THIS was no thriller but Portlaoise won’t care. Yesterday was all about the numbers – a sixth county title and their first three-in-a-row since 1987.

DONIE BRENNAN’S club manager has launched an impassioned defence of the player who was dropped from the Laois senior panel by Sean Dempsey in controversial circumstances late last month.

Donie Brennan has failed to force his way into the Laois team for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final replay against Mayo (Croke Park, throw-in 2pm).

Laois wing back Paul McDonald is to undergo a fitness test later this week to determine whether he can start Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final replay against Mayo.

LAOIS’S Kevin Fitzpatrick will sit out the start of the championship following his decision this week to undergo surgery on a troublesome groin injury.

PORTARLINGTON, Monday, 8.47pm. An evening for ducks and dogs, though the 30 players unlucky enough to be out in the deluge look more like drowned rats.