The Laois U-20 hurlers have named their team to face Kilkenny in their opening game of the Leinster championship.
Manager Damien Carter has also confirmed his joint-captains and vice-captain for the upcoming campaign.
Borris-Kilcotton’s Jer Quinlan and Park-Ratheniska-Timahoe’s Conor Fitzpatrick will share the captaincy duties.
While Portlaoise’s Brochan O’Reilly has been selected as the vice-captain.
Laois have named a very strong side for the clash on Saturday with Quinlan joined by fellow Laois seniors Tom Cuddy and Cody Comerford.
Laois were eliminated last year by Westmeath following a penalty shoot out but 12 of the team that featured that night are available again.
As well as Quinlan, Cuddy, Comerford and O’Reilly – Cathal Cuddy, Joseph Pearson, Ciaran Flynn, Aaron Phelan and Colin Byrne are all selected to start.
While Brian Duggan, Bobby Murphy and James Cuddy form part of a very strong looking subs bench.
Kilkenny began last week with a big win over Wexford and if they defeat Laois, they will qualify for the semi finals.
Whoever finishes second in the group progresses to the quarter finals while the bottom placed team will play someone from Tier 2 in a preliminary quarter final.
The game throws in at 1pm and you will be able to follow all of the action on our Live Blog.
LAOIS: Brochan O’Reilly (Portlaoise); Joe Pearson (Clough-Ballacolla), Cathal Cuddy (Camross), Ciaran Flynn (The Harps); Cormac Hogan (Clough-Ballacolla), Eoghan Cuddy (Camross), Tom Cuddy (Camross); Aaron Phelan (Castletown), Cody Comerford (The Harps); Ben Deegan (Camross), Colin Byrne (Abbelyeix), Conor Fitzpatrick (Park-Ratheniska-Timahoe); Jack Breen (Castletown), Jer Quinlan (Borris-Kilcotton), Cormac Byrne (Abbeyleix)
Subs: Peter Rafter (Clough-Ballacolla), Tommy Brennan (Clough-Ballacolla), Brian Duggan (Ballinakill), Kevin Byrne (Camross), Bobby Murphy (The Harps), James Cuddy (Camross), Rory Dunne (Castletown), Mark Downey (The Harps), Evan Cassin (Clough-Ballacolla)
Meanwhile, the Laois minor hurlers are also in action tomorrow in O’Moore Park as part of a double header.
They are down to face Kerry at 3pm in Round 2 of the championship.
After defeat to Kildare in Round 1, this is pretty much a must-win game for manager Glen McEvoy and his charges.
They have made six changes from the side that lost two weeks ago.
Mountrath’s Donnacha Carroll replaces Ethan Lafferty in goals while Park-Ratheniska-Timahoe’s Matthew Cunningham and Abbeyleix’s Liam O’Keeffe come into the full back line in place of Shane Walsh and Aaron Mahon.
The next change sees Ballyfin’s Shane Connolly come into the team in place of Ruaidhri Kavanagh with Tommy Goode moving to centre back.
Connolly is partnered in midfield by Colm Brennan of Clough-Ballacolla with Daniel Whelan moving to the forwards and Oisin Moore dropping to the bench.
While the final change sees Camross’ Ashton Keenan move into the full forward line in place of Ross Deegan.
LAOIS: Donnacha Carroll (Mountrath); Liam O’Keeffe (Abbeyleix), Conor Mortimer (Camross), Matthew Cunningham (Park-Ratheniska-Timahoe); Tony Mahony (The Harps), Tommy Goode (Castletown), Eoin Duggan (Clough-Ballacolla); Shane Connolly (Ballyfin), Colm Brennan (Clough-Ballacolla); Eoin Delaney (The Harps), Tom Og Phelan (Castletown), Eoin Bracken (Rathdowney-Errill);
Subs: Ethan Lafferty (The Harps), Ruaidhri Kavanagh (Mountrath), Shane Walsh (Portlaoise), Oisin Moore (Rathdowney-Errill), Aaron Mahon (The Harps), Ross Deegan (The Harps), Callum Peters (Castletown), Jack Kennedy (The Harps), Ben Holohan (Clough-Ballacolla)
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