All the pressure now on Laois, insists Kelly

LAOIS face a far tougher task in retaining their Leinster title than they did in winning it last year, according to Meath forward Evan Kelly.

“Laois had great enthusiasm last year,” said the Simonstown Gaels forward who faces them in Sunday’s provincial semi-final. “They were on the crest of a wave and there was no pressure on them. They came from nowhere. It’s different now, the pressure is all on them and they’ll have to see how they cope with it.”

Kelly cites Meath experience for his viewpoint: “we had that situation in 2000 when we went out in the first round against Offaly after winning Leinster the year before. It’s a different story altogether when people are expecting things of you. Hopefully, that bug will bite them this year.”