Laois unchanged for U-21 semi

Laois manager Sean Dempsey has named an unchanged side for tomorrow's All-Ireland U-21 football semi-final against defending champions Mayo at Hyde Park (throw-in 3pm).

The spine of the Laois attack remains intact from last weekend's 0-13 to 1-7 defeat of Offaly in the Leinster U-21 decider, with key forwards Donie Brennan, Michael Tierney, Shane O'Neill and Craig Rogers all included.

Brennan, Tierney and Rogers were part of the Laois team that won the All-Ireland minor title in 2003, but the O'Moore county have so far failed to transfer their minor success to the U-21 grade.

They were pipped by Cork at the semi-final stage in last year's U-21 championship, and seven of that side will feature in Roscommon this weekend.

Portlaoise youngster Rogers insisted: "We can’t leave the U-21 behind with out winning the All-Ireland, because it will be a terrible bad day when that happens.

“We will live with it for the rest of our lives if we leave it behind so this year we have to go on and win it,” he told the Laois Nationalist.

“We have the talent but it is all about going out on the given day and producing the goods. If we play to our capabilities, we won’t be too far off.”

LAOIS (U-21FC v Mayo) - C Munnelly; C Healy, M Timmons, B Meredith; S Lalor, J O’Loughlin, N Donogher; B Quigley, C Sg Greene; D Brennan, C Rogers, S O’Leary; MJ Tierney, S O’Neill, D Conway.