RELEGATION TO BOTTOM TIER FAR MOORE PAINFUL

VETERAN Laois attacker Ross Munnelly has admitted the players’ confidence took a hit after sliding down the Divisions to the lowest tier.

The 2003 Division One finalists operated in the top flight as recently as 2012 before plummeting down to Division Four.

But they escaped the lowest grade at the first attempt and capped promotion with the Division Four title outright by beating Carlow last weekend. Munnelly was part of Laois’ Leinster title winning team in 2003 and admitted it was nice to win a big game at Croke Park again.

“Yeah, it was and considering it’s not that long ago we were playing in Division One,” Munnelly said.

“We were relegated to Division Two and there were a couple of years where we were holding our own.

“Then we had back-to-back relegations and that’s not nice. It does drain the confidence.

“Thankfully we we were able to do what was asked of us in Division One.

“Now we have to park that and concentrate on trying to progress ourselves in the Leinster Championship because we haven’t done that in quite a while.”

Munnelly (above), 35, is now in his 16th season with Laois but is still going strong.

He admitted: “I do every single session, there’s no different rules for me. I was back the very first day of pre-season like everyone else.

“I’m lucky enough I can dedicate the time to do that.”