Everyday I read the Hogan stand I see another Laois player quitting the panel...what is going on in the county.

For a team that can cause anyone problems on their day over the last few years to a team that seem lost at sea at the minute....

Cahair Healy-one of the best modern corner backs in the game concentrating on hurling even tho many in the county reckon he is a better footballer.

Conor Meredith-former Ozzie rules player one of their best performers last year quits panel.

Craig Rodgers-Portlaoise star and former county player hasn't committed last two years.

Peter O'Leary-Starts the season but at 29 retires from panel 5 weeks ago.

Kevin Meaney-Big midfielder in todays Indo that he has left the panel.

Gary Walsh-An effective forward the last 2-3 years who has left the panel.

M.J Tierney-One of the best placed ball kickers in the game not on the panel.


Is this down all down to Tomas O Flatharta I know galway and westmeath had the same problems when he was in charge...

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 10/02/2015 13:26:38    1692075

You should text in to Parky on Newstalk tonight. He wont hold back on whatever the situation is anyway. Doesn't look great alright with all those boys leaving.

muckla (UK) - Posts: 366 - 10/02/2015 13:46:31    1692088

the great Laois minors teams of 96,97 & 03 achieved nothing at senior often due to ill discipline. Micko steaded the ship in 03 winning Leinster.
the great young players they had over the years that dissapeared
Over the years players drop off panel and managers are always blamed.
Joe Higgins would be a ideal manager

Derek Conroy
Beano McDonald
Donie Brennan
MJ Tierney
Craig Rogers
Colm Parkinson
Kieran Kelly
Daithi Carroll
Shane O'Neill
Stephnen Kelly
Cathal Ryan

HughHunt24 (Cork) - Posts: 841 - 10/02/2015 14:17:17    1692100

Yeah sad to see. Laois have always produced lovely footballers. Leinster needs likes of Laois to be getting the most out of themselves.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1319 - 10/02/2015 14:20:34    1692101

muckla. I think Woolie is on hols at the min. Might get him on twitter

donegaldouble (Donegal) - Posts: 311 - 10/02/2015 14:36:51    1692111

It's sad to see, Laois have always had a talented array of footballers and really are a county who have underachieved over the years. Whatever the problem is it needs sorting ASAP as Laois look destined for Division 3 and a short championship neither of which is very palatable to their large support

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 10/02/2015 14:38:24    1692112

I've name only a few there there is plenty more...Most of them did commit under McNulty but not all.

As posters say some massive talents in their ranks and always even in lean times have had some classy forwards.

Its a pity for a small County which is split down the middle as regards hurling and football that they can't get their best players out in either code.

The big support seems to be dwindling for the footballers year by year!

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 10/02/2015 15:30:35    1692140

Its hard to know really John, the county panel seems to be used as a revolving door for years. Its ridiculously frustrating for supporters, you could have a decent year and instead of building on it you are starting from scratch in most cases.

Its obviously been talked to death on Laoistalk but I always wondered was it just a Laois thing. Do other counties on the mid to lower level face the same problem? On the outside looking in it never appears to affect other counties in the same way. For example, before he retired from the Wicklow footballers I never heard about Leighton Glynn deciding to give the year a miss.

Andy (Laois) - Posts: 371 - 10/02/2015 20:03:20    1692261

Tierny was on the panel last year, but wasn't getting much game. Maybe that was the issue?

What about Paul Cahillane, good forward too. A few of those Portlaoise lads, like Rogers don't seem to want to play County footbal

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 10/02/2015 20:45:09    1692272

big john..........Is this down all down to Tomas O Flatharta I know galway and westmeath had the same problems when he was in charge...
think they should bring teddy mc carthy

Miler (Mayo) - Posts: 1015 - 10/02/2015 21:56:43    1692304

This usually happens in Antrim every May or June time, certain players use the intercounty preparation to get ready for their club chapionship and leave the county panel for 'personal reasons' just before crunch time. But the Laois thing looks very different, it is unusual for players to walk at this stage of the year, it looks to be a managerial issue.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2389 - 11/02/2015 09:00:26    1692320

Haven't Laois suffered from this in both hurling and football for years? Blaming the current manager is a cop out.
The Gaelic football season provides no incentive for players from middle ranking or weaker counties. If there are no substantial rewards for training 3-4 times a week (plus gym sessions) and living like a monk from November to July, is it any wonder players won't make the commitment?

A chance of a Leinster title once in a career is hardly going to entice lads. It grand if you work for the Government or semi state companies where your working day is short. If you work for a private company or are self employed you won't make a ten year commitment in the hope you might run Dublin close every now and then.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1140 - 11/02/2015 09:04:28    1692322

I agree blaming the manager might be a Cop out but defo something not right in the football camp...TOF has previous form for this in Westmeath and Galway ..It baffles me why Laois put him in charge!

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 18/02/2015 12:16:11    1694683

There's a skill to managing a group of footballers - I dont think Tomas ever had that skill.

Its funny - when Westmeath won a Leinster back in 04, the self confessed know-it-all's in the midlands claimed it was TOF who actually won it for Westmeath and not Paudie! Since he's been on his own with team's (Westmeath, Galway & Laois) maybe people are beginning to realise that Paudie had something - its called a way with players.

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 18/02/2015 13:39:01    1694714

@Ban
Sir Alex Ferguson had it. It got the best out of players.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 18/02/2015 13:44:52    1694715

amateur players at end of day

HughHunt24 (Cork) - Posts: 841 - 14/05/2015 10:04:16    1723462

Laois were going really well under Justin McNulty. They only got beat by 2 point by Dublin in the 2012 All-Ireland quarter-final and gave Donegal a scare in the 2013 qualifiers. That proves they were able to compete with the big teams. If McNulty had stayed on, would they be in a better place now? I think so. They stil lhave some fantastic players, especially Donie Kingston and Ross Munnelly, good enough to grace any team.

JimTheLegend (Donegal) - Posts: 247 - 14/05/2015 10:22:04    1723477

The time was right for McNulty to go IMO when he did. We came close to Dublin and Donegal but we never looked like winning either match, I felt our mgt at the time were happy to run them close rather than go for a win and potentially lose by 7 or 8 + points....looks better on the CV. Laois vs Donegal was the worst match Ive ever seen as a defensive spectacle and no supporter left the ground happy that day. McNulty ran a very professional set up by all accounts I must say.

Laois getting O'Flaharta was an odd one and while he tries to play more attacking football he is no improvement in general terms on McNulty.

At the end of the day Laois have some good players especially in our goalkeeper and in midfield/forwards but like a lot of counties we lack strength in depth as we are literally relying on teenagers to play. These lads can play at a very good level but we are light years away from the top teams of Kerry or Dublin.

We suffer from a cohort of lads who wont play from around the county who believe they are better than the set up and with the odd exception these lads would rather talk the talk than walk the walk and IMO we are better off without .

Our aim has to be better than those teams on our same level or there abouts and improve from there. Beating Carlow and Kildare in Leinster and a run in the qualifier is the aim.

Baxter (Laois) - Posts: 282 - 14/05/2015 11:00:23    1723520

always thought Laois had the ability to produce really classy players throughout the field. Not sure their commitment levels over the years have helped?

sportsfan14 (USA) - Posts: 281 - 14/05/2015 12:13:43    1723567

Is Billy Sheehan still with Laois? Or is he a full time Austin Stacks supporter now!

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 14/05/2015 13:53:10    1723634