Laois seek passage by Faithful departure

JAMES YOUNG wants Laois to finally make their Leinster SHC breakthrough this weekend — just like opponents Offaly did in the 1990s.

Laois face their great midlands rivals on Saturday evening in Tullamore with a realistic pathway to the Leinster final for the winners.

It's a huge tie for both sides with the potential for the shock of the year so far in place.

Laois held their own in NHL Division One earlier this season and the feelgood factor in Páidi Butler's young camp is palpable.

In turn, Offaly have had a dismal start to the year and suffered a shock relegation to Division Two in a poor campaign that included a 21-point drubbing by Dublin.

That was down in part to a rash of injuries to key players.

While the majority of them will be available this time, boss Mike McNamara is still without influential trio Brian Whelahan (thumb), Rory

Hanniffy and Barry Teehan (both knee).

It's a far cry from the heady days enjoyed by the Faithful hurlers when they made their own breakthrough and won an All-Ireland title as recently as 1998.

"We'd be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Offaly.

"If we can get by them this weekend then I think we have a great chance in Leinster," said Young.

"Páidi Butler has really put his mark on this team.

"He's hurling mad and he lives for the game.

"It was the first time in years that Laois had their Division One status secured even before the last game of the campaign."

Butler has given youth its chance to great effect and Young reckons that the likes of Joe Fitzpatrick, Michael McEvoy and James Walsh, all new recruits in the last 12 months or so, are huge prospects.

"The average age of the team is only about 23 or 24," he enthused.

"Páidi brings in the minors and the U21s to sessions as well to give them a taste for the whole thing.

"It's the best shape Laois hurling has been in since I came in."

But the free-taker supreme, who starts in an unaccustomed centre-forward role, made it clear that victory against Offaly is vital to avoid a serious dent to morale.

"We know it's going to be tough, the toughest challenge we've had this year, but we're up for it and you can't do any more than that," he said.

"Offaly have a lot of their big names back and I think you'll see a very different Offaly side to the one that was out in the League."

Meanwhile, Darren Rooney will be forced to play two games in less than 24 hours.

Dual player Rooney a Clonaslee/St Manman's club mate of Young's has been selected to line out for both the county footballers and hurlers this weekend.

Butler named his side to face Offaly yesterday and Rooney retains his place at midfield.

Elsewhere, Canice Coonan and skipper Dave Cuddy return to the team at the expense of Robert Jones and Enda Meagher, as Laois look to build on wins over Carlow and Meath.