Laois football chief backs U-21 boss in player release row

LAOIS football chairman Joe O’Dwyer has supported the county’s U21 football manager in a disagreement over the release of his players for senior duty against Offaly last weekend.

Mick O’Dwyer is without at least 10 established players because of holidays, injuries, college and other commitments, and requested some of Sean Dempsey’s underage players for the O’Byrne Cup semi-final last Sunday.

Before Christmas, an agreement had been reached between the managers that the U21s would train and play solely with Dempsey’s team until their championship commitments were over.

Laois won the minor All-Ireland three years ago and hopes are high that that group of players can go all the way at the U21 grade for the first time, despite the losses of Colm Begley and Brendan Quigley to AFL outfit, the Brisbane Lions.

“The seniors are, and always will be, the number one priority in this and any other county,” said Joe O’Dwyer yesterday.

“This is a big year for the U21s though and we want to give them every opportunity to win an All-Ireland. Any county that has made the breakthrough at senior level has won an U21 All-Ireland first. Tyrone are the main example.

“It’s my belief that if we hadn’t lost the U21 final to Kerry in 1997 we would have turned the corner at senior level a lot quicker than we did.”

Agreement was reached to allow Cathal Ryan and Colm Kelly turn out for Mick O’Dwyer last weekend and a longer-term compromise has been reached. U21s established on the senior panel will be allowed to stay.

Also, U21s needed to feature in certain league matches will be allowed to do so, but Dempsey and Joe O’Dwyer are anxious that youngsters are not called up just to sit on the bench.

“Young players need breathing space,” Joe O’Dwyer explained.

“Mick O’Dwyer is a great players’ manager and he deserves great credit for that. He loves to bring lads up from the younger grades any time he can, which is great.

“What we don’t want to see is lads brought into the senior squad just to warm the bench when they could be spending that time involved with the U21 squad.”

The need to siphon players from the U21 squad should be eased before the county’s first league appointment at home to Wexford on Sunday week, with some familiar faces returning.

Billy Sheehan will be available for selection, having been cup-tied for the O’Byrne Cup due to commitments with UCD, while Allstar defensive nominee Aidan Fennelly and his Portlaoise club mate Brian McCormack are back from a break in the Alps.

Darren Rooney will also be back in harness after a break in Australia, while Barry Brennan should soon be over a minor back strain.

On the other hand, last year’s captain Kevin Fitzpatrick is likely to miss the first few rounds of the NFL with knee and groin injuries.

Tom Kelly, an Allstar in 2003, is also likely to miss a good chunk of league action.

Kelly has taken a break from football to set up his own business.

Originally due to return for the start of February, that date has been put back by a number of weeks and it has been suggested that the centre-back may sit out the entire league and championship.

His twin brother Stephen has also quit the panel, just a year after reversing his decision to retire from inter-county football.