Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter Final – Laois v Offaly
In O’Moore Park at 7pm
Team news?
Unsurprisingly, manager Justin McNulty has kept faith with the starting 15 and subs that defeated Leitrim in the Division 4 final two weeks ago.
Offaly have also named their team and it does not include two big players.
Nigel Dunne misses out through suspension while Anton Sullivan is injured.
LAOIS: Killian Roche (Killeshin); Ben Dempsey (Portlaoise), Seamus Lacey (Ballylinan), James Kelly (St Joseph’s), Eoin Buggie (Stradbally), Mark Timmons (Graiguecullen), Brian Byrne (Graiguecullen); Kieran Lillis (Portlaoise), Damon Larkin (Portlaoise); Kevin Swayne (Portlaoise), Eoin Lowry (Killeshin), Shaun Fitzpatrick (Ballyroan-Abbey); Mark Barry (O’Dempsey’s), Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard), Paul Kingston (Arles-Killeen).
Subs: Aaron Cooney (St Joseph’s), Niall Corbet (Clonaslee-St Manman’s), Brian Daly (St Joseph’s), Mikie Dempsey (St Joseph’s), Simon Fingleton (Park-Ratheniska), Niall Dunne (Courtwood), Jack Lacey (St Joseph’s), Conor Heffernan (Killeshin), Sean O’Flynn (Courtwood), Rioghan Murphy (Portarlington), Danny O’Reilly (Graiguecullen)
OFFALY: Ian Duffy; Lee Pearson, Declan Hogan, David Dempsey; Cormac Egan, Peter Cunningham, John Furlong; Eoin Carroll, Jack McEvoy; Dylan Hyland, Ruairi McNamee, Jordan Hayes; Keith O’Neill, Nathan Poland, Jack Bryant
SUBS: Mikey Cunningham, Adam Bolger, Jack O’Brien, Daire McDaid, Rory Egan, Cathal Flynn, Kevin McDermott, Diarmuid Finneran, Morgan Tynan, Cian Farrell, Cathal Donoghue
What has Offaly’s form been like?
Offaly beat Laois in the O’Byrne Cup but their Division 3 campaign left a lot to be desired.
They ended up in a relegation battle but in the end, they managed to defeat Wicklow and Limerick, who were both demoted, to stay up.
Like Laois, they reached the quarter finals after receiving a bye through Round 1.
What Offaly players should we watch out for?
As mentioned above, Offaly are without forwards Nigel Dunne and Anton Sullivan which certainly helps Laois’s cause.
Dylan Hyland is a good scorer while Jack Bryant and Cormac Egan are their brighter young players who deserve respect.
What is the history between Laois and Offaly?
The rivalry between Laois and Offaly goes back more than 100 years and Laois have only played Dublin and Kildare more times in the Leinster championship.
Steven Miller’s ‘Battle of The Bog’ article sets the scene well and shows how Laois actually have the better record.
What happens after this game?
If Laois win, they progress to play the winners of the clash between Dublin and Meath in the Leinster semi final.
That is scheduled for two weeks time in Croke Park. If Laois lose, they will have four weeks to prepare for the Tailteann Cup.
What are the odds?
Laois are favourites at 4/6 while Offaly are outside at 13/8. The draw is 15/2.
Who is reffing it?
Jerome Henry from Mayo has been selected to be the man in the middle for this game.
Our records indicate that he has officiated games involving Laois at all levels.
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.
