Split in Laois camp denied

LAOIS selector Declan O’Loughlin has rejected out of hand persistent rumours that two of the county’s forwards have walked out on the panel in the wake of the draw with neighbours Offaly in the Leinster Championship last Sunday.

Stradbally’s Damien Delaney and St Joseph’s Stephen Kelly did not turn up for training on Monday night after both had been substituted in the course of the drawn game in Portlaoise.

Delaney was replaced during the half-time interval against Offaly while Kelly was called ashore in the second-half, not long after coming on as a replacement himself.