Clancy to miss Laois championship opener

Laois midfielder Padraig Clancy is expected to miss tomorrow night's Leinster SFC quarter-final clash with Wicklow - despite being included in the midlanders' starting line-up.

Laois boss Liam Kearns pencilled the Timahoe clubman into his side but he now looks set to miss the game as an ankle injury continues to dog him.

Clancy is struggling for fitness and is expected to be replaced in Laois' centre-field by Kevin Meaney, who will bring the number of championship debutants in the team to six.

The 22-year-old Meaney, who plays his club football for Arles-Kilcruise, will link up with Mountmellick's John O'Loughlin in a new-look midfield partnership.

Much is expected of the 19-year-old O'Loughlin, who will come up against Wicklow's in-form pairing of Thomas Walsh and James Stafford.

Laois' midfield resources have been stretched with injuries to Clancy and Brendan Quigley, who injured himself in a work-related incident last week, while Noel Garvan is also recovering from ankle surgery and not part of the current panel.

Laois' former goalkeeper Fergal Byron, writing in the Leinster Express, said: "In midfield, if Clancy doesn't play there will definitely be two lads making their championship debuts there - John O'Loughlin and Kevin Meaney - and that would be a slight worry because that's where Wicklow are at their strongest.

"Thomas Walsh is a very experienced player and I think there is more in him than he showed against Kildare and while James Stafford mightn't look like the best footballer around, he can do the basics well and will win lots of ball."