Laois SHC 2024

[Laois345]

I would not rule Ballinakill out just yet. The only team they did not compete with so far was Camross. Clough-Ballacolla may have experience but they are not going well this year, scraped past the Harps last round, who put three goals past them.

I do think Ballacolla will do it, but I feel it's not the foregone conclusion that people think. Ballinakill will be happy to be written off.

[Ballygowen]

Fair play to ballinakill, while they have an uphill battle ahead of them, they wont mind having the underdog tag. Camorss and R/E should be a good game. i think the winner of this will be the county champs. i just think Picky is too big of loss for C/B

[Laois345]

I see Pat Phelan has been given one of the semi finals. It's rewarding failure at this point. But not unsurprising with Laois GAA.

[Lovely laois]

It is beyond a disgrace that he got a semi final. I also see A Stapleton is reffing the intermediate final and I believe that is his third intermediate final to referee in a row.talkigng about shortage of referees, referees walk away they see this dog shit going on year in year out. Pat phelan can do no wrong and he has dirtied his bib so much at this stage it can't be cleaned!!!

[From the Terrace]

No Leinster championship of any sort in 20 years, this is part of the problem. A core that runs everything in Laois Gaa with another act of cronyism, which is driving good people away from Laois Gaa.

[Laois345]

Didn't Phelan make a huge mistake last year too? I just can't understand how they looked at this and said yes that's fine, put him in there, give him a semi final. What was their thought process?

Laois GAA needs a serious shake up. Its stale & rotten to the core.

[Laois man]

Big weekend ahead senior sfinals should be 2 closed enough games. Relagation final not a nice place to be. Intermediate final mrath v. Clonad

[Ballygowen]

Predictions
Cloand V Mountrath. Clonad - Going well all year
MM v RE. MM - mighten have as good as hurlers, but unbeaten and fitter and stronger
Castletown V Portlaoise. Casteltown - more used to a dog fight
RE v Camross. Draw (if it has to be winner on day ill go for RE in ET)
BKill v CB. CB- i wouldn't rule out a shock here, but ill go for CB based on the last few years
Abbye V Harps - dont care, shouldnt be a fixture imo. a final for loosing games? please!

[Laois man]

Ctown down alot of with injuries and lads travelling hard to see them get the win. Rdowney/Errill have a very decent second team alot of old heads Joe Fitz/Brian Campion ect could get them over the line winter hurling now is different that a month ago.

[Laois man]

Tommy Fitz has a new a impressed backroom team in Lynskey a galway man was with minor and u20 teams up there for years. Stakelum a highly regarded coach in Tipp hopefully we get all players on board now.

[Verbal]

I like the look of Rathdowney Errill and think they might shade it tomorrow.
They should have a big performance in them, and time is ticking if they are going to add another title to there trophy cabinet. They have disappointed when it has come to these kind of games over the past few years, but I have a feeling they will come good tomorrow.

Ballinakill will die with their boots on, but surely it won't be enough to take the champions out.

I fancy Rathdowney Errill and Clonad in the PIHC and IHC today.

I think Castletown might have enough for Portlaoise. The only thing is that Portlaoise having no football distraction this past 3 weeks will surely have been an unexpected boost to preparations.

[Laois345]

Clough/Ballacolla V Camross Final.

Ballinakill desperately unlucky in normal time today, took Ballacolla all the way and had a simple enough shot at the end to win it that went wide. Fair play to them, they haven't many numbers at all but clear they belong at this level.

C/B on the other hand will be concerned after their performance, they will face a different animal against Camross with Keyes and Dowling up top. However they have the experience. Should make a decent final.

I'm backing Camross to win it easily after what I seen today.

[Voice of tReason]

Serious serious effort from Ballinakill. Some of their lesser-heralded players were brilliant. Lost nothing in defeat and they've proven me and many wrong by showing that expanding the senior c/ship to 10 teams has seen players develop and improve.

Clough/Ballacolla just don't have the fire-power without Picky. Anything can happen in a final but I'd have concerns for them.

Camross big favourites for the final. Clinical dismissal of a very lacklustre Rathdowney/Errill. RE held Mossy for a while but once he got into his stride, he was sensational. They're strong all over the pitch and look to be coming strong at the right time.

[Verbal]

Id have to say that Rathdowney Errill getting wiped out from 8-12 contributed to the ball Mossy was getting.
Their half forward line in particular was absolutely shocking from the 20 minute mark on.

Ballinakill did do as expected and give absolutely everything. Fair play to them.

I was also very against the expansion to 10 teams. But I was wrong clearly.

Now, I'd nearly be questioning the value in relegating Castletown, but that is on them.

[Verbal]

Apart from Conor Phelan, who are Castletown short?