Laois now much better equipped, says Byron

Brendan O’Brien

Despite the near parity of the scoreboard 24 months ago, Armagh always looked like they had more in the tank had it been required.

Much of that was down to the

Ulster side’s greater physical power which gradually sapped the strength out of their smaller, slighter opponents.

Manager Mick O’Dwyer has since moved to rectify some of that imbalance, drafting in army man John

Doran to bulk up his player’s upper bodies, just as he did for the Kerryman in his Kildare days.

“The physical hits from Armagh took their toll on us,” said Byron.

“We didn’t have the strength we needed built up that day because we were only a young up-and-coming team. It should be different this time around.

“Definitely this year with the introduction of John as trainer we’re better prepared. We spent all winter in the gym and, although you can’t grow lads size-wise, you can strengthen them up.

“It’s strength to be able to take a tackle, not so much to plough lads down or through them: to be able to take a belt if they get it.

That’s where we’ve strengthened the team this year.”

That improved conditioning has reaped rewards in more areas than one. Though Laois are infuriatingly slow to start matches this season, they’ve been finishing them in incredible style.

Armagh too are a team that licks its lips at the thoughts of the last ten minutes and Byron accepts that Laois may need a two or three-point buffer

entering that last period if they are to earn another day out this summer.

Another sluggish start could stall them at the blocks of course and the fear in Laois is that Armagh’s supposed cynical tactics will take their toll.

Cynical or not, Armagh are supremely adept at strangling opposing teams of the space or time needed to play and Laois are a team that looks to maximise both with their quick style of play.

“There’s a lot of talk about Armagh being cynical but if we can get away from them on Saturday, play football, it will be very hard for them to impose their game on us.

“We’ll run it, move it as quick as we can and try to avoid

getting dragged into that sort of situation.”

Armagh’s robustness isn’t the only factor Laois have to consider either and

Byron points to the game in 2003 when Armagh racked up 15 points as

evidence of their talents further up the field.

“You couldn’t say that a team is just going out to be cynical and stop

another team from playing if they score 15 points. Any team that scores 15 points is after playing a fair measure of football.

“They’ve been putting up big enough scores since as well. In fairness, they’re playing football but they have that physical strength as well and they might as well use it.”

It could certainly be described as Laois’ most difficult assignment under O’Dwyer.

And Byron is in no doubt that it ranks as their most important as well.

“This year is the biggest year we’ve had under Mick O’Dwyer.

“The first year we won Leinster, fair enough. Managers in their first year are capable of doing that, it’s been proven.

“For Laois to take it to another level we have to win this Saturday. There’s no doubt about it. There’s a good bunch of players there but we have to prove it.

“There’s no point in getting to Leinster finals and not winning them or getting knocked out in quarter-finals.”