National Football League Division 4 Round 1– Laois v Wexford
In Wexford Park at 6pm
Team news?
Laois senior football manager Justin McNulty has named the same starting 15 as for the clash with Wexford as the one that defeated Longford.
However, he has made three alteration to his bench with three players coming in.
St Joseph’s Aaron Cooney, Park-Ratheniska’s Simon Fingleton and Arles-Killeen’s Paul Kingston have all been named in the 26.
They take the places of Portlaoise’s Conor Brown, O’Dempsey’s Fionn Holland and Killeshin’s Eoin Lowry.
The latter was the first sub on against Longford last week so his absence is presumably injury related.
Kingston sustained a hamstring injury against Offaly in the O’Byrne Cup last month and appears to have returned earlier than initially feared.
Aside from that, all other players retain their places with Laois hoping for a similar performance.
LAOIS: Killian Roche (Killeshin); Ben Dempsey (Portlaoise), Seamus Lacey (Ballylinan), James Kelly (St Joseph’s); Eoin Buggie (Stradbally), Mark Timmons (Graiguecullen), Brian Byrne (Graiguecullen); Conor Heffernan (Killeshin), Damon Larkin (Portlaoise); Kevin Swayne (Portlaoise), Niall Dunne (Courtwood), Shaun Fitzpatrick (Ballyroan-Abbey); Mark Barry (O’Dempsey’s), Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard), Niall Corbet (Clonaslee-St Manman’s)
SUBS: Aaron Cooney (St Joseph’s), Ciaran Burke (Crettyard), Brian Daly (St Joseph’s), Mikie Dempsey (St Joseph’s), Simon Fingleton (Park-Ratheniska), Paul Kingston (Arles-Killeen), Liam Knowles (Stradbally), Cormac Murphy (St Joseph’s), Rioghan Murphy (Portarlington), Sean O’Flynn (Courtwood), Danny O’Reilly (Graiguecullen)
Wexford have also named their team for the clash and it shows one change from the side who defeated London.
In defence, Eoin Porter is named in place of Conor Carthy at corner back.
WEXFORD: Rory Tubritt; Eoin Porter, Gavin Sheehan, Darragh Lyons; Paraic Hughes, Dylan Furlong, Glen Malone; Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes; Richie Waters, Eoghan Nolan, Conor Kinsella; Kevin O’Grady, Jonathan Bealin, Ben Brosnan
What has Wexford’s form been like?
Wexford’s early season form has been decent as they enjoyed wins over Wicklow and Kildare in the O’Byrne Cup.
They were eliminated by Dublin in the semi final but began Division 4 with a 1-13 to 1-8 win over London.
Draws with London and Carlow scuppered their promotion chances last year and Laois ended their Leinster championship in Round 1.
They progressed to the quarter finals of the Tailteann Cup last season where they were beaten by eventual winners Meath.
What Wexford players should we watch out for?
Ben Brosnan is still going in the Wexford attack and is a dangerous forward who requires marking.
Paraic Hughes, Dylan Furlong and Glen Malone form a very mobile half back line.
Laois were tested in midfield by Longford last week and can expect Liam Coleman and Niall Hughes to do likewise.
What are the odds?
Laois are the slightest of favourites at 8/11 while Wexford are just a shade outside at 13/8. The draw is 15/2.
Who is reffing it?
Barry Tiernan from Dublin has been selected to be the man in the middle for this game.
He was infamously pushed to the ground by a Tullamore club member after a Leinster club championship match last year.
Tickets? TV?
The game is not available to watch on TV but we will keep you updated on our Live Blog.
Tickets can be purchased both online and in person using the following: Online by clicking here.
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