Fitzgerald likes to concentrate on the positives

AFTER taking a hiatus last year the Walsh Cup returned for 2026 and with that Wexford came to Rathdowney to tackle Laois and despite a good start from the hosts, Wexford travelled home with the victory.

Despite the loss it was a positive performance from Laois, though ultimately Tommy Fitzgerald blamed the loss on their own wastefulness.

“We were two up at half time, probably should have been more up as we were quite wasteful in the first half,” said the Laois boss.

“I thought we were the better team in the first half and as the second half progressed then we got back level with ten minutes to go but we didn’t finish strong.

“We looked leggy and tired, we’ll have to look back at the video but we have trained hard the last few weeks so maybe that had an impact.

“It was a useful exercise on the fourth of January, I thought the application, energy and work rate was quite positive so happy to get the game under our belt.” The Walsh Cup didn’t take place in 2025 and it was missed by supporters as it’s a great opportunity to see the team early in the year, and Fitzgerald also welcomed having the competition back in the schedule.

“The players enjoy it as well, it makes training easier when you know you’ve a competitive game coming at the weekend,” he claimed.

“We’ve another game Thursday night and we’ll mix and match the panel, get gametime into fellas and there’s lads playing Fitzgibbon as well so we’re mindful of that trying to get the schedules correct.

“It’s not ideal playing Thursday night again, some players will have to play twice in four days but we’ll change it up and give lads more game time and more opportunities.

“There’s good competition, a lot of new faces in there and a few older faces returned too which added to the group and we’re delighted to have them back.” Though it’s Fitzgerald’s second year in charge, it’s his first full crack at a preseason an he feels preparations are going well heading into the new year.

Fitzgerald said, “We’re happy with our preseason, we’ve a good back room team in place and the last few weeks have been positive.

“Christmas can be a bit disrupted and we’d the u-20 championship and Clough-Ballacolla went late as well but every county has those little issues and we’re very happy with how the preseason has gone so far.

“We’re only three weeks away from the first round of the league so the likes of today is useful in terms of us trying to find out our best 15 and give lads game time.” The Laois panel has shifted quite a bit in recent years and the latest retirement was that of Willie Dunphy and Fitzgerald was full of praise for his own former Laois teammate.

“Willie flagged with us last year that it was going to be his last year and he had an awful year injury wise. I just can’t say enough good things about him, an absolute warrior and a brilliant Laois man and player.

“Last year epitomised that, he kept breaking down with the knees but he was there every night working hard and being positive around the younger players and I have the utmost respect for him,” he concluded.