Munnelly ready for second helpings

WEARING the Italian colours, Ross Munnelly was laughing and joking yesterday. The affinity with Italy had more to do with the Puma sponsorship than the similarity to the Laois colours, but blue suits Munnelly.

As he proved in high summer of last year, when blue was the most fashionable colour in the GAA, and his side the most fashionable team.

All they lacked when they ran into the Armagh juggernaut was a little bit of experience, something many pundits feel Laois have this year.

When his summer starts on Sunday this summer being the difficult second album after his smashing debut Munnelly will be part of what those, with smart money, feel represent the best outside-bet to land Sam. First things first though. Carlow, conquerors of Longford and sensation of the early summer days.

"We have been waiting to get into the championship. And there is no fear of this team becoming complacent because we are playing Carlow.

"We are treating this game as if it was Meath or Dublin, there is no question of us taking Carlow lightly.

"Micko has that drilled into us, he is the sort of man who will ensure everyone is refocused before this game."

Laois enjoyed a great winter, letting the light of their first Leinster title in two generations refract on them. In hindsight, Micko feels his team enjoyed it a little too much, as early League results reflected.

Munnelly says: "This year is a big challenge for us, we are going into a new sort of place, having to retain the Leinster title.

"Last year was great, the excitement and everything that surrounded our first title, but sometimes that can have the opposite effect, if you don't get much success.

"It is very easy to get carried away. It was very important the players learn to deal with that, and that is what we did over the last few months and in fairness to Micko, he is a great calming influence because he had seen and done it all, he was able to bring us right down to earth.

"It is because of Micko that we are approaching this thing this year as if we had no success last year, as if we have no Leinster medals. There is a danger of taking games for granted, which is why Micko made Carlow our number one priority after they beat Longford. He's not talking about retaining Leinsters."

Munnelly was one of three Gaelic stars in Dublin yesterday to launch a Puma contract with GAA players.

Tyrone midfielder Sean Cavanagh and Mayo's ladies football ace Cora Staunton were also in attendance.

Armagh's Oisin McConville was meant to show, but he was involved in a car accident in the morning, from which he escaped unscathed.

Staunton, Mayo's legendary forward, says her involvement proves the growth of women's football.

"This is a huge boost for women's football, there are so many different competitors coming to the market, it is great that women's football is represented by one."

Unlike last year's controversial deal, which focused on more established stars like DJ Carey and Kieran McGeeney, this year Puma deliberately focused on younger stars.

"We are trying to push the younger players rather than the more established players," Puma's Mike Workman said.

"We are looking at the younger players, so we can expand our GAA family and we are delighted to have women's football also involved."

* Puma launch a new boot, Xceletor, for Euro 2004, to be debuted by Robert Pires in France's opening game against England. After June 12, GAA players will be free to use the boot.