PORTLAOISE’S run towards a fifth consecutive Laois SFC title moved a step closer on Sunday evening as they overcame a dogged Stradbally side to book their place in the final.

THE Portlaoise and Arles-Kilcruise rivalry which has built up between the sides as they contested the last two Laois finals will be given its latest outing in two weeks’ time after they were drawn to play each other in the second round.

Laois manager Brendan Fennelly is sweating on the fitness of Brian Campion and Ger Reddin ahead of tomorrow's Leinster SHC opener against Antrim at O'Moore Park

LAOIS rediscovered their early season form — when they won three Division Two games on the trot — as a sparkling second-half at Markievicz Park revived promotion hopes and left the hosts on the brink of relegation.

TYRONE’S Seán Cavanagh has argued the difference between Allianz NFL Division 1 and 2 this season is negligible.

THIS result represents a giant W in the victory column for Tyrone.

Laois 0-11 Tyrone 1-12

LAOIS forward Ross Munnelly has welcomed the return of his 2003 Leinster SFC winning team-mates Colm Parkinson and Gary Kavanagh into the panel and claimed manager Justin McNulty has assembled a panel reflecting the best the county has to offer.

IT might only have been the second weekend in January but Tony Hannon’s clenched fist celebrations after scoring what turned out to be the winning point in a chilly Portlaoise yesterday suggested Wicklow are well up for a repeat of their O’Byrne Cup run to the semi-finals in 2007.

Recently-appointed Laois senior hurling manager Brendan Fennelly has announced his 28-man panel for the 2011 campaign.

Laois manager Niall Rigney has revealed his team for Sunday's Leinster SHC quarter-final against Dublin at Nowlan Park (throw-in 3.30pm), making two changes in personnel to the side that saw off Carlow.

CLARE manager Micheal McDermott has named three championship debutants for Sunday afternoon’s Munster SFC quarter-final against Waterford in Fraher Field, Dungarvan.

IF THERE are prerequisites for a successful Fitzgibbon Cup finals weekend, this year’s model looks to have ticked all the boxes.

KILKENNY will parade six of last year’s All-Ireland U21 hurling winning side when they face Laois in tonight’s Leinster championship opener in Nowlan Park at 7.30pm.

THERE will be high drama in a Limerick fast food outlet tonight.

Rhode (Offaly) 1-6 Stradbally (Laois) 0-6

Kerry 0-14 Laois 1-4