Shortall backs Laois rookies to make final

LAOIS selector Andy Shortall has backed their rookies to rise to the occasion in Sunday’s Leinster semi-final against Wexford.

Six players made their senior inter-county debuts against Wicklow in the quarter-final almost four weeks ago and that half-dozen are retained for the second successive game against a south-east outfit.

Explained Shortall: “They all acquitted themselves very well the last day, but you have to remember that, while it was their senior debuts, most of those lads had a huge amount of experience of playing minor and U21 Leinster and All-Ireland finals.