Laois call on Clancy

Padraig Clancy will make his first inter-county start since June 25 when Laois clash with Mayo in Sunday's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park (throw-in 2pm).

Clancy injured his shoulder in the Leinster semi-final loss to Dublin in June, and his championship summer looked in some doubt.

However, with his goal as a substitute in the recent qualifier win over Offaly confirming his availability, Mick O'Dwyer has parachuted the big Timahoe man back into his starting 15.

Clancy is set to partner his club mate and second cousin Brendan Quigley at midfield, although there is mounting speculation that Clancy could be handed a role at full-forward, offering himself up as a target man in the same way in which statuesque midfielder Kieran Donaghy has done so successfully for Kerry.

Whatever position he plays in, Clancy has been proud of how his cousin has stepped in for him this summer.

He said: "Brendan’s a great player. It’s hard enough coming in like that (as a substitute against Dublin) and he’s only 20, but he’s a big strong lad and he’s going to be one for the future."

Clancy's inclusion means Ian Fitzgerald is the player to lose out, with regular midfielder Noel Garvan listed at full-forward. However, Clancy and Garvan seem certain to swap positions against the Connacht champions.

Gary Kavanagh, Laois' captain for this season, is once again named on the bench.

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