The Laois U-20 footballers have named their captain, vice-captains and team ahead of their championship opener.
Kieran Kelly’s side will take on Kildare in O’Moore Park on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm.
Ahead of the game, the management have confirmed that Annanough’s Jake Darcy, who captained Stradbally Parish Gaels to U-20 glory last year, will skipper the side.
He will be assisted by Ballylinan Darragh Loughman and Portlaoise’s Conor Raggett.
Darcy has been named to start at corner back while Raggett is full back and Loughman is selected at midfield.
The three of those all started in Laois’s Leinster quarter final defeat to Meath last year.
While the only other player available from that day is Kilcavan’s Rory Lalor who is named at centre forward.
St Joseph’s Jamie O’Brien and Kilcavan’s Adam Hunt both played in the Meath defeat and are still eligible but neither are on the panel.
There is a youthful look to the team as Portlaoise’s Ben O’Connor has gone straight from minor and into the team at corner back while St Joseph’s Robbie Murphy has done the same at wing forward.
On the bench, Fionn O’Sullivan (Crettyard), Jack Julian (Ballylinan), Ennae Byrne (Arles-Killeen) and Darren Brennan (Portlaoise) were all minor last year.
While there is a degree of extra spice to the game as Sam Ryan, who plays for Sallins, will line out against his native Kildare after being named at full forward.
After Wednesdays game, Laois will be at home to Wexford on April 2 and away to Carlow on April 9.
In order to qualify for the knock out phase, Laois must finish first or second in the group.
LAOIS: Luke O’Reilly (Portarlington); Ben O’Connor (Portlaoise), Conor Raggett (Portlaoise), Jake Darcy (Annanough); James Dunne (Clonaslee-St Manman’s), Eoin Johnson (St Joseph’s), Kevin Fennelly (Annanough); Darragh Loughman (Ballylinan), Niall Lalor (Kilcavan); Sean Kirby (The Heath), Rory Lalor (Kilcavan), Robbie Murphy (St Joseph’s); David Donohue (Stradbally), Sam Ryan (Sallins), Ryan Little (Courtwood)
SUBS: Ben Dillon (Stradbally), Fionn O’Sullivan (Crettyard), Jack Julian (Ballylinan), Ennae Byrne (Arles-Killeen), Paddy Fitzpatrick (The Heath), Cathal Buggie (Stradbally), Darren Brennan (Portlaoise), Jake Colbert (The Rock), Tom O’Connell (Mountmellick)
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