Just back from MW Hire OâMoore Park, Portlaoise.
WE ARE STAYING UP/WE ARE GOING UP. Delete as appropriate.
Definitely worth the trip, huge result. Really dug it out, terrific composure and character.
The first half was probably the best weâve played in years. Kicked some blinding scores, good foot passing & movement with loads of willing runners off the shoulder. Really should have gone in much more than four up at the short whistle, two goal chances butchered which really should have been buried.
Enright and Nash kicked six from play between them in that half, some of them absolutely glorious.
As ever, we made life difficult for ourselves on the resumption. Three times in a row Cian Sheehan made marauding runs in from an angle at the start of the second half - and three times he hand passed it wide or into the âkeeper.
Laois slowly changed tack and went more direct. Sean OâDea had a good battle with the lively Evan OâCarroll. Suddenly gaps were opening and Laois rattled off five in a row to take the lead. Looked like a case of same old, same old but the gaffer has instilled belief into this group.
When it looked like it was drifting away they came out swinging. Darragh Treacy kicked a beauty and it was level. Laois responded to go a point up on 68 mins. Would have gladly taken a point at that stage but then Big Robbie Bourke took over.
He nailed a missable free to level it before conjuring up the winner from play (his second from play and third overall of a glorious cameo).
Got nothing off the ref all night and he gave the home side two late chances to even it up but both sailed wide to the relief of a euphoric away following, which numbered around 54. At full time tens of them made their way onto the field to acknowledge a real gutsy effort.
Louth v Antrim and Westmeath v Fermanagh tomorrow. Not sure what results we want there, anything other than a draw in the first one Iâd imagine. Could do with Fermanagh having nothing to play for next week, although they could be in a relegation scrap too should Longford beat Wicklow as expected.
That stand in OâMoore Park is as good a place to view a match as anywhere in the country. Superb. Could do with similar seating and elevation in TUSGG.
The drive home is always a bit more bearable after a win, not even that gowl Len Dineem shiteing on about rugby and omitting even a passing reference to the footballers could alter my mood.
Billy Sheehan roaring and bawling at his own players throughout was in start contrast to the calm exuded by the Real King Billy in the other dugout.
On we march to Fermanagh next week. A great league campaign irrespective of how that pans out and who knows, maybe even the unthinkable - promotion - could be achieved against all the odds.
Oh Billy Lee is magic, he wears a magic hatâŚ
