Fitzgerald knows February’s league form will count for little in April

THE Joe McDonagh Cup kicks off this weekend, and for Laois, it starts exactly where their only victory of the league came, against Westmeath. That win in Mullingar was one of the few positives in a tough Division 1B campaign that ended in relegation, but manager Tommy Fitzgerald is hoping a new competition brings a fresh start.

There’s been a four-week gap since Laois played Dublin in the final round of the league, and Fitzgerald explained how they’ve used the time wisely.

“The lads went back to their clubs for the first week, most of them played a round of club league, so it's a three-week lead in then. We're not too bad numbers-wise, bodies-wise. We're starting to get a few lads back that were missing the last few rounds of the league. We've one or two injuries but the panel is more or less the same,” said Fitzgerald.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s opener, Fitzgerald knows that Westmeath will pose a serious challenge, despite Laois getting the better of them early in the league.

“Over the last number of years, there hasn't been a whole pile between us in recent games. They have a few lads back that didn't play against us. They played the last few rounds of the league. They will be strong. We know what's facing us on Saturday. They have a bit to worry about our lads as well. It’s quite an even contest, I'd imagine, heading into it,” he said.

Injuries were a significant issue during the league, particularly towards the end of the campaign. Fitzgerald says they were stretched thin at times, but the return of key players gives cause for optimism.

“Five lads were injured for the last few rounds of the league, and then obviously with the 20s as well, we were trying to give them a bit of breathing space in the lead up to their championship game. So for the Dublin game, I think we were down 10, but look, it gave opportunities to other players.

“A lot of those players are coming back now. We still have one or two (missing), and we picked up a fresh injury in the meantime as well. That's all part and parcel. If you're carrying over 30 players, you're going to have one or two injuries along the way. If you can limit it to one or two, you're doing well,” Fitzgerald said.

Although the league ended with a dead rubber against Dublin, Fitzgerald said Laois approached it with full professionalism and used it as another chance to develop their squad.

“We prepared for the Dublin game like we would have for any other game, to be honest. We treated it the same as any other game. Certain lads got game time, having not seen game time before that as well, so it was a good opportunity in that regard. We released them more or less for the week after, back to the clubs, and it was a short lead-in then. It was only a three-week lead-in, and we're not trying to overload them either with a huge number of sessions. So the last couple of weeks have really flown,” Fitzgerald added.

A practice match against Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh provided some sharpness ahead of the cup, with plenty of competition for places driving standards within the group.

“We had a good run out last week. It was good to get a game down in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, which was nice. That was the only game we played, but we had a few internal games, and there’s a lot of competition for places on the starting 15 and the 26 as well,” he said.

Managing dual commitments has been a challenge too, with five players involved in the U/20 panel set to play a knockout championship match just days after Saturday’s senior clash.

“We’ve managed it fairly well so far. Last week, we didn't see them at all. They were with the 20s and it was the same in the lead-up to their first round game. We didn't see them at all that week either. It's been kind of a week-on, week-off basis. I've been in contact with Derek, and they're obviously with us this week. We'll chat again throughout the week in terms of next week.

“We're literally trying to get over Saturday first, and then we'll chat again Saturday evening. We're trying to mind them as well. It’s a lot of going, and it's a fairly intense period for them as well. One guy is doing his Leaving Cert still as well in the middle of that.

“It's not ideal for them, but at the same time, if you're 19 years of age and you're 20 years of age and you're playing games week-in, week-out, it's probably what they want to do anyway, you can be sure of that,” the former Laois inter-county hurler said.

With just two teams progressing from the group stage, a strong start is vital. Fitzgerald is under no illusions about the stakes.

“It's commonly known that only two teams qualify. There's no semi-final or what have you, so the first game is really big. Westmeath will be one of the favourites.

We know what’s at stake on Saturday. We know the importance of the game. There's a good bit on the line. For any of the games, we'll probably be preparing the same anyway.

The first game is really big. If we can get off to a win, you're up and running and you're in a good space, but if you don't pick up a win, you are under pressure straight away,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald, who hurled for Laois from 2002 to 2015, is preparing for his first championship/cup campaign as a senior inter-county manager. While it's a different kind of pressure, the excitement remains the same.

“It is a totally different experience. As a player, you just have to get yourself right. You want to make sure you're ready to perform. To a certain extent, once the ball is thrown in on Saturday, it’s out of our control. In the meantime, you're trying to tick as many boxes as you can. It's a totally different experience. I'd rather be a player, to be honest with you, but that day is over now, so this is the next best thing. When you finish playing, you probably don't think you'll be able to replace that buzz of Championship Week, but there's certainly a buzz this week, and it’s exciting,” he commented.

Finally, he called on the Laois supporters to turn out in force for the home games, starting with this Saturday in Portlaoise.

“That's important. We all enjoy playing at home in front of our home fans. You probably have a bigger support when you're playing in O’Moore Park. These lads are putting in a serious effort since whenever it was we started. They're really committed, and they all really love playing for Laois. They deserve that support, and we're hoping that the Laois hurling public can come out and support them over the next couple of weeks. It will make a difference if they do,” Fitzgerald ended.