Big one this weekend, I see some Callinane fella who acted the thug in Ruislip is suspended for Kilmurray, I imagine that should give Portlaoise the the opportunity they need to slip by KIB’s.
We’re playing Ballylanders sunday, they are handy enough aren’t they? We’re playing them really early, like 10 or something, so they can have a good team bonding session all day on the way home. 
Ah lovely, I’d love an auld trip like that. Nice long spin home for ye too, nothing bates it.
Ya they’d be handy enough but I reckon there on the decline, I suppose you can’t be expecting much from teams at this time of the year either.
I’m fierce tight at the top of my hamstrings today.
Its they are coming to us, we’re off drink, league starting sunday week. We have 6 weeks training done, so hopefully that will even things up. They gave plenty of it to Nemo 2 years ago now that i remember.
Was that your first session in UL last night?
I had a rough one last night, had a send off weekend of socalising (2 nights and a couple on sunday as well) and played a match and a half. Then we more or less ran for the whole hour last night.
Ya first session back, the first session last year was handy enough, but not this year. I saw it through anyways and was happy enough with my fitness.
What do you do in the off season?
Play soccer, match on a Sunday and training tuesday and thursdays (training is handy though, not intensive, more of a kick around).
Kelly and Palmer Cups kick off in Laois this weekend. Kelly Cup is a Football Comp whereby all the Intermediate and Senior Clubs compete in a knock out comp. The Intermediate teams play off in a prelim round, after which the Senior sides will enter. Its voluntary entry, so not all Clubs go into it, for example, Portlaoise rarely if ever enter it as they’d walk it every time practically. Early in the year, but there’s one or two tasty clashes there with a few neighbours meeting in Courtwood and Annanough and of course the two Arles’s which is always worth toddling along to.
The Palmer Cup is the hurling equivalent, but rarely sees the Intermediate sides enter due to the difference between the Intermediate and Senior grades in Laois. Shanahoe entered this year, and will be roundly hockeyed by Rathdowney/Errill more than likely.
Kelly and Palmer Cup Draws
Kelly Cup Prel. Rd. (Sat. 20th. Feb.)(First named team Home Venue / Extra Time if necessary)
Courtwood v Annanough @3.30pm
Timahoe v Killeshin @ 3.30pm
Kilcavan v Ballyfin @ 3.30pm
Portarlington v Crettyard @ 3.30pm
Kelly Cup Round 1 (Sun. 28th. March)(First named team Home Venue / Extra Time if necessary)
Courtwood or Annanough v Emo @ 11.30am
Timahoe or Killeshin v *Graiguecullen (Date and Venue t.b.c.)
Kilcavan or Ballyfin v Clonaslee St Manmans @ 11.30am
Portarlington or Crettyard v Stradbally @ 11.30am
Arles Kilcruise v Arles Killleen @ 11.30am
Ballylinan v The Heath @ 11.30am
O’Dempseys v St. Josephs @ 11.30am
The Rock v Ballyroan Abbey @ 11.30am
Palmer Cup Prel Rd. (Sun 28th. Feb)(First named team Home Venue / Extra Time if necessary)
Shanahoe v Rathdowney Errill @ 11.30am
Palmer Cup Quarter Finals (Sun 7th. Mar) (First named team Home Venue / Extra Time if necessary)
Shanahoe or Rathdowney Errill v St Fintans Mountrath @ 2.00pm
Castletown v Kilcotton (Sat. 6th. Mar) @ 3.30pm
The Harps v Camross @ 2.00pm
Ballinakill v St Lazerians Abbeyleix @ 2.00pm
On another note, Pauric Clancy has taken a year out from football this year, citing burnout from 10 years on the panel and 3 years as a minor. Sounds like he sees the train coming down the track, this year will most likely not be a good one for Laois.
KIB +3 at 10/11 think i’ll have some of that.
KIB have an excellent set of backs and won’t give away too many soft scores, Portlaoise will do well to put up more than 11 or 12 points, whether KIB have enough up front to put up a winning score is hard to know, they will need goals to win it
Just back from UCC-GMIT Sigerson game. UCC were 5 up with 7 minutes to go when i left, and looked well in control.
Overall they had the better balanced team in what was a decent game. Paul Conroy had a storming 2nd 1/4 and dragged them back into a game that Sean Kiely and Barry O’ Driscoll were winning between them for UCC. After half time John Buckley took over at midfield, and Mick Shields got on top of Conroy (who is some beast btw). Buckley won 5 or 6 outstanding high catches, and Seamus Hayes, Sean Kiely and Barry O’ Driscoll did the damage up front.
Sean Kiely and Barry O’ Driscoll have really put themselves in the shop window for Cork though, as has Buckley for Kerry. Kiely is an immense kicker, both passing and for scores, Paddy Kelly like in many ways. O’ driscoll is just pure and utter pace and turn, but makes alot of the right decisions as well and seems to be able to wriggle himself out of some interesting positions.
Paul Conroy is a fine player for Galway, but he’ll have to learn how to move the ball a bit quicker. He’s so big and strong that at Sigerson fellas can’t get it off him, and he has good hands and is very comfortable on it, but at IC he’d get killed.
Not sure if UCC are Sigerson potential winners. To me they aren’t as good yet as DIT, CIT or DCU that i saw a bit of last year. Good game though.
JUST ON THE PORTLAOISE- KIB GAME, I WAS READING SOMEWHERE THAT 2 PLAYERS ON THE PORTLAOISE TEAM HAVE FATHERS (Fuck had the caps lock on) that have won Clare County Senior Football medals?
Can’t remember the names-MBB, you know who they are?
A nice little sidenote to the game I feel.
Portlaoise to win.
I can’t choose between Corofin and Gall’s at all.
Galls are the athletic fast moving modern team, while Corofin are a bit more old school. A good dry day and Galls might be slight favourites.
I’ll be on Galls anyways @ 4/5, might double them with portlaoise.
Kieran Lillis would be one I imagine, his father was rumoured to be taking the managers job in Clare last year but it fell through. Trying to think who the other might be.
How much of Corofin have you seen kev? :rolleyes:
For others, Corofin have always played a counter attacking game. Get men behind the ball and break at pace. They will only play with 3 or 4 forwards with their half backs dangerous coming forward. Its been the way they always have played as I’m sure Gallimharais will concur.
Callinan is out with a farcical suspension. Apparently KIB had a good workout against the Kerry u-21s last week and are confident heading to Limerick on Sunday. Personally I think KIB will need two goals to win and may well be up against it.
We have spoke of this in the past KIB, i’ve seen them several times. That style of play is different to what i would consider the modern way of playing. Thats play from the early part of this decade. So basically i’m agreeing with you, but don’t have the time to be explaning the changing football landscape right now.
Lillis is a name I remember alright. Can’t remember the other though.
Fancy Corofin to cause a slight upset this weekend but I must confess my complete lack of knowledge of St.Galls.
Firstly Corofin have a superb defence although Mikey Comer’s loss is a big one. Even without him St.Galls will struggle to put up a big score. Their midfield is solid without being spectacular and up front they have a very good inside forward line particularly Kieran Comer (who destroyed Charlestown in the Connaght final) and Alan O Donovan. Both of these if given clean ball will do a lot of damage. Joe Canney at full forward for a small man (he’s only about 5’ 7) will cause a lot of damage and seems to be fouled a lot by the opposition giving away kickable frees in the process.
Alan Burke and Kieran Mc Grath will do a lot of work cleaning up breaking ball around the middle. St. Galls if they have their homework done should target Damien Burke who always seems to get booked very early on. (Does the same for Galway) Also their other corner back Cathal Silke (Ray’s nephew) is only just out of minor so is quiet raw at this level. I’d think Corofin will edge Galls out by 1-3 points in a low scoring contest.
Is Kieran Comer the tallish balding corner forward for Corofin. An excellent player. Kieran Fitz plays with them as well doesn’t he?