Report by Paul Reynolds

Any defeat of this magnitude brings with it, a large does of soul searching. So off I went to Maplins, and purchased a funky new USB Soul Converter. Place the band around ones wrist, plug into your computer, and search away

So here goes -

PR: Look on the bright side, at least we won't have to play there again this season.

Soul: Now now

PR:It's not much fun playing on a mat though is it?

Soul:It may not be to you, but they looked to be enjoying themselves.

PR:But they get such an advantage playing on a mat like that. You may as well be in Perth

Soul:Only as much as an advantage as you get playing in Rathmines, or a Pembrokian may get in Sydney Parade. Laois players get used to bowling a shorter length, and the batsmen cut and pull well. In Rathmines, Leinster bowlers have to make sure they bowl on a length, and maybe do a bit off the pitch, and the batsmen are spoilt by just rocking forward and smashing it through the covers. It's just a matter of ones point of view

PR:Ah come on, this great game was made to be played on grass. The intricacies of the game just can't be experienced on a bit of carpet.

Soul:Who says. Isn't a mat a way of letting millions of people world wide play cricket that other wise wouldn't have been possible? Surely you'd rather Laois play on a mat rather than not at all?

PR: But it's hardly a level playing field is it? The beauty of the game is twenty two players meeting on a level playing field. We didn't stand a chance.

Soul:If you were so good, you would have won anyway. It didn't look that close.

PR:It's not much fun searching your soul is it?

And with that, the USB Soul Converter was chucked in the bin