Brought to you in association with Joe Mallon Motors Portlaoise
Laois travel to Aughrim this weekend knowing that another win will make them another step closer to securing a spot in the Division 4 decider. Having beaten Limerick, Leitrim and Waterford so far, teams who they would have known little about, they come up against familiar opposition on Sunday against Wicklow.
Wicklow, like Laois, are managed by a Kerry man John Evans. They haven’t been overly impressive so far and John Sugrue will be hoping his ever improving Laois side can capture their fourth win on the trot, a feat that the Laois footballers haven’t managed to achieve in quiet some time.
The two teams below Laois, London and Antrim facing off this weekend in Ruislip, and Carlow having to take a trip down to Waterford, it could be an opportunity for Laois to take control of Division 4 with a win in Aughrim.
Team News
The team shows just one change from the side that beat Waterford two weeks ago with Niall Donoher coming in to start his first game of the campaign having featured off the bench in the three earlier rounds.
He replaces Graiguecullen’s Danny O’Reilly in an otherwise unchanged side from the one that beat Waterford two weeks ago. Donie Kingston is held in reserve once again despite showing well as a half-time sub against Waterford. Evan O’Carroll, who was replaced by Kingston in that game, returns to start after his Sigerson Cup exploits with UCD last weekend.
LAOIS: Graham Brody (Portlaoise); David Holland (Portlaoise), Shane Nerney (O’Dempsey’s), Ruadhri C Fennell (Rosenallis); Trevor Collins (Graiguecullen), Colm Begley (Stradbally), Gareth Dillon (Portlaoise); John O’Loughlin (St Brigid’s, Dublin), Kieran Lillis (Portlaoise); Alan Farrell (Ballylinan), Paul Kingston (Arles-Killeen), Niall Donoher (Courtwood); Ross Munnelly (Arles-Kilcruise), Gary Walsh (Ballylinan), Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard).
WICKLOW: Mark Jackson; Ciarán Hyland, Jamie Snell, Paul Merrigan; Harry Wilson, Ross O’Brien, John Crowe; Rory Finn, James Stafford; Pat Burke, Dean Healy, Conor Healy; Conor Byrne, Seanie Furlong, Darren Hayden.
What’s the history between the sides?
The most recent game between Laois and Wicklow was last season in round one of the championship qualifiers. Laois had just come off the back of a drubbing to Kildare and there was serious questions being asked of the team. Laois went to Aughrim and came away with a 2-16 to 3-10 win.
The Laois team on that occasion was: Graham Brody; Darren Strong, Mark Timmons, Trevor Collins; Eoin Buggie, Padraig McMahon, Colm Begley; Brendan Quigley, John O’Loughlin; Alan Farrell, David Conway, Damien O’Connor; Stephen Attride, Donie Kingston, Gary Walsh. Subs: James Finn for Quigley (injured – 32 mins), Evan O’Carroll for Attride (bc – 42 mins), Ross Munnelly for Walsh (43 mins), Kieran Lillis for McMahon (46 mins), Ambrose Doran for O’Carroll (injured – 60 mins), Gareth Dillon for Conway (63 mins)
What Wicklow players should we watch out for?
Two names stand out for Wicklow – midfielder James Stafford and full-forward Seanie Furlong. Stafford is a hard-working and industrious midfielder and will not give Laois and easy time around the middle.
The big physical presence of Seanie Furlong causes problems for most defenders and Laois’ full-back Shane Nerney will face a different challenge this weekend.
What has Wicklow’s season been like so far?
Wicklow are yet to register a win in this year’s league, and it hasn’t been the start that Kerry native John Evans would of hoped for.
An opening round draw at home Waterford and a third round away draw to Antrim are the only two games were they picked up points. Them games sandwiched a nine point away loss to London. They currently sit fifth in the Division 4 table.
Is there a curtain raiser?
The game is a sole fixture. The pitch in Aughrim is heavy at the best of times so a second game would be non-runner.
What are the odds?
Laois are currently 1/4 to beat the Garden County, while John Evan’s men are 7/2 to beat an inform Laois side. A draw is 9/1 and Wicklow are found of drawing lately so don’t rule that out.
How much does it cost to get in?
It’s €10 for adults. Children U-16 go free.
Where can I follow the game?
We’ll be live-blogging the game on LaoisToday.ie as well as giving some updates on our new LaoisToday Sport Snapchat account.
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