Laois v Offaly – Leinster Hurling Quarter Final 7th June

[Exiled in Connacht]

I consider myself to be a rational individual and not prone to over exaggeration but in my opinion this game is potentially our biggest game in the championship since our magnificent breakthrough in 1980.

Our hurling decline has been well documented on this forum and elsewhere.

At underage level we now lie seventh in Leinster behind Kilkenny, Dublin, Wexford, Laois, Westmeath and Carlow and eventually this has to feed through to senior level. Our team of the 1990s feared no other team as they had beaten Kilkenny regularly in Leinster at minor and under 21 level and beat Munster teams to win 3 minor titles in 4 years. Similarly now no minor from Laois, Westmeath or Carlow will fear the Offaly jersey at senior level in the next few years.

Regrettably we are looking at slipping into the qualifying group in Leinster in the next few years. People scoffed at Dathai Regan when he said in 2012 that we could be playing Christy Ring hurling in 5 years time. What do we think now ? Look at Antrim who appear to be in free fall. We just about beat them last year. If there was natural justice Kerry would have been in division 1B this year and not us.

We are in deep deep trouble and there is no short term solution as we all know.

I hope to God we beat Laois and I am desperately trying not to be negative but I am worried.

[greenairfield]

Some great points made on that post. I think it's a huge match we win not so bad we lose a pure disaster. Let's see how good Brian has homework done.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Laois are at home. That’s something I am actually happier with. The Tipperary NHL match proved that the Offaly management will not buy into the ‘Tullamore as a home ground’ thing. In one way I understand that (the team manager has a business in Birr that would benefit from a big match in the town). And the venue thing fires the pressure back on Laois.

As for Laois. They are the progressive county. They have to back it up now with a performance, and a win. Ten years since they were in a Leinster semi-final. They are on the threshold of a great breakthrough. And over their nearest and dearest to boot. An ideal Laois world is about to be realised.

More anon, but for now – the pressure is on Laois.

[Superted]

Along with tonights Under 21 game against Westmeath will be a strong indication as to where we are as a whole with regards to Hurling in the county.

[Superted]

Tomorrow night I should say!

[bracknaghboy]

Ten years since they were in a Leinster semi-final. They are on the threshold of a great breakthrough.

Not so. They were in the Leinster semi final two years ago but were eventually overrun by Galway in Portlaoise. They beat Antrim and Carlow to get there.

Regrettably we are looking at slipping into the qualifying group in Leinster in the next few years.

It could be sooner than you fear! If Laois beat Offaly on Sunday week then Offaly are in the 2016 Leinster Qualifying group and Laois straight into the knockout stages. Apart from being relegated the other route out of the qualifier group is to beat a team in the 1/4 finals. Massive incentive for Laois here. Huge opportunity. If we went down into the qualifier group theres no guarantee that a) we'd finish 1st or 2nd to get into championship proper and b) if we did theres no guarantee we'd beat a team in the 1/4 final to knock them into the qualifier group.

At underage level we now lie seventh in Leinster behind Kilkenny, Dublin, Wexford, Laois, Westmeath and Carlow and eventually this has to feed through to senior level. .

I wouldn't fully agree here.....Offaly underage hurling is still ahead of Carlow at present.

Laois are at home. That’s something I am actually happier with. The Tipperary NHL match proved that the Offaly management will not buy into the ‘Tullamore as a home ground’ thing. In one way I understand that (the team manager has a business in Birr that would benefit from a big match in the town). And the venue thing fires the pressure back on Laois.

Plenty of truth in what you've said here. Isn't it madness that fellas over the county team don't see a game in Tullamore as a 'home' fixture but thats where we are at. I don't agree that pressure is on Laois as such. Expectation in the county was high at the start of the year but losing to Offaly in the opening league game knocked the stuffing out of them. There only win worth talking about this year was falling over the line last Sunday against Westmeath so I think Laois supporters are more realistic and not expecting miracles....that said they'll fancy it against Offaly. The fact that defeat condemns Offaly to next years qualifier group suggests there equal if not more pressure on our lads shoulders.

[rocket57]

was at the challenge game last week against Waterford ,and we were taken to the cleaners only for the Waterford forwards butchered goal scoring chance after chance we would have been beat out the gate. Don't see winning if our backs are as loose we have no shape and no plan B ?. it is more in hope than expetation sunday week against Laoise hope to be proved wrong

[townman]

alot talking about Antrim in the christy Ring cup next year and losing to Kerry in the league play off
lets not forget they did beat laois in the round robin leinster and put up a massive score. i still think the likes of Bergin, Dooley, and Brian Carroll will score enough to beat laois. but when they are gone we are in the shit then going by our underage the last few years. but Emmett Nolan and Cillian Kielty have came off the minor teams the last two years and have done well so you never know we might pick up another one or two in the next few years.

[Kevin]

I consider myself to be a rational individual and not prone to over exaggeration but in my opinion this game is potentially our biggest game in the championship since our magnificent breakthrough in 1980.

I agree.

And if we are fortunate enough to get through the Laois test, the above statement can be repeated each time we are drawn to play a team coming out of the preliminaries because the danger continues to exist.

Looking at the games played in that group, it was a real dogfight. Lets hope we don't have to get mixed up in it.

[Kevin]

Was looking for odds on our game.

From Paddypower:

Laois 7/4 Offaly 8/15 Draw 9/1

[manfromdelmonte]

What happens if Westmeath win the U21 this evening?
panic stations?

[Kevin]

What happens if Westmeath win the U21 this evening?
panic stations?

No point in that.

Good luck to the U21s tonight!!!

[kingscounty]

Offaly 2-15 Westmeath 1-10. Good win , any reports ? Couldn't make the match myself

[Buttons]

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=238148

[allstar2010]

I wonder will suckindiesel come on and tell us where we're going wrong at u21 level. I see plunkett has resigned this morning.