross will beat Rosenallis by 8+.
7: Neither were great last weekend but I think CB will edge BK by 3.

[Galtee1]

RE vs Bkill - RE 8+

Portlaoise vs The Harps - Harps to shade it

Aleix vs Ctown - Aleix

Rosenallis vs Camross - Camross with a big backlash and win comfortably

Cbolla vs BK - Cbolla


Just a note from the first round I thought Ciaran Comerford was impressive for The Harps. IS there a reason he isn't involved with Laois? I know he had been there previously

Any other stand outs?

[Verbal]

Rathdowney Erill v Ballinakill
RE by 8 or 10 after a tough enough battle.
Ballinakill don't have a back 6 to hold the RE front 6.

Portlaoise v The Harps
A very interesting game. Portlaoise will have taken huge heart from Sunday. It wasn't necessarily a once off performance either.
An ideal game for The Harps to build on their opening win by 4 or 5 points.

Abbeyleix v Castletown
Surely a backlash from both. Castletown of all the teams looked to have no plan at all. Abbeyleix much greater scope for improvement. Abbeyleix by 7.

Rosenallis v Camross
Rosenallis were spirited for a spell against RE. Camross to bounce back & with the number of subs they used, guys are definitely playing for their spots. Could be 10 points in this for Camross.
Anyone know the story with Mark Dowling?

Clough Ballacolla v Borris Kilcotton
BK just behind Castletown in the lack of a plan stakes. Bit more "cutting" in them perhaps. I think this one could slip away from them and they might do well to keep 15 on the field as it goes on. Clough Ballacola by 8-10 points.

[redsetanta]

I wouldn't be well informed about the club hurling down home. Looking at the predictions for upcoming games it's notable how many are predicted to be big wins.
Are the days of closely run championships gone? The increase in the amount of clubs in senior hasn't helped however it doesn't bode well if games are being won by such margins.

[Karate kid]

Camross very much so up against it from here. Can't afford another slip up at all.

[Laois man]

Camross were beating by a better team. Castletown were rode out of it Aleix hit 12 points from frees Ctown got 3.

[Tintin84]

Does anyone know where you can see the championship tables so far for the hurling championship. Also after group stage what way does it work!?? Thanks.

[Mad Mentor]

Does anyone know where you can see the championship tables so far for the hurling championship. Also after group stage what way does it work!?? Thanks.

The senior hurling championship tables are not showing up on the Laois GAA website for some reason. Anyone know who to contact?
I would presume the top team in each group goes to the semis with the next two playing off in a quarter final?

[The infidel in exile]

Totally agree regarding Abbeyleix being poor, but they did dominate the last 11 minutes against Castletown, although Castletown deserved to win. That is Championship hurling, which means that Abbeyleix MUST BEAT R/E ON THE 1ST. But how Cormack Byrne is not a starter on the Laois team is beyond me