'We are all somewhat ashamed by the level of performance we brought here today'- Justin McNulty

Laois manager Justin McNulty didn’t sugar-coat his assessment of his side’s display after their five-point defeat to Wicklow in the Tailteann Cup on Saturday evening.

Speaking in the aftermath of the loss in Aughrim, McNulty described the performance as well below par and said the result could have been worse.

“The scoreline probably flatters us,” he admitted. “They had multiple goal chances that they didn't convert, and we probably didn't have any goal chances that I recall in the match. We were lacklustre across the park for much of the 75-plus minutes, and we got what we deserved today.”

It was a sobering evening for Laois, who never looked to hit their stride. McNulty didn’t hold back when speaking about the mood in the dressing room or the standards expected.

“We just didn't perform at the level we're capable of, and there's a huge sense of disappointment in the changing room and from the management team,” he said. “We are all somewhat ashamed by the level of performance we brought here today. It's not good enough, it's not good enough for Laois, it's not good enough for us as a team, and it's not good enough for the players as individuals.”

Calling for serious introspection, the Armagh native said the result raised important questions about the group.

“We have to ask ourselves serious questions, and I don't know what the answers to those questions are, but we have to ask ourselves serious questions, saying what's going on here and is that who we are as a football team?” he said. “Is that who we are as football players, and is that what's going to define us? Because that level of performance is certainly not something I want to be associated with, and I'm the manager, so ultimately the buck stops here.”

Laois had the breeze behind them in the first half but only carried a two-point lead into half-time. McNulty felt they didn’t make the most of the conditions.

“We weren't efficient in possession at all. We coughed up unforced turnovers after unforced turnovers, and some in tackles as well, but we just were wasteful in possession, and we didn't take advantage of the wind at all.”

The second-half return, just six points from five scores, was nowhere near the standard McNulty is demanding.

“Especially with the new rules, that's not near good enough,” he said. “Wicklow had an effective game plan. They showed up today, we didn't, and that's a big contributing factor to the reason why we didn't score as freely as we did in the second half.”

Laois were without their top scorer Mark Barry, while Park-Ratheniska’s Simon Fingleton was also still unavailable after his injury against Louth in the Leinster quarter-final. But McNulty stressed that missing personnel wasn’t an excuse for the below-par showing.

READ NEXT: Second-half surge sees Wicklow down Laois in Tailteann Cup

“Obviously, we were missing our top scorer as well, which is a big blow for us, but that's no excuse for the level of performance that we had out there today,” he said.

“We can't for a second attribute that level of performance today to Mark Barry or Simon Fingleton not being on the pitch, even though those are two fantastic players and we'd love to have them. We can't for a second attribute our performance today to their absences because it wasn't the reason for the way we performed today.”

Despite the setback, Laois still have a shot at progressing, with a crucial final group game against Offaly, who have two wins from two, up next.

“We're still in the mix and we know it's going to be one hell of a battle against Offaly, who are so so efficient in possession,” McNulty said. “Ross talked about it inside that they live off errors from the opposition, and we need to be so much more efficient, and we need to bring much more of a battling performance than we delivered today.

“It's still all to play for, and we can lick our wounds to a certain degree for a few days. Then we need to get back on the horse and go at this and show the team we really are, the players we really are, and the men we really are because we didn't show today.”

McNulty is hopeful of having more options available for that Offaly test, but says the team’s focus must remain on improving standards, not waiting on returns.

“Hopefully, we'll have more boys to pick from, but it's not about our injuries, it's about the level of performance we bring, and today's level of performance wasn't where it needs to be,” he said. “Mark Barry will hopefully be in the mix for selection in two weeks.”

READ NEXT: Westmeath's fast start crucial as Laois Ladies lose Leinster Intermediate final

As for Portarlington's Paddy O’Sullivan, who looks set to be returning to Australia, McNulty said a final call hasn’t been made just yet.

“That's still to be decided. We would love to have Paddy O'Sullivan, but you know he's got decisions to make for himself and his family to do what's right for him,” he added.