‘Job done and on to the big one now’ - Fitzgerald

LAOIS boss Tommy Fitzgerald was very happy after seeing his side lift the Division 2 NHL trophy in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday afternoon to cap off a great campaign.

While Fitzgerald was pleased with the performance and the resulted, he’s never one to get carried away and still has his sights set firmly on the championship to come.

After Saturday’s win he said: “Job done, yeah, seven out of seven. We probably got our work done in the first half and we were very happy with that.

“By the second half the energy had gone out of the game. We probably had control and went 12 or 13 point up with the wind. Job done and on to the big one now.” Much like last week’s performance against London, Laois were hungry for goals and hitting two in the opening five minutes set them off to a great start.

!We have been working on it (getting goals) and the lads are getting sharper and sharper, and our efficiency was better today than in previous days.

“We’ve bigger fences to jump down the line but for the moment we’re happy enough,” he said.

A gale force breeze blew in Portlaoise on Saturday and the visitors had it for the first half, but they were unable to make use of it.

“There was a big strong wind there, you only appreciate it when you’re out on the pitch and it favoured Kerry in the first half.

“I was really happy with our lads at half time. We brought massive energy and we were up on all our stats, our turnover stats, tackling stats and intensity were all way higher than any other game we played this year,” he said.

“We went in nine up at half time into that wind which was really pleasing so we got all our work done at that stage.

“They were very, very good,” was his thoughts on the back unit who were very impressive and Fitzgerald has hit work cut out to pick his best 15 going forward.

“To be honest, there’s battle for positions in every line of the field, there was lads not even on the 26 today and I’m sure they’re very disappointed.

“Lads didn’t get on today and the lads who did come on will want to be starting. It’s healthy, but it does make it difficult to pick the team, but it’s a good place to be I suppose.” Looking ahead to the Joe McDonagh Cup, he said: “This day three weeks and then the week after again, it’s fairly hot and heavy. The next three weeks are important in terms of getting ready. We know it’s a step up in class the next day.

“Over there (in Carlow) is going to be difficult, but it will be for them too so it’s about getting our lads as ready as we can be.” One of the main positives from the league campaign for Laois was that Fitzgerald was allowed the chance to use his panel to full effect.

“It’s been good, it’s healthy for the morale and the panel,” he said on using extra players.

“Division 2 afforded us that opportunity, if you’re in 1B you have to go full team every week.

“One of the few advantages, without wanting to be in Division 2, is getting the opportunity to give lads game time and allow them the opportunity to put their hand up and claim a Laois jersey.

“Everyone has loads of opportunities and it’s about who’s performing best.” Promotion was the ultimate aim for the league, but Fitzgerald is pleased that his team will be going into the Joe McDonagh Cup off the back of a win and is hoping to carry that momentum forward.

“It was all about promotion but then when you do qualify for a final we say look we’ll go for this.

“It’s a chance to pick up a cup obviously and it’s keeping momentum going.

“If we’re beaten today you’re trying to find the confidence again.

“Seven from seven and we’ve done what we had to do, but we’re very well aware of the challenges down the road.”