laois V Armagh

Laois Fan

Laois en route to Croker's again alot of people wil be eating their words, the orange lad are en route down but laois will not be intimidated by them and will hopefully play for a consistant full game

up laois

kaimera

waay!

Lets give them a few points advantage at HT. It's the only way we know how to play!!

seriously, I have hope that we will win and I do believe we CAN beat Armagh.

i know the league is no indication of championship form but we should have beaten armagh then, and we didn't do justice last time in the championship.

revenge is a dish best served as a deserved beating

Here comes LAOIS!

Waylander

While I agree Laois are capable of beating Armagh, I do not think that they will. Armagh are strong all over the pitch and unless they I have a bad day I would expect them to get through this one.

CCOVICH

kaimera wrote:

but we should have beaten armagh then,

I think that every team that has played Armagh so far in the championship this year could say the same thing (except maybe Fermanagh). Armagh's football hasn't impressed me at all this year, what has impressed me is their never say die attitude, especially against Tyrone. To be honest, maybe Laois are better off giving them an advantage at HT and seeing if they can defend it?

Flukey

Armagh are difficult to beat. They are like Meath, but without the dirt. Oh, and before you start saying about Armagh's tough tactics, just remember how bad Meath were. Tyrone play a nicer brand of football than Armagh, but Armagh work hard. It is not as pretty to watch. Laois of course play football that can be very nice to watch, but Armagh will make it difficult for them. Armagh to grind a result out!

Danno

Laois by 5 points! See y'all on the Hill!

dcr22B

I hope that Laois beat Armagh Rugby Football Club and hopefully set up an all-Leinster semi-final with Dublin (if we get past Tyrone).

It'd be just the shot in the arm that Leinster football needs when you consider that we were being touted as the weakest province (on this year's performance, we can safely put Connacht in that category) in the country.

Best of luck to the Laoismen.

Lemlin

Armagh are like Tyrone. They never give up and, when they do look beaten, one of their players pulls out a moment of brilliance that changes the match completely. Like Oisin McConville did in the first game against Tyrone. Or Owen Mulligan did for Tyrone last Saturday.

Because of that, I reckon it'll be tight but Armagh will pull through thanks to their experience. I feel that Laois need another year or two of experience to get them to Armagh, Kerry and Tyrone's level. They're definitely on the way there though.

The Rooster

Since their fantastic performance in the league final, Armagh havent been all that impressive. But they are grinders, they've been behind in most games and lost none. They were clearly second best to Tyrone the first day, but exposed Tyrone's failure to put them away. And the second day, in a more even game it was they, and not Tyrone, who kept going right to the very end to clinch victory.

Laois have a fine side. Do they have the heart for the battle against Armagh? Will they keep their heads up if they go behind, or if they lose a lead? No reason why it can't be yes, though outside of the Leinster championship they were very disappointing in the last two years. But hopefully the good performance and win against Derry (not dissimilar to Armagh's win against the same opposition) will stand them in good stead. Hopefully they'll also have learned by now that games dont begin in minute 36!

delboy159

It is a game of complete opposites. Laois and Armagh occupy the two most diverese spectrums of GAA

Laois - fast, light, skillful, intelligent, inconsistent, weak in places, variety of players (in the forwards - there are about 6/7 guys looking for 3 positions. Only D. Brennan, Munnelly and Sheehan are sure to start)

Armagh - strong, dirty, consistent, physical, confident, settled team.

This match is a matter of who can impose their style on the game. If Laois can't inflict their fast game it will be all over after 5 minutes. If Armagh get a few heavy tackles in early - then Laois will find it impossible to raise the pace of the game.

Verdict -
Laois will benefit from the 1st half performances against Dublin and Derry. There is no way we will come out as lethargic as the last two games - we know if we do that Armagh will not let us play football in the second half. Laois will be fast and focused from the throw in, but I fear Armagh will wear us down and ultimatley bully our light forwards and light wing backs in the last 15 minutes of the game. Saying that - I have thrown money on Laois to win because my heart is telling my head to shut the f*ck up - we are the exact type of team that Armagh dread - we only need a little bit of luck to win...

btw - Laois hadn't a hope last year against Tyrone. The injuries we had meant there was no point in turning up - also, we ran Armagh very close in the Quarter final in 2003 - we could have had a much easier draw (as in any other team in the qualifiers) and probably beaten them - then we would have been in an All-Ireland semi-final...The facts don't paint the picture of Laois over the past 2 years........................

Laois Fan

Micko keeping the lid on the team, cant wait to hear but have fair idea, dont think beano will start thought not the same (fast & effective player sadly for him) we need good strong players at this level

Culchie

I hope Laois do win ( I have €20 on them at 25/1 pre-season) but I've a feeling Armagh will have recharged batteries and will benefit from the knowledge of Dublin's fine performance against Tyrone, and the 'surprise' factor that Laois might have had is now gone.

Lemlin

Laois should hope that Stephen McDonnell doesn't pick this game to make up for his poor performances in the Championship so far this year.

KingEric

Lemlin wrote:

Laois should hope that Stephen McDonnell doesn't pick this game to make up for his poor performances in the Championship so far this year.

He's been very dissappointing in the championship so far. After the league a lot of people including myself were predicting that he'd be the player of the championship but obviously not!

I know he's been very closely marked now, but i've noticed recently that a lot of the time he shoots just for the sake of it and not looking up for better options - a sign that his confidence is low.

sonofsam

beano to start according to the papers this morning.

KingEric

IN: brennan, kelly & beano
OUT: cooke, conway & fitzpatrick

Not surprised to see Cooke & Fitzpatrick dropped. Cooke didnt have a good game against Derry, think he was subbed before half-time.
I know he's not usually in the team for his scoring ability but you'd think that for a full-forward, Fitzpatrick would score a bit more. Think he's only got 3 or 4 points in the championship so far.

Armagh have only made 1 change, swapping Aidan O'Rourke for his brother Martin, so we should know what to expect from them.

*marie*

Fitzpatrick and Conway are both out because of injuries.

Flukey

Laois v Tyrone was one of the worst matches in the championship last year. Their quarter final tomorrrow should be better. I wonder will Joe keep Micko and the boys waiting after half time as they did the last time they met in the championship?

Lemlin

Depends if Laois give Armagh the usual half-time lead that they do other teams.

The one thing I'd worry about is that Laois will be slow starters and Armagh will take an unstoppable lead. You can't give teams like Armagh a lead, just like you can never count against them pulling something special out of their back pocket just when they are about to lose.

cashback

Flukey wrote:

I wonder will Joe keep Micko and the boys waiting after half time as they did the last time they met in the championship?

Hopefully Laois will have learned their lesson and stay in the dressing room until Armagh are out. Can imagine a bit of a stand-off developing though!
I just hope we play for the 70 minutes tomorrow. A repeat of the Kildare performance would be nice.

Lemlin

Armagh won't allow Laois to take control of the game like Kildare did.

Flukey

I think Armagh will do it. I'll be on my way to the match within half an hour. It should be good.

thejovialhost

All respect to laois and all,they were robbed by the dubs,but armagh are going to win today.should be a good match,lets hope thay can play both halves equally this time and not get hammered.
Hell i'd like to see 'em win but it's very unlikely

weemcd

Armagh to win but hopefully in a less heavy handed way than they played in other games this year. Ulster is very rough and agressive when compared to more free flowing teames like cork and laois, to go up against the likes of donegal and tyrone it is going to be a very demanding and physical game, which leads to the rough play Armagh and Tyrone have became associated with. Now with a different style of play to confront in laois Armagh can hopefully show the critics they arent just a bruite force team.

Thats my 2c anyway, as long as it is a good enjoyable game i will be happy.

Im thinking high scoring, both teams 10 pts+ each, Armagh to win with a late goal.

Dcully

Men against boys yet again between these two.
Laois always look good against poor opposition but look terrible against a decent team.
Jaysus even the Dubs beat them

weemcd

Heh, good game for Armagh, not great but a good solid performance. Good return to form for Stephen McDonald. Still alot of yellow cards handed out tho to Armagh players. The Laois goal was a bit of a joke, couldnt believe it went in but it didnt really matter in the end.

Laois looked good at the very begining but Armagh just stepped up a gear, fair play to Laois for never giving up however, still sticking over points and looking for a goal to the very end. Not sure if the score is a good reflection of the game or not. Worth pointing out that Armagh did this without McGeeney on the field.

bring on Dublin or Tyrone(not Tyrone:p)

cgf

I guess the Laois folk will be blaming the ref again

I don't often agree with the RTE panel of experts but on this occasion Brolly was spot on - "Men against Boys". The main problem with Laois is that their forward line are a bunch of dwarfs - I presume the theory is that as they are small, they are quick. It does not work that way, the Armagh backs had no problems in adjusting to the pace and after 20 minutes the writing was on the wall.

I hate to say it ( as a dubs supporter ( non scumbag one at that !!!)) but it's looking like a Kerry - Armagh showdown in late September

Flukey

I thought Armagh would win, but I didn't think it would be that easy.

ardmacha

I hate to say it ( as a dubs supporter ( non scumbag one at that !!!)) but it's looking like a Kerry - Armagh showdown in late September

Nobody in Armagh is counting their chickens yet, even if today is encouraging. Would love to see another Armagh v Dublin semi-final.

Flukey

As a Dub, I'd have to concur, and then following that, a Dublin v Cork final.

kaimera

another year, another exit.

No excuses. We jsut weren't you for 70mins of foorball against a far better team. Too many missed chances when we were the better in the opening while.

back to the drawing board...

Lemlin

Didn't see the match because of work (going to catch it on Setanta some night this week) but from what I've heard "men against boys" perfectly summed it up.

Laois need to get in a few physical players. I heard the Armagh backs had no problems dealing with Munnelly or Brennan.

Nobody in Armagh is counting their chickens yet, even if today is encouraging. Would love to see another Armagh v Dublin semi-final.

I was talking to Oisin McConville and he said the Armagh team are hoping for the same. They love beating the Dubs and, as he put it, why beat a team that you've already beaten again!

professore

Lemlin wrote:

Didn't see the match because of work (going to catch it on Setanta some night this week) but from what I've heard "men against boys" perfectly summed it up.

Laois need to get in a few physical players. I heard the Armagh backs had no problems dealing with Munnelly or Brennan.



I was talking to Oisin McConville and he said the Armagh team are hoping for the same. They love beating the Dubs and, as he put it, why beat a team that you've already beaten again!

Munnelly played very well and caused problems all through the game. Pity the same could not be said of the other 8 (full forward line substituted)