Fitzgerald in, Kavanagh out for Laois

Team captain Gary Kavanagh has been omitted from the Laois starting line-up for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Offaly (Portlaoise, throw-in 4pm).

Laois boss Mick O'Dwyer has made just one change to the side that beat Meath 2-13 to 0-13 with a late spurt two weeks ago.

Kavanagh loses out with Ian Fitzgerald nabbing his place in the full-forward line. The Portlaoise clubman, who turned 29 last Wednesday, turned in an impressive cameo performance when coming on for Kavanagh against the Royals.

Brian 'Beano' McDonald switches over to the left corner of the attack with the 6ft Fitzgerald to station himself at full-forward.

Brendan Quigley will continue to partner Noel Garvan at midfield as big Timahoe man Padraig Clancy is not rated fit enough for a recall.

Clancy injured his shoulder in the Leinster semi-final against Dublin last month, he has since undergone extensive treatment but failed a fitness test yesteday.

Ross Munnelly, who took his championship tally to 2-12 against Meath, is one of the survivors from last year's meeting between the counties - his goal helped the O'Moore men claim a 1-10 to 1-8 victory in the quarter-finals of the Leinster championship.

LAOIS (SFC v Offaly) - F Byron; A Fennelly, D Rooney, J Higgins; P McDonald, T Kelly, P McMahon, B Quigley, N Garvan; B McCormack, C Conway, R Munnelly; B Sheehan, I Fitzgerald, B McDonald.