Champions next as Laois hog the limelight

ALL-IRELAND champions Armagh will have to derail Mick O’Dwyer’s Laois bandwagon if they are to retain their football title in September.

Joe Kernan’s side came out of the hat for the quarter-final with the Leinster champions last night. The glamour tie of the last eight is likely to form part of a double-header at Croke Park on Sunday, possibly with the Galway-Donegal quarter final. Kerry will renew rivalries with Tommy Carr in their meeting with Roscommon. Because the GAC will be keen to avoid scheduling an Ulster side for a Bank Holiday Monday fixture, it is possible that the Kerry-Roscommon game will be played this day week. It is a repeat of the 1980 All-Ireland final, while Tyrone will be fancied to dispose of their provincial rivals, Fermanagh, in the other tie.

Armagh were defeated by Laois in the Allianz League semi-final by five points, but that will have no relevance for the quarter-final, Laois coach Mick O’Dwyer insisted last night. “Secretly, I was kind of hoping we might get Armagh. It’s the ultimate test for our young lads because Armagh proved against Dublin that they remain the finest side in the country. They are the benchmark we must test ourselves against. Our lads will have their feet firmly on the ground for this one.”