You really just have to hand it Trumera.
The stat that does the rounds is that the GAA club’s catchment area is comprised of just 55 houses.
On a recent LaoisToday Talking Sport Podcast, Damien Carter remarked that there would be more in small estate in Portlaoise.
The area comprises of the GAA field, the community hall and the primary school, for its 30 pupils, which is now in a new home across from the pitch. It
But their hurling club stands at the epicentre of the rural community, between Mountrath and Abbeyleix, below the motorway. And it just keeps on giving.
Last year, after a two-year crusade under Damien Walsh, they won the intermediate championship once again – their third time in seven years to do so.
This time they hope to stay there – and you’d have to give them a reasonable chance of doing so.
Now under the guidance of former Camross manager Brendan Lowry, they’ve a nice selection of young players even if numbers are tight as always.
They were boosted by the transfer of Chris Lynch from Portlaoise over the winter though he’s in America on a J1 for the summer and will miss most of their group games at least.
There’s also a huge injury doubt surrounding Paddy Hosey, who damaged his knee playing football with Emo.
The word is, though, that Hosey is battling on without surgery and his presence will be a considerable boost.
Bryan Bredin, Finnian O’Connor-Cuddy and Adam Kirwan were all part of the Laois U-20 hurling team this year.
Darragh McSpadden is an exciting young player in his first year at this level and the likes of Dylan Lalor, Conor Madden, Niall Sinnott, Gearoid Neill and Caolan Murphy offer a lot too.
As do their long-serving veterans, who keep coming back year after year to do battle for the cause.
While Paddy O’Callaghan is an injury worry, John O’Connor, Cathal Brophy and Joe Coogan are set to front up once again.
The draw hasn’t been kind to them, with Abbeyleix up first and Portlaoise and Rathdowney-Errill, who beat them quite comfortably in the 2020 Premier Intermediate final, and Portlaoise also to come.
There’s no doubt that they could end up in relegation bother and in a playoff against the bottom team in the other group.
But it’s not a stretch to say they could top the group either, which probably include an historic win over Portlaoise. A semi-final appearance at least should be their target.
No matter what, you can be sure that they’ll die with their boots on.
If we’ve learned anything over time it’s that Trumera know well how to keep on keeping on.
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