Laois unchanged for Leinster semi-final

Laois manager Sean Dempsey has named an unchanged side for this Saturday's Leinster SFC semi-final against neighbours Kildare at O'Connor Park, Tullamore.

Former Laois minor and U-21 boss Dempsey has opted to stick with the team that registered a 1-15 to 1-11 win against Louth in the previous round.

Dempsey has opted to stick with defenders Rory Stapleton and Ger Reddin both of whom made their championship debuts in that game, with Pauric Clancy again hoping he can make a major impact after the Timahoe clubman bagged 1-3 in the quarter-final victory.

Saturday's meeting is the first Championship encounter between the sides since 2005 with Laois having the upper hand over the five previous Championship meetings, by three wins to two.

Laois beat Kildare by a comfortable 0-21 to 0-9 margin in their last Championship meeting, but Kildare have been to the fore in recent league meetings, with the Lilywhites firm victors by 0-18 to 1-8 at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise last February.

Laois, who last won the Leinster title in 2003, will be playing in their seventh successive Leinster semi-final, having won in 2003-2004-2005-2007 and lost in 2006-2008.

Kildare are back in the Leinster semi-final for the first time since 2005. They last reached the final in 2003 where they lost to Laois and last won the title in 2000.

LAOIS (SF v KILDARE): M Nolan; C Ryan, M Timmons, R Stapleton; D Rooney, G Reddin, J O'Loughlin; P Clancy, K Meaney; B Quigley, B McCormack, P O'Leary; MJ Tierney, R Munnelly, D Kingston.