The Laois senior football team to take on Waterford in the opening round of the Tailteann Cup on Saturday in O’Moore Park shows three changes from the side which lost to Louth in the Leinster quarter-final four weeks ago.
The Laois team, released by GAA headquarters today along with the other registered teams for the week, shows Fionn Holland from O’Dempsey’s and Clonaslee St Manman’s Cathal Lee are set to make their first championship starts.
Stradbally’s Liam Knowles – who made his championship debut in the Leinster championship win over Wexford but missed out against Louth – is once again included at corner-back.
Those missing out are Simon Fingleton, Padraig Kirwan and Danny O’Reilly. Fingleton picked up a shoulder injury in that loss to Louth and though Kirwan injured his foot, he is included among the subs. O’Reilly isn’t listed on the matchday 26.
Shaun Fitzpatrick from Ballyroan-Abbey is included on the bench as is returning U-20 captain Jake Darcy and Michael Doran from Killeshin, who is a recent addition to the panel.
After Saturday’s game, Laois will travel to Wicklow next Saturday and then finish the group stages with a neutral game against Offaly on the June Bank Holiday weekend.
The Laois team that has been named is as follows: Killian Roche; Ben Dempsey, Trevor Collins, Liam Knowles; Paddy O’Sullivan , Seamus Lacey, Fionn Holland; Damon Larkin, Conor Heffernan; Niall Corbet, Brian Byrne, Kevin Swayne; Ronan Coffey, Cathal Lee, Mark Barry. Subs: Conor Brown, Ryan Brady, John Brennan, Jake Darcy, Michael Doran, Shaun Fitzpatrick, Pa Kirwan, Aaron McEvoy, Sean O’Neill, Jack Lennon, Jonah Kelly.
Laois v Waterford in Round 1 of the Tailteann Cup is this Saturday in O’Moore Park at 3pm
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