Stephen Attride has been a key figure in Laois' improved form this year.
By Cian O'Connell
It has been a year mixed with pleasure and pain for Stephen Attride, but the fact that pride has been restored in the Laois football jersey carries significant weight.
Signs of progress have been available throughout the campaign earning the Allianz Football League title and claiming three Leinster Championship victories perfectly illustrates the potential that exists.
Attride suffered a serious head injury with a double fracture to his skull in the provincial semi-final win over Carlow at Croke Park and is isn’t expected to be available for another month.
“It is coming good, I get some pain now and again around where the fractures are, but I'm feeling a lot better,” Attride says. “The doctors are saying that the recovery is going pretty well.
“From the incident itself they said I would have to give it six to eight weeks before any contact. I'm three weeks into that now so it will probably be three to four weeks until I can get back into contact.”
Last weekend, though, an important step was taken by Attride, who made a welcome return to light physcial training. “I'm able to do a small bit now again, I had three weeks of doing absolutely nothing, no training or gym so I just had to bide my time,” Attride admits.
“I went back running last weekend so that was good because I was getting cabin fever. You'd be so used to getting up going out that it is hard when you are nearly housebound for the day. It was a change for me.”
How Laois have impressed under John Sugrue in 2018 confirms the ability within the panel and Attride acknowledges the potential within the group.
“We had a great League coming from Division Four,” Attride states. “It isn't where we wanted to be, but our run of form over the past few years has us there. Winning builds confidence in a team and that has been the big difference with the team this year compared to previous years.
“Lads were confident and you gain momentum through winning. The League campaign put us in good shape for the Championship and we took that momentum into the Championship. We had a few good wins in Leinster, unfortunately Dublin were a different class on the day.”
Stephen Attride suffered a serious head injury in Laois' Leinster SFC Semi-Final win over Carlow at Croke Park.
How Dublin seized control in the second half of that particular encounter showed to Attride the importance of playing better quality opposition in the spring. By securing Division Three status Attride is hopeful Laois can advance further in the coming years.
“I think so, Dublin were just a different proposition to anything we had met this year,” Attride remarks. “We were used to playing Division Four and Three teams in challenge games.
“If you want to be competitive with the top teams you need to be playing them week in, week out. Dublin just had a higher pace and intensity to what we had faced all year.
“Definitely this year in and around the team it seems to be a lot more enjoyable. That comes from winning and winning breeds confidence and momentum. This year coming from Division Four put us in good stead and we gathered momentum along the way.
“Division Three is a different proposition, but it is nothing to fear for this bunch of players. Hopefully after a good Championship ends we can knuckle down to be ready for next year.”
Sugrue has made a positive impact in the Laois set-up according to Attride. “He has, definitely, he brings a great enthusiasm to the role,” Attride adds.
“He is very passionate and has a good tactical way about him too se has had a huge impact on the players this year. He has a good backroom staff with good selectors and a good strength and conditioning coach.”
Next on the agenda for Laois is a last 12 tussle with Monaghan at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon with the winner progressing to the All Ireland Quarter Final round robin series.
“It would be something else,” Attride respons when asked about reaching that destination. “I suppose we were fairly hurting after the Leinster Final after a near demolition by the Dubs.
“Going into the game Monaghan are favourites, but on our day I think we can compete with the best. We will be going in hopeful about producing the goods on the day.”
