Creedon faces big task in underachieving Laois
Peter Creedon Picture: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
It's 10 years since Mick O'Dwyer ended his four-year term as Laois football manager, during which they won the Leinster title for the first time in 57 years, reached the final in two other years and qualified for the All-Ireland quarter-final three times.
Since then, they reached the quarter-final once (2012) and the Leinster final once (2007). They have won only three Leinster games, beating Wicklow twice and Carlow once over the past five seasons and are in Division 3 for the first time in ages.
It's against that demanding background that Peter Creedon takes over as the sixth manager in 10 seasons, replacing Mick Lillis who stood down after one season.
Creedon did an excellent job with Tipperary before quitting last year and being replaced by Liam Kearns, who took the progression a step further.
Just as there will be a sharp focus on attempts by new Meath manager Andy McEntee to close the gap with Dublin, Creedon's reign in Laois will be under scrutiny for the same reason. Despite the best attempts by various managers, Laois have underachieved for quite some time, which is deeply frustrating for the many genuine football people in the county.
There's no doubt Laois has some fine talents too but, for some reason, the jigsaw pieces haven't fitted together.
Can Creedon complete the picture?
