We’re going out to play football

Mick O'Dwyer

In fact I was told this week that it's 59 years since the county appeared in an All-Ireland semi-final. Isn't it about time we broke both sequences?

There's a common view that today's clash with Armagh marks a line in the sand for this Laois side and for their manager. I understand the thinking if you're standing still, you're going backwards etc.

It seems that at this stage, every game I'm involved in defines my present and my future. In today's terms, winning is everything and yesterday means little.

The players are thinking along those lines too. None of us want to get stuck in a quarter-final rut. We all want to move to the next level. Therefore defeating Derry in the last round of the qualifiers was a major fillip for this side, the first time they have defeated an Ulster opponent in the Championship. The manner of it was equally important. We have spoken about our first half 'difficulties' against both Dublin and Derry, but we didn't panic or throw in the towel on either occasion.

That resilience is crucial. The draw has not been kind to us over the past few seasons. We would have preferred Cork or Mayo in the quarter-finals this timebut that does not indicate any fear of Armagh on the players' part. And that includes physically.

It seems to be accepted wisdom that Laois is a team of physical lightweights, though I suspect people are making presumptions on the basis of some of our quicker forwards. We do not have any difficulty standing up to the physical nature of the Championship and I do not mean that purely in relation to today's opponents.

Joe Kernan's side are perfectly capable of playing quality football, and that's what I expect from them this afternoon.

The Armagh we face today face a different kind of challenge in their provincial outings, a sort of tribal welfare in Ulster, where it's survival of the fittest. Once they emerge, their physical prowess is not as important as their football.

Certainly Laois will be playing football today I have advocated that with every side I've managed.

Two years ago, there was a kick of a ball between the sides in a Croke Park quarter-final. We've been waiting since for a rematch. A lack of belief and maturity probably cost us victory that day, but neither can be used as an excuse on this occasion. After three successive Leinster final appearances, plus a National League final, Laois are up with the best of them, eating at the top table. And the players must get used to that.

Nothing will be that different from the Derry game. It's the same preparation, the same venue, against an Ulster county. We'll travel by coach to the Red Cow Hotel, have a light lunch and a final team meeting before a kick around in Marino. We've made some changes Chris Conway and Kevin Fitzpatrick were struggling with injury. Their misfortune presents an opportunity to Stephen Kelly, Beano MacDonald and Barry Brennan to step up and stamp their authority on proceedings.

Beano has been getting more and more football, both competitive and in training, and is showing the benefits of same. There's an interesting dynamic in our full forward line which may prove rewarding.