Can Laois beat Wexford in SFC on Sunday?

Steve_o

After playing well for 40 minutes against Wicklow, they nearly bottled it by slowing the pace down, Meath paid the ultimate price for this against Wexford by losing a 10 point lead and losing the game, so can Laois sustain the level of performance needed for 70mins or will they bottle it again??

ports best

i reckon laois will win steve, i think it all depends when laois have there slow down period like they did against wicklow that wexford dont do to much damage at that stage, there a totally different proposition than wicklow, still i think laois by about 3 to 4 points and a leinster final against westmeath:D

blackbelt

ports best wrote: »

i reckon laois will win steve, i think it all depends when laois have there slow down period like they did against wicklow that wexford dont do to much damage at that stage, there a totally different proposition than wicklow, still i think laois by about 3 to 4 points and a leinster final against westmeath:D

The difference between this year and last year is that Wexford are now playing as a team AND with discipline.I was at the same fixture last year and Laois struggled until Murphy (I think?) got sent off for Wexford.Otherwise Wexford made Laois look very average that day.They also had a perfectly good goal disallowed which further swung the momentum in Laois favour.

I don't know about the Wexford hurlers but usually when Wexford play a double in Croke Park,they lose.I don't think it will be the case that they'll lose a treble especially when the Wexford footballers are on fire and Laois have so many injury concerns.So I reckon it will be at least 1/3 for Wexford with their footballers more likely to be the winners to set up a Dublin-Wexford Leinster Final.

ports best

Laois Team:

Michael Nolan
Cahir Healy
Mark Timmons
Joe Higgins
Tom Kelly
Darren Rooney
Padraig McMahon
John O Loughlin
Kevon Meaney
Ross Munnelly
Billy Sheehan
Paul Lawlor
Colm Kelly
M.J. Tierney

Good laois team no room for a fit Padraig Clancy jus goes to show how well the two midfielders played against wicklow,,, and of course M.J is back

Steve_o

There's only 14 players there..... I'd imagine Colm Parkinson is in the half forward line..

ports best

oops my bad stevo sorry, brian bruno mccormack is who i left out, colm parkinson has been replaced by paul lawler from emo,, thats the only change, what do you think of that stevo

Steve_o

ports best wrote: »

oops my bad stevo sorry, brian bruno mccormack is who i left out, colm parkinson has been replaced by paul lawler from emo,, thats the only change, what do you think of that stevo

A bit surprised at Parkinson being replaced by Lawlor, seen as how he had a good game against wexford. Paul Lawlor is a bit slow, thats my main concern!

theram

Happy enough with that team, wouldnt have been fair to drop either Bull or Digger.

Our subs are very strong now, you have Clancy, Woollie, Barry, Donie B and POL all to come in, we've never had it as good. Really feeling good about this one.

cruiserweight

Looks like Ciaran deeley will be fit for Sunday, doubt he will start though

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaa-championships/gaelic-football/deeleys-return-from-injury-lifts-wexford-for-laois-showdown-1413432.html

WEXFORD footballers have received a massive boost for Sunday's Leinster semi-final clash against Laois with the return from injury of ace forward Ciaran Deeley.

Because of an ongoing groin problem, Deeley hasn't kicked a ball for Wexford this year in either the O'Byrne Cup, National League or Championship campaigns.

"Ciaran had an operation on his groin in March," revealed Wexford boss Jason Ryan. "Fortunately, the surgery was a complete success, and after being back training for a good few weeks, Ciaran has regained a good level of fitness and football sharpness.

"It's great to have him back and his availability increases our selection options, which is always a good thing.

"Ciaran is a forward who works very hard, he's extremely mobile, and, as well, he knows how to take a score and when to lay off the ball."

With the return of Deeley to the frame, fellow attacker John Hudson, who picked up a knee injury in the divisional League tie against Fermanagh on April 6, is the only Wexford player on the injured list.

"It will be some time yet before John will be back with us," said Ryan.

Horeswood's Deeley, whose club had won the Wexford title in 2005 and 2006, served as captain of the Wexford team for the last two years, and corner-back Colm Morris has now stepped into that role.

At the Wexford convention last December, the practice where the county champion club selected the county team captain was abolished. And Jason Ryan and his backroom team chose Castletown clubman Morris to take on the captaincy.

Steve_o

theram wrote: »

Happy enough with that team, wouldnt have been fair to drop either Bull or Digger.

Our subs are very strong now, you have Clancy, Woollie, Barry, Donie B and POL all to come in, we've never had it as good. Really feeling good about this one.

I'm not sure who Bull and Digger are.....

cruiserweight

Steve_o wrote: »

I'm not sure who Bull and Digger are.....

Here are some pictures then

Digger

Bull

Hopefully the Panther will start for Wexford on Sunday

Steve_o

cruiserweight wrote: »

Here are some pictures then

Digger

Bull

Hopefully the Panther will start for Wexford on Sunday

Huhr Huhr....:rolleyes:

ports best

funny man cruiser, funny man, im happy with the laois team as well i think its a strong line up and very good bench

cruiserweight

Steve_o wrote: »

Huhr Huhr....:rolleyes:

ports best wrote: »

funny man cruiser, funny man, im happy with the laois team as well i think its a strong line up and very good bench

thanks :pac:

Steve_o

cruiserweight wrote: »

thanks :pac:

:rolleyes: oh your most welcome :rolleyes:

ports best

cruiser if ye could only win one game on sunday in croke park, hand on your heart which one would you rather win

cruiserweight

ports best wrote: »

cruiser if ye could only win one game on sunday in croke park, hand on your heart which one would you rather win

I have stated on these boards on numerous occasions that I am more of a football fan than a hurling fan, so that would be the football team.

But I honestly believe that we can win both senior games, and I am hopeful about the minor game

ports best

as meatloaf would say 2 out of 3 aint bad , if ya know what im sayin... ah no seriously the football will be tight because theres not much between us really, we have strengths and weaknesses everywhere both theams

cruiserweight

ports best wrote: »

as meatloaf would say 2 out of 3 aint bad , if ya know what im sayin... ah no seriously the football will be tight because theres not much between us really, we have strengths and weaknesses everywhere both theams

Yes but 2 out of 3 is not perfection Over the last few years when we have had these double headers Wexford have lost all of the games, I am sure that will change though.

I think the football will be close but I think Wexford will edge it. The change of manager has re-invigorated this team. On numerous occasions this year we have come from losing positions to get something out of the game, this would not have happened in previous years, the teams new theme song must be 'I won't back down'. It seems that this team has learnt from years of nearly but not quite, and have corrected mistakes of the past. Having said that I am concerned about our midfield and some defensive positions, but I will wait until the team is announced before I start worrying to much

theram

Steve_o wrote: »

I'm not sure who Bull and Digger are.....

Bull is John O Loughlin

Digger is Kevin Meaney

will1977

Wexford (SFC v Laois) -
Anthony Masterson,
Niall Murphy,
Philip Wallace,
Brian Malone,
Adrian Morrissey,
David Murphy,
Colm Morris,
Thomas Howlin,
Eric Bradley,
PJ Banville,
Redmond Barry,
Adrian Flynn,
Ciarán Lyng,
Brendan Doyle,
Matty Forde.

Brendan Doyle seems a strange one at full forward but am glad Morrisey and Howlin have kept their places. Colm Morris wing back, might be a good move seeing a good he was at getting forward against Meath

Steve_o

theram wrote: »

Bull is John O Loughlin

Digger is Kevin Meaney

Ah right...

See cruiser??? was that hard???

Conbro

Laois by 3 points

cruiserweight

I don't know why so many people are backing Laois, it must be based on previous years perfromances and not this years. Just as a comparison, Laois were relegated from divison 1 and struggled past Wicklow. Wexford are undefeated in league and championship so far, twice they have come back from 8 points down in the league and from 10 points down to Meath of all teams. Wexford are the only team to beat Fermanagh this year, Fermanagh are in the Ulster final.

The game was close last year. In my opinion Wexford have improved a lot and Laois have not improved at all. Don't want to start whinging about previous games, but in the game last year
- We lost Philip Wallace before the throw-in
- We had to bring in Malone to full-back, move the defenders all around, and bring on a very out of form David Fogarty at half-forward
- We lost Eric Bradley to injury after 20 minutes
- We were leading 0-7 to 0-1 when a perfectly legitimate goal was disallowed, then again refs make mistakes.
- We then were all at sea in the second half thanks to bad management (different this year ) and then Murphy through his own stupidity was sent off.

Laois deserved to win. But, I don't think we will make the same mistakes again. I am hoping for our first Leinster final since 1956 Loch Garman abu

blackbelt

I was at the same fixture last year and Wexford made Laois look very average.Analysing that game left me with no fear of Laois for the final.The amount of balls kicked over from the Cusack to the Hogan and out over the sideline was a very noticeable trait of Laois game that day.

I'd have to agree with Cruiserweight,after the goal was disallowed,Wexford dropped the head a bit and after David Murphy got sent off,Wexford imploded.I don't think this will happen tomorrow.Matty Forde is back in form again.It seems to have taken him a while to get over the stamp issue on the Offaly player,Maybe he didn't get over it completely last year.

Add in Laois problems,Quigley,Clancy and MJ Tierney injured and an aged Paul Lawlor and out of form (ha) Parkinson and Laois are doomed.Meanwhile Wexford boast some dangerous forwards in Lyng,Redmond Barry,PJ Banville and Matty Forde.It looks imminent that Wexford will win.

cruiserweight

blackbelt wrote: »

I was at the same fixture last year and Wexford made Laois look very average.Analysing that game left me with no fear of Laois for the final.The amount of balls kicked over from the Cusack to the Hogan and out over the sideline was a very noticeable trait of Laois game that day.

I'd have to agree with Cruiserweight,after the goal was disallowed,Wexford dropped the head a bit and after David Murphy got sent off,Wexford imploded.I don't think this will happen tomorrow.Matty Forde is back in form again.It seems to have taken him a while to get over the stamp issue on the Offaly player,Maybe he didn't get over it completely last year.

Add in Laois problems,Quigley,Clancy and MJ Tierney injured and an aged Paul Lawlor and out of form (ha) Parkinson and Laois are doomed.Meanwhile Wexford boast some dangerous forwards in Lyng,Redmond Barry,PJ Banville and Matty Forde.It looks imminent that Wexford will win.

Don't jinx us, I prefer the aww sure it is only Wexford attitude that some fans and teams have A lot of our problems last year were down to attitude and management. I think that has been sorted this year. The new management has brought fresh determination and attitude, also it seems that the players have learnt the lessons from so many maybes and near misses over the last few seasons.

blackbelt

With managers like Pat Roe and Paul Bealin,it is hardly surprising that Wexford crossed the finishing line in 2nd place on so many occasions.To intentionally sound like John Giles,Paul Bealin is a good manager but not a great manager.Meanwhile Pat Roe is an ass imho.Sure Offaly dissed him by drinking behind his back etc.

I don't think many fans would ever not take Wexford seriously.They are a tough team to beat.I'd imagine most Laois fans wouldn't be expecting much and will probably stay in Laois for the feile.:D A good friend of mine from the Arles-Killeen club stated that he travels in hope but not much else.:pac:

It goes to show the whole morale of Laois is down.

irelandsown

Laois were terrible today. Fair play to Wexford, they deserved to win and if Mattie really had his shooting boots on it could have been alot more.

The only Laois players that can be happy with their performances would be Wooly, Mickey Nolan and Colm Kelly when he came on.

Very disappointed in Darren Rooney, Joe Higgins and Tom Kelly. Time after time they were second to the ball and then when they did win it, they gave it away again.

lorweld

Fair play to Wexford Laois were terrible, really terrible. Wooly, Kelly and Nolan only ones who played any way well. Laois had no heart at all! I'm so dissappointed:(:(

We were well beaten, well done Wexford and all the best in the final.

The rebuilding process continues for Laois....

machiavellianme

irelandsown wrote: »

Very disappointed in Darren Rooney, Joe Higgins and Tom Kelly. Time after time they were second to the ball and then when they did win it, they gave it away again.

How does Billy Sheehan get a game for Laois? He offers nothing, no ability going forward, cant control the ball and constantly gives it away. Worst player by a mile today.

Conbro

Well done Wexford thoroughly deserved ur win today. Tactically you were on a totally different level to us, our manager seems totally clueless when it comes to preparing a team. Kearns must go, sooner rather than later. Good luck to Wexford inthe final.

lorweld

Conbro wrote: »

Well done Wexford thoroughly deserved ur win today. Tactically you were on a totally different level to us, our manager seems totally clueless when it comes to preparing a team. Kearns must go, sooner rather than later. Good luck to Wexford inthe final.

Sorry Conbro, I have to disagree with you. Liam Kearns has had a very good managerial career to date. I think he needs time to change Laois' style of football. The mentality in Laois is always to blame the manager Colm Browne, Micko and now Liam Kearns, for the lack of success. What I saw today was a team (with the exception of maybe three) who looked like they couldn't care less whether they won or not. They played with no heart. It's about time the players took responsability for the loss. Imho Liam Kearns can turn this team around.

kaimera

*sighs*

Oh well. When you just aren't good enough...

lorweld

/sighs even longer and louder than Kaimera

Whats a Laois supporter to do?

cruiserweight

First Leinster final in over 50 years, about time

kaimera

I fancied Wex for Leinster myself but stupid stupid heart overruled my orig pools decision.

I do hope yaz win cruiser

cruiserweight

kaimera wrote: »

I fancied Wex for Leinster myself but stupid stupid heart overruled my orig pools decision.

I do hope yaz win cruiser

Thanks, I am sure that most neutrals do. Talking to Blackbelt and Flukey after the game, there is no point in turning up Dublin have won, we will wait an see ..........................;)

roadrunner1

hard to see wex beat dubs but good luck to them

cruiserweight

roadrunner1 wrote: »

hard to see wex beat dubs but good luck to them

why?

premierstone

Suprised no one has mentioned here the fact that Wexford should have had a definite penalty and possibly two from hte laois goalkeeper stoping certain golas with ''foot blocks'', the first one was debatable but the second one was a stone cold penalty, obviously of course it would have been a major talkin point if wexford had'nt have gone on and won the game.

cruiserweight

premierstone wrote: »

Suprised no one has mentioned here the fact that Wexford should have had a definite penalty and possibly two from hte laois goalkeeper stoping certain golas with ''foot blocks'', the first one was debatable but the second one was a stone cold penalty, obviously of course it would have been a major talkin point if wexford had'nt have gone on and won the game.

I guess that there was no mention because of the result. I guess goalkeepers get some latitude, had it been another defender the ref would have given something.

Nice piece in the indo from Eugene McGee

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/eugene-mcgee/a-model-performance-1418782.html

The common perception this morning around GAA Ireland is that Dublin will be laughing all the way to this year's Leinster title when they consider that only Westmeath and Wexford stand between them and that fourth successive Leinster crown. But that might be an over-simplistic assessment because, whatever about Westmeath, Wexford footballers showed yesterday that are right up there with the top 10 counties in the country.

That is no exaggeration. When you looked down from the stand yesterday you saw a powerful set of athletes wearing the Wexford colours, men who are big and strong, yet mobile. And lest one might think that Wexford are relying on physical power to win matches, this is far from the case as the skill level in this side is the highest I have ever seen in a Wexford football team.

Often in the past when Wexford, inspired by great colleges teams from the county, began to put their heads above the parapet in Leinster but were beaten, I mentioned that there were some hurlers on the team playing football.

This drew criticism, but I was simply implying that the finesse and guile that comes naturally to solely football players was sometimes missing in Wexford football because of the dual player thing.

That has changed now and the old Wexford flaws of poor kicking, having kicks easily blocked down and awkward tackling are gone. That is the main reason why they are now in the Leinster final for the first time since 1956.

So, when they face Dublin or Westmeath on July 6, Wexford will go there on their merits, having beaten Meath and Laois. Yesterday's game was dominated from start to finish by Wexford. They simply swept Laois aside in all parts of the field.

The majority of their scores came from play and even the failure of Mattie Forde to convert some chances did not upset the balance of the attack, something which surprised a lot of people. I thought PJ Banville and Redmond Barry made massive contributions in this game and could certainly test the Dublin backline.

Laois were atrocious for most of this game, easily their worst championship performance in this decade. Both teams did the usual playacting before the ball was thrown in by switching players around and I believe Laois ended up confusing themselves more than damaging Wexford. The whole demeanour of the Laois players did not indicate a set of men ready to die for the Laois cause, and the future of the county looks very uncertain based on this terrible performance.

Colm Parkinson was an exception and the damage he did against Wexford full-back Philip Wallace will cause some sleepless nights in the county before the Leinster final. Typical of the desperate cause of Laois yesterday was that Ross Munnelly, who scored 0-8 against Wicklow, was confined to two pointed frees this time.

Wexford with their young manager Jason Ryan and Fermanagh under Malachy O'Rourke have brightened up a dull championship this year, and who knows what way the Leinster and Ulster finals will unfold yet.

machiavellianme

Surely its not a foot block unless the blockers feet connect with the ball at the same time as the person who is about to strike it?

Otherwise wouldnt any ball coming in low and hard that hits off a back or goalies feet be a foot block? If thats the case, then its just tv3s shoddy commenting that got it wrong as Mick Nolan never connected with the ball at the same time as either Wexford player.

patmac

roadrunner1 wrote: »

hard to see wex beat dubs but good luck to them

'ahem' cough,cough that's the sound of the as always completly underrated and unrespected Westmeath team somewhere in the nether reaches of the GAA stratosphere as we were before the League Final and in 2004. Keep ignoring us, we like it that way, good to see were already written off.

cruiserweight

patmac wrote: »

'ahem' cough,cough that's the sound of the as always completly underrated and unrespected Westmeath team somewhere in the nether reaches of the GAA stratosphere as we were before the League Final and in 2004. Keep ignoring us, we like it that way, good to see were already written off.

Wexford v Westmeath final would be good, not sure who the bookies would have as the favourites though

premierstone

machiavellianme wrote: »

Surely its not a foot block unless the blockers feet connect with the ball at the same time as the person who is about to strike it?

Otherwise wouldnt any ball coming in low and hard that hits off a back or goalies feet be a foot block? If thats the case, then its just tv3s shoddy commenting that got it wrong as Mick Nolan never connected with the ball at the same time as either Wexford player.

In the second incident it was definitely a foot block, the goalkeeper came out and led with he's feet and made no attemp tho block the ball with any other part of he's body, the first one fair enough give the benefit of the doubt but i thought the second one was fairly clear cut, i'm not an expert on the rules or anything and am open to correction but my initial reaction was penalty

kaimera

I'd be pretty certain that keepers can footblock?

Whats the point otherwise.

Not 100% sure myself but it does seem a tad..strange {not unusual in the GAA rule book tho}

lorweld

kaimera wrote: »

I'd be pretty certain that keepers can footblock?

Whats the point otherwise.

Not 100% sure myself but it does seem a tad..strange {not unusual in the GAA rule book tho}

No they're not, strangely enough. However, it's rarely enforced and referees usually use their own common sence in it. Perhaps Blackbelt would shed some light on this as 'd like to see his input.

blackbelt

lorweld wrote: »

No they're not, strangely enough. However, it's rarely enforced and referees usually use their own common sence in it. Perhaps Blackbelt would shed some light on this as 'd like to see his input.

Tis true.Goalkeepers are not exempt from the rule but the rule is not enforced against keepers to the same degree as outfield players.The rule states that "To block or attempt to blockan opponent with the boot when an opponent is kicking the ball from the hand(s)" is a yellow card offence.

If you guys are talking about the same incident I think you are (it was in the Hill end),I think the referee made the correct decision.From what I saw it was a perfectly good save.

premierstone

blackbelt wrote: »

Tis true.Goalkeepers are not exempt by from the rule but the rule is not enforced against keepers to the same degreee.If you guys are talking about the same incident I think you are (it was in the Hill end) I think the referee made the correct decision.From what I saw it was a perfectly good save.

No that was the first one which i think most people agree was legitimate or at least would have been very harsh, but there was a second one in the second half which was much more obvious.

blackbelt

premierstone wrote: »

No that was the first one which i think most people agree was legitimate or at least would have been very harsh, but there was a second one in the second half which was much more obvious.[/QUOTE]

I'll have to go check it out on the RTE website and make an informed judgement.This happened in the Canal End so I couldn't really see it as clear live.