The Laois minor footballers have named their captain, vice-captains and 33-player panel ahead of the upcoming Leinster championship.
Manager Conor Gorman has confirmed that St Joseph’s midfielder Eoin Johnson will captain the side this year.
He will be assisted by Stradbally’s Fionn McEvoy-Mullally and Graiguecullen’s Danny McGrath who have been selected as vice-captains.
The three of those were all named on the panel last year and are back again alongside four others in this regard.
David Donohue (Stradbally), Niall Lalor (Kilcavan), Tadhg Dineen (St Joseph’s) and Jack Brennan (Killeshin) will be hoping to use their experience gained from last season.
Like last year, the minor football championship will be played on a round robin basis.
Laois begin their campaign at home to Longford on Wednesday evening in O’Moore Park at 7.30pm.
They travel to face Offaly in Round 2 a week later and then host Kildare in their final game on April 26.
The winner of the group will progress straight to the semi finals while the team that finish second will go to the quarter finals.
The team who finishes third will face either the first or second team from Group 3, Carlow, Wexford or Wicklow, in the preliminary quarter final.
The side that finishes bottom will go straight to the Seamus Heaney Cup – as will all of the teams who fail to reach the semi finals.
Ahead of Wednesday’s game, manager Conor Gorman has announced his starting 15, subs and extended panel.
LAOIS: Liam Conroy (Portlaoise); Ben O’Connor (Portlaoise), Tadhg Dineen (St Joseph’s), Danny McGrath (Graiguecullen); Robbie Murphy (St Joseph’s), Jack Brennan (Killeshin), James Dunne (Clonaslee-St Manman’s); Eoin Johnson (St Joseph’s), Niall Lalor (Kilcavan); Darren Brennan (Portlaoise), David Donohue (Stradbally), Paddy Fitzpatrick (The Heath); Ennae Byrne (Arles-Killeen), Fionn McEvoy-Mullally (Stradbally), Evan English (Killeshin)
SUBS: Ben Dillon (Stradbally), Tom O’Connell (Mountmellick), Fionn O’Sullivan (Crettyard), Callum Hogg (St Joseph’s), Jomilio Salvador (Graiguecullen), Dan Boland (Courtwood), Sean Kirby (The Heath), Cathal Buggie (Stradbally), Sam Lynch (St Joseph’s)
EXTENDED PANEL: James Horahan (Graiguecullen), Robbie McEvoy (Mountmellick), Cody Tucker (Graiguecullen), Conor Kearney (O’Dempsey’s), Pauric Ramsbottom (Timahoe), Jack Julian (Ballylinan), Jake Byrne (Portlaoise), Ben Howe (Barrowhouse), Darragh Pendergast (Ballyfin)
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Manager: Conor Gorman
Selectors: Billy Delaney and Eamonn O’Connell
Coach/selector: Colm Kelly
S&C: Jason Coffey and Rachel Guinan
Physio: Richie Hitchcock
Video and Stats: Tony Bambrick
Kit man: Peter Kealy
