LAOIS CAPTAIN STEPHEN Attride continues to recover from the double skull fracture that rules him out of the Leinster final with manager John Sugrue and team-mate Colm Begley hailing the bravery he showed last Sunday in Croke Park.
Attride faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering the serious injury at the end of the semi-final win over Carlow when he threw himself on a breaking ball to stop an opposition attack.
He is on the mend and has been urging his team-mates to focus on the Leinster decider against Dublin on Sunday week.
“It just kind of shows the character of the lad the way he is, he’s kind of more concerned about getting back to help lads on the sideline and being there for training,” said Begley at tonight’s press event in Portlaoise ahead of the provincial decider.
“A huge loss for us a team and devastated for him personally because the act of selflessness was one of the bravest things I’ve seen on a football field.
“We actually thought we were in trouble there, they’d outnumbered us through but the instinctive thing (was) to throw himself on the ball.
“You can see as well on social media, the response he’s got as regards other players that have played with him before, who have watched him play, he’s very much respected as a GAA player.
“Look I wish him a speedy recovery but he’ll be there for us on the sideline and leading as a captain even off the pitch. That’s typically him. I’d like to think I’d be selfless enough too but if it was me, I’d be gutted and I’m sure he is but he pushes to the fore of what is really important and that’s about us being in a Leinster final now and preparing as best we can.
“Even from that action alone, shows the leader he is. The boys very much appreciate what he’s done for us too. It’ll be good to have him there as soon as possible.”
Laois boss Sugrue echoed the thoughts of centre-back Begley.
“It’s one of those things, there’s a serious level of focus in that man and a serious desire to push the team forward,” said the Kerry native.
“He was totally focused on that moment in play and went in very, very bravely, which I’m not sure other fellas to a great degree would have. He really drove in hard for that and unfortunately came out the wrong side.
“Steven is our captain and leads by action more than words. He’s captain for a reason. We’ll move on from that, we’ve got to move on from that.
“Not being in any way disrespectful to Steve, but we’ve got to move on and we’ve got to balance our team up in other ways and push on.
“We’ve got fellas training hard all year and fellas in reasonably good form so hopefully we’ll be close to our peak in ten days time.”
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Free Palestine
@Ailbhe: Free Plasticine.
Willie smallbone number 10.
I hope you score tonight and score plenty in the future.
Good luck lads COYBIG
Since when is Israel in Europe?
Is it due to the fact that most Israelis are of European origin?
@Shedonny: Asian countries refused to play them. They were in Oceania for a while!
@Sam Kendlin Hobbs: UEFA should have refused to admit them also
Cmon lads
That’s a good line up. Hard to see anything other than a positive result tonight
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: bahahahahah useless just all the hyped up championship players in ireland
@Tomas Lyons: grow up, muppet
Ferguson has had a woeful first half hour. He’s a lot better than he’s showing.
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: Good man Ferguson. Does nothing right for an hour then gets a goal. Come on lads!
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: I was thinking same. He was poor and rightfully hooked but took the goal very well.
Just an off day but he has quality.
Connolly Man of the Match.
Kenny Cunningham is meant to be a teetotaller….obviously not
Shalom to Ireland but you lose tonight
@Richarddoherty: they didn’t lose. might be nice to show some support to Ireland
Brilliant Evan.
Get in
Should have been a penalty
Israel 2 1
@jimmy fitz: thats the sport.
@Pauly Kel: it’s just a prediction Paul, don’t take it to heart