As Laois prepare to take on Galway in the Leinster hurling championship tomorrow in Tullamore, there is a sense of optimism surrounding Cheddar Plunkett's charges.
A couple of weeks ago on Off The Ball, one of their players Cahir Healy gave us an insight into the positive changes wrought by the manager.
But on a weekend in which 10-time Leinster champions Wexford are also in action, it is interesting to look at patterns of success provincially since Galway's addition to Leinster in 2009.
The Tribesmen's strengths means that they have appeared at the semi-finals of the Leinster championship every year since they made the move.
However, the pattern is quite different for Wexford since Galway made their first Leinster appearance in 2009:
Putting it down to Galway however, does not give an accurate picture as Wexford have only faced (and lost in 2010) to the Tribsemen in the Leinster championship since 2009.
Indeed, the rise of Dublin in recent years has had the biggest direct impact in match-day situations. In the six seasons that Galway have been involved in Leinster (excluding 2015), Dublin have knocked out Wexford three times (in 2009, 2013 and 2014), with Offaly and Kilkenny beating them on the other occasions.
But what the post-2009 structure does is essentially leave Wexford, Offaly and Laois fighting for one semi-final place according to the pattern.
From 2003 to 2008, that trio provided at least two semi-finalists in each season, with the high point being 2005 when Laois and Offaly reached the last-four and Wexford contested the final.
Since 2009, the aforementioned trio of counties has provided just one semi-finalist per year, with none progressing any further.
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