Laois blow as Conway out after appendix operation

LAOIS captain Chris Conway has been ruled out of today’s Leinster SFC final replay against Westmeath.

Conway underwent an operation to remove his appendix last night and will be out of football for the next number of weeks.

It is another unfortunate blow for the Arles Kilcruise clubman as he missed Laois’s historic Leinster SFC success last year due to a long-term groin injury.

“It is tragic for him and he is only back from injury and it is massive blow,” PRO Marcella Daly said last night. Conway, who scored the injury-time equaliser to set up this evening’s replay at Croke Park, is likely to be replaced by Ian Fitzgerald.

It’s understandable to believe that Westmeath left their best chance to clinch a first-ever Leinster title behind them at Croke Park on Sunday.

When a less-favoured team is caught coming down the home stretch, historically, they tend to fold much quicker in the replay.

But just try convincing selector and county board secretary Paddy Collins of this. “Let me put it this way, during the latter stages of last weeks match only one side was ever going to win the game and it wasn’t Laois. Yes, we had the initiative but they drew level with an excellent point and don’t forget - Laois are a fine side,” said Collins.

“I wouldn’t be subscribing to the underdog notion that we will not be up to it this week, despite past history in replays.” The fact remains though that Laois did not hit full throttle last Sunday and, on paper, are still the fancied side. Yet, Collins is resentful that Westmeath their due respect.

“Some people have been patting us on the head saying we are a nice little team and that’s it but we are coming up to Croke Park to win.”

While Mick O’Dwyer fine-tuned his starting line-up, significantly dropping fullback Colm Byrne and last years captain Ian Fitzgerald, Páidí Ó Sé and co merely threw an Allstar back into the mix.

Rory O’Connell is now free from the shackles imposed by the GAC, thanks to an interlocutory injunction from the High Court, and he proved his fitness when replacing Gary Dolan before half-time the last day. He also proved to still be one of the best midfielders in the country.

So, advantage Westmeath, especially with the likes of Gary Dolan and Joe Fallon waiting in the wings.

And yet, it’s still Laois’s title to win or lose.

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; J Davitt, D O’Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis, D Healy, D Heavin; R O’Connell, D O’Shaughnessy; B Morley, P Conway, F Wilson; A Mangan, D Glennon, D Dolan.

LAOIS: F Byron; A Fennelly, J Higgins, P McDonald; D Rooney, T Kelly, K Fitzpatrick; P Clancy, N Garvan; R Munnelly, M Lawlor, C Conway; B McDonald, G Kavanagh, C Parkinson.