Well done laois great result. They'll give galway plenty of it in 2 weeks. Always like the biffos so hope to see them bouncing back in the qualifiers.

logger (Wexford) - Posts: 305 - 07/06/2015 21:19:01    1733805

Great result for hurling. GAA needs to really take this result on board and invest time and resources in Antrim Westmeath Carlow. Laois lost to Antrim and narrowly beat Westmeath and Carlow. There is a good foundation in those counties to build on.

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 07/06/2015 21:38:30    1733814

I hadn't written Offaly off in this one, which is why the manner of the Laois victory has really impressed me. Compared to last year, Offaly had a much better league this year, winning 3, including wins over Laois themselves, and Limerick.
i also thought the mishigas with Cheddar resigning, and then coming back, might also have had a detrimental effect on Laois. How wrong I was. by the sounds of it, Laois were always in control, and 8 points is a large winning margin over a seeded team. That's a huge win for Laois, and gives them a minimum of 2 further games this year, as well as seeded status. They really ran Galway close the last 2 years, so that semi is going to be worth watching.

Offaly are in a bad spot, but this might be the kick in the caboose they needed to really address the issues facing hurlng in the county. But its a great day for Laois, and hurling in general.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 07/06/2015 21:46:08    1733819

Well done Laois. Are Offaly puching below what they should or was their glory years in Hurling and Football a case of punching above their weight? For such a small county and not many clubs I believe in Hurling they have achieved much in their their history.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11692 - 08/06/2015 08:58:20    1733842

Big changes needed in Offaly, Ger Loughnane wasn't telling lies when he mentioned their players and their fat legs, bellies and arses. An inquest is needed internally to see what the solution is to drag offaly hurling up out of the gutter.

hurlinortoggin (Tipperary) - Posts: 30 - 08/06/2015 09:10:03    1733845

In 2012 we beat Laois 6-23 to 1-11 and their star player Willie Hyland was talking about quitting. Now they are knocking out 4 times All-Ireland champions Offaly in Leinster.

Magnificent turnaround, great credit due to them.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6490 - 08/06/2015 10:02:22    1733880

Congrat's to Laois. Well done to the players and management team.

toxicity234 (Offaly) - Posts: 31 - 08/06/2015 12:53:38    1734024

Well Done Laois a massive performance hair on the back of the neck stuff..Terrible coverage shown by the sunday game on it...

Laois for such a small county must take credit for putting out two decent teams in both codes and deserve to be called a dual county.

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 08/06/2015 15:09:31    1734141

Terrible coverage shown by the sunday game on it...

Agreed - The second showing of Dublin v Galway got more time than the Laois game. The Manager's interviews got more air time than the hurling. Fair enough there were not any goals but a huge day for the underdog and possible demise of another county should spark more coverage, more debate.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6490 - 08/06/2015 15:14:38    1734146

In fairness to RTE they are building a new TV gantry in Portlaoise and the camera for yesterdays game was on the steps of the terrace that was cordened in the middle. As a Laois man,I am trilled about yesterdays win. I was worried before the game but that second half was the best I ever seen from a Laois hurling team. Hopefully we give Galway a rattle, after 100 years since our allireland win , it would be great to contest the Leinster Final.

Ben (None) - Posts: 108 - 08/06/2015 15:23:01    1734155

Delighted for Laois. Always had a soft spot for them. Cheddar is a good hurling man, I seen him often at league matches when Wexford were playing. A true hurling man. Mind you, he looks more like a guy who'd be in a heavy metal band than managing a hurling team!

But for Offaly, unfortunately this result was coming and didnt surprise me in the slightest. While Ger Loughnane would be better off finding what is wrong in Clare, it is clear that Offaly need to do like we did a few years ago. Go and invest in youth, underage, and the GAA needs to help them in this instead of pumping money into the pet project in the capital. Dublin got more than enough money in sponsorship to promote hurling themeslves, the GAA have spent enough on them and it has not really worked - Dublin I dont believe are any better now than at any time in the 1990's after all the money spent.
Now it is time to spend money on Laois, Offaly, Carlow, Kerry and Antrim. Get several full time coaches into these counties, review their progress every few years and dish out P45's if the results/progress dont match the investment.

The big question is, can Laois go one better than the last few years v Galway? Galway were great on Saturday which means they will possibly be abject the next day. Could another shock be on the cards?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 09/06/2015 09:24:10    1734413