LAOIS footballers go into Sunday’s opening game in this year’s National Football League on something of a high after capturing the O’Byrne Cup Shield last Sunday.
The defeat of Wexford came as a trimly boost in the run up to the game Division 1 opener against Mayo.
Mind you, Mayo got a boost also when they captured the FBD Connacht League with ease at the weekend.
Justin McNulty has taken some satisfaction from how Laois have progressed this year, but in these early days he is the first to acknowledge that his charges have some way to go before they become serious title contenders.
Realistically, the best Laois can hope for from the league campaign is survival.
With the likes of Dublin, Cork, Kerry and Donegal to be faced the road ahead will be a testing one.
But on the evidence to date, McNulty has seen his side battle strongly.
Against DIT there was a particularly scrappy opening half but once the manager had a stern word with then players at halftime they emerged as a far more cohesive unit.
While such a display might have been enough to get past the students, against the likes of the opposition they will meet in the league, that will not be enough.