'We're working now towards June 8 and that's a very pleasing aspect'- Laois' Willie Maher

The Laois Senior hurling team made the long trip to Tralee on Saturday afternoon as they looked to continue their 100% record in this year’s Joe McDonagh.

Laois came away with a 10-point victory in the end but manager Willie Maher wasn’t best pleased with the Laois performance despite such a comfortable win.

“It’s actually funny but we’re not. I was just talking to the management team there and it’s gas you'd be always looking for a bit more. I thought it was a very, very stop start.

I thought the game kind of petered out there in the second half and we didn't score for a good while with that wind in the second half. So, no, look, I suppose it's a good way to be.

We're not too content. Anyway, plenty to work on and we came down to do a job and a ten- point win in Kerry is a good day,” Maher said.

Maher was quick to commend his side’s defensive work and feels that they don’t get the recognition at times due to the forwards getting the scores that win matches. 

“We've got more game time into fellas there today at the end. David Dooley, Ryan Mullaney, Ian Shanahan, Diarmuid Conway covering huge ground and just doing huge defensive shifts and the forwards sometimes get all the plaudits as regards. A lot of guys, Aidan Corby, came up with huge moments there in the second half. We’re very, very happy I suppose, to come down and win by ten points. But, obviously, we'll have to look into the performance and see what happens. Six points from six and that's all you can do,” he said.

The only goal of the game came after eight minutes as a turnover in midfield by Paddy Purcell saw him tee up Mossy Keys for goal. The early goal zapped the life out of Kerry early on and Maher says that it’s something they’re working on in training. He also praised his panel for doing a job when they were needed.

“Look, it's something we're trying to work on a lot. Against Meath, I don't know if you remember last week we butchered two or three chances similar to that. So, it was very pleasing to get a brilliant stick pass off Paddy to Mossy and it was a brilliant goal.

The lads are working hard and our panel is working hard. We've got a few different lads in today to do different types of jobs because that's what different days require. We're content with the win by ten points but, as for the performance, we'll have to have a look at it and see where we go,” Maher said.

One major concern for Laois is that Picky Maher had to be replaced at half-time with the same hamstring injury that saw him being taken off against Meath too. Maher knows that injuries are bound to happen with the Joe McDonagh schedule.

“He was cleared fit on Thursday night and that's why he played. So, I think he had a bit of a twinge so we didn't want to take any risks but a very able replacement in Willie (Dunphy) to come on. These are things that happen with week-on-week matches. It's very, very stressing on players' bodies and we're delighted to have most of the guys fit. Picky, as I said, has a slight twinge so we'll assess it now and we'll see where we are,” he said.

Laois’ next games comes in two weeks' time against Down which will give his players a chance to take a breather before the end of the campaign where they’ll be hopeful of playing in the Joe McDonagh final. Maher also wished Damien Carter and the U-20’s well ahead of their Leinster quarter-final against Offaly on Wednesday, May 8.

“A weekend off as regards games but we're working now towards June 8 and that's a very pleasing aspect. We’ve a massive game against Down which is essentially a semi-final to win in two weeks' time. The players are giving us everything. The 20’s now have a massive match on Wednesday for the county and the very best look to Damien and his team there as well, so we're fully behind them. We took off the lads there with 15 minutes to go just to give them an extra break in preparation for that match. Big match against Offaly on Wednesday and hopefully the lads will do the job,” Maher said.

Down are set to come to Portlaoise for Round 4 of the competition and Maher knows that it’ll be a tough game against the Ulster side.

“I just think back to the first league game this year and they should have beaten us in O’Moore Park. We were off yes but Down were very, very good. Down are a fine team. And very, very difficult to play particularly in Ballycran. That's a massive result for them today to get a draw against the pre-tournament favourites. The Joe McDonagh is just so competitive and that's why people like watching it. We're delighted with the position we're in now,” he said.

Although Laois won by 10 points in the end, they could have had at least two more goals as Aaron Dunphy and David Dooley both missed huge goal chances as well as dropping shots short and hitting wides. Maher says that’s something they need to brush up on because against bigger and better teams, it could come back to haunt Laois.

“We were shooting from too far out. We spoke with the lads but we didn't get the opportunity to rectify it in the second half but it's definitely something we need to work on. Similarly against Meath there last week, we scored a lot of goals but we left an awful lot there as well. I think it's something to work on and we got away with it today but, we won't get away with it down the line,” the Laois manager ended.