A LEAGUE TITLE, a Leinster final appearance and a challenge in the qualifiers against eventual All-Ireland semi-finalists.
Other teams may have resided more in the spotlight in the 2018 but the Laois footballers ticked a few boxes and made noticeable strides.
It was an impressive start to life under the stewardship of John Sugrue. The Kerry native was not an unfamiliar outsider to the squad.
Life and work has based him in the county for a while, he did a stint previously as physio with the side before taking the managerial reins at the outset this year.
And soon he began to make his mark, showcasing why he had been highly regarded from his spells coaching the Kerry senior side in 2007-08 in assistance to Pat O’Shea and guiding his native South Kerry team to county glory in 2015.
The progress is incremental given Laois began in the basement tier of the league but they had silverware to their name in Croke Park in April. Then they got the chance to sample a Leinster final against an all-conquering Dublin team in late June before their summer adventure was ended by Monaghan, a game marked by a shot-stopping masterclass from Graham Brody.
“We had him before with (Justin) McNulty, he came in as a physio,” recalls Colm Begley, speaking before the departure to Philadelphia for the 2018 PWC All-Stars tour.
“Straight away, without blowing him up now, he has a good footballing brain. He’s been involved with good players, he’ll talk to players quite easily, he’s confident in regards to dealing with groups. He just came in and set down structures, brought in some good lads, the S&C was very good.”
A defensive anchor in the Laois team, Begley recognised a shift in their squad this season.
“Last year was probably the first year we actually had proper competition for a while. Myself or some of the more senior players could have played bad games, or average games, and probably would have started the week after.
“It was no one’s fault, we just didn’t have lads coming through or they weren’t confident enough yet. I could have had bad games, not that I was feeling comfortable, I was just having bad games.
“But I think last year, when you have a bad game, someone else will be brought in to have a crack at it. So he brought in some lads, he got a larger panel at the start, he brought in some fresh faces – and that brings a bit of energy.
“And then we had a game plan of sorts, he put a bit of structure into our play, and I suppose when a lads speaks with a bit of confidence and paints a clear picture for you, you get buy-in. He obviously had the previously respect from his coaching with us, with Justin.”
Begley has signed up again for more county service in 2019.
“I’ve started to go. I’m committed to it. I think every year when you get to an older age you have a little bit of a discussion about it.
“We had an alright year last year, which for me is a positive thing, and if management want you – you have a chat with him (John Sugrue), we had a discussion and he’s happy to keep me on.
“I think it would have been a different conversation if it wasn’t as strong. A lot of people might say that’s probably a bit short-sighted, but when you’re giving the commitment and you’re not getting the results or some form of progression, it’s very hard to stay involved, I think anyway.
“But when you see improvement, you kind of go there’s a benefit to it. So the atmosphere is good in there, John has brought a nice energy to it and it’s a good place to be around and a good place to train.”
Laois will start out life next spring in Division 3 and get set for a Leinster championship campaign later. They would be a county affected if a proposed second-tier structure was introduced and Begley finds himself in favour of such a concept.
“There’s definitely more positivity towards looking at it and I just don’t think we’re there yet in terms of how it’s going to be formatted. We’re still trying to change it, I know the GAA are looking at different ways as well and proposals.
“In fairness to them they’ve realised that it’s not something we can fast-track through. I would be in favour of it, I think down the line that’s the way it’s going. It’s all about trying to get the same respect for whatever competition it is as what we get for the main one. I think that’s the concern among players.
“It has to be thought about, how you’d market it, how you’d push it, what incentives would be for it. But I think players realise that we’re not all on the same level. We all want to go for the Sam Maguire, that’s great, but sometimes we’re not there yet. The League, I think, is a great competition because for certain teams, for us last year, Division Four, our goal was to get to Division Three, that was probably our main goal of the year. You realise you’re at the level there and if you’re progressing, you’re progressing on your ability. It’s as simple as that.
“I don’t see an issue in trying things out or at least putting proposals forward that might incentivise teams to do it and give Division Three and Division teams the same viewing and promotion that the top teams are getting.
“And giving them the chance to win a huge competition, and it would be a huge competition. It should be.”
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Watching Jose and pogba, will be more entertaining than the football .
@Liam Neeson: it’s all going to plan for Jose.
C’mon you irons#.
Ahahahahahahahahahaha pmsl
@Tuot tuot: why are you laughing at a british club? Another case of my british club is better than your british club
@Paul: nearly as bad as you commenting on a British club thread.
@John: or commenting on somebody commenting …eh John
@Paul: and there is you speaking the queens english and probably watch English TV and use things made in Britain too.
Give over you pleb
@Colin Ahern: I guess he also only supports irish home grown music and none of that foreign stuff too.
@Paul: Oh give over.it has always been this way and always will be.
Pogba is at a stage where he doesn’t really care. He is on crazy money and his reputation after winning the world cup is an all time high. Maybe not witj fans but for Barcelona, real Madrid and psg boards he’s still worth 100 million. He could feasibly play poorly for years and swap between top clubs and earn the same money.
@Murf T Will: I was with you right up until the playing poorly for years bit. No one’s reputation is bullet proof! Just look at the likes of Torres, Rooney etc.
@Murf T Will: Rooney played poorly for years with United. He definitely milked it. They only shipped him out because he couldn’t run anymore.
@Murf T Will: Yeah – with United. Then he moved to Everton didn’t he? It’s not like he’s been bouncing around the top clubs whilst playing poorly on the strength of his good reputation as you claim Pogba might.
@Murf T Will: It was his reputation and nationality that kept him at United.
@I’m not wavy gravy: Yea Torres bounced from Liverpool to Chelsea to Atletico. Not really a dip in standard.
@Hugh Jass: I see your point but Chelsea to Athletico was a huge drop in standard for Torres! Do you not remember how good he was at Liverpool? He’s lucky there was so much love for him at AM or he’d have been thrown into mid-table obscurity.
@Murf T Will: And as soon as it was time to move clubs where did he go? Everton then Galaxy. Your original claim was that Pogba can play poorly for years and still secure high profile moves to the likes of Barca and Real Madrid. That’s clearly not the case.
@Murf T Will: Yeah. Obviously with age you will move to lesser clubs with physical ability weakening. Up until 30 to 32 pogba will circulate the top clubs.
@Murf T Will: And if he transfers to a club like spurs within that time I’ll personally go into your bank and pay off your mortgage.
@Murf T Will: Haha alright, deal. I’ll meet you back here in ten years and we’ll see who’s right.
Hope Rice has good game!
@Magnum: Hes had a cracking game Magnum
But but but but
Not good enough. I thought Jose would have till January to turn it around but I’m not so sure now
I”m getting sick of this, nobody fears man Utd anymore and by the looks of it, with good reason. Bottom of table clubs will be looking to take a point as a minimum and hope to take 3. Tough season ahead, top 4 looking dodgy for sure.
Hammers well worth their 2-0 lead. So much negativity surrounding the club ,players and manager. Score line doesn’t surprise me.In saying that I think it’s Woodward that needs to take a step back and let someone else take the reigns. He is a very astute businessman but not a Chief Executive.
@Johnny Bravo: so it’s Woodwards fault United are 2 nil down to a team that have only own a single league game this season?
@Gareth Keenan: He has been more or less head of the decision making in the last few years , so if you like yea he should shoulder some of the blame for today’s game and more. Does that explain it for you
@Johnny Bravo: no it doesn’t actually. Manager and players are responsible for what happens on the pitch.
@Gareth Keenan’: who’s responsible for putting them there in the first place I ask you !
haha such a crap performance again today from.the once mighty now shitey man United.Total laughing stock of a club from the manager down to the very poor egotistical players they have.Mourinho to stay on hopefully .They deserve each other .
@Michael cunnane: Micheal comeback when you’ve actually won something. Good lad
@Michael cunnane: Nearly as bad as Spurs performance at home to Liverpool! Scoreline flattered Spurs, should have been 5!
@Michael cunnane: whereas Spuds have been shitey since the days of Ricky Villa and Ardiles
@Michael cunnane: sorry you probably don’t know who they are
@David Carino: Hahahahahahahaha 3-0 we outclassed ye at old crappord.Have that .Spurs light years ahead of United.Wakey wakey
@Michael cunnane: yes so far ahead I can’t see because of the shine coming out of your Trophy drawer .
So 2-0. Everything going to plan with Paul and Jose
Give Smalling and Shaw a pay rise! 4 million a year is nowhere near enough for this level of mediocre, overhyped talent. This is what I spend my hard earned barstooler euro on, so you better sort it Woodward!… Sure, it’s the best league in the world!