Will we beat Laois ?!

[faithful till I die]

It seems to me like the Westmeath game is getting the lions share of the attention and rightly so in one way as it is a game of epic proportions. However I cant seem to get my focus past this Sunday and the small matter of beating Laois in their own backyard. Im a proud Offaly man working in Laois and believe me my life will not be worth living if we lose to them. It was bad enough being humiliated by them in the league,( the journey home after that game was one I dont want to have to repeat again ) but losing to them in the championship will have unthinkable consequences for me in work on Monday. My question is simple, Will we get our revenge and beat Laois on Sunday ?

[azoffaly]

I'm heading up to Portlaoise on Sunday, and you are right. Sunday is senior championship for Offaly, make no mistake about it. The county would do well to focus on this first, before thinking about them galoots up the road.

I'm optimistic for Sunday, because I think that as bad as we looked in the league, Laois were worse, notwithstanding their defeat of us. There is also a lot of injuries and hassles in the LAois camp as well, so they may be diminished, especially if James Young is out.

If Laois were at full strength, I'd be confident, but worried. If they are depleted, I'd just be confident, but wary.

Kilkenny is another matter.

[Bord na Mona man]

In a word, yes.
Historically Laois aren't a championship team.
They get a scalp or a big performance most years in the league, but that is as good as it ever gets.

Come the qualifers they start shipping cricket scores, as they have done against Clare, Tipp and Galway in recent times. Whether this is a lack of belief, being happy to peak for the league, faction fighting or having more Winter hurling style players, I'm not sure.

They beat a possibly complacent Offaly by playing out of their skins and even then, the difference was Ger Oakley hitting the crossbar instead of completing his hat trick.

It may very well be that Laois win, but I'd be surprised. If it did happen then we have truely underestimated the shambolic state of Offaly hurling. Offaly despite being short of players shouldn't be in trouble here.

[bula bula]

I honestly cannot see any way that Laois can beat us this Sunday. My thinking on this is simple, they are missing their two best players on that day they beat us( I was there too and yes it was horrible. You would swear they had just won the All-Ireland) and we will have a much stronger team than we had that day. So basically faithful till I die, you should not be worried at all as we will dish out a nice beating to them con Sunday in front of the cameras.

[Kevin]

YES

[Treasurer]

I believe we will - which always worries me!!