Laois unchanged for Dublin clash

Laois will field an unchanged team in Sunday afternoon's Leinster SFC quarter-final against Dublin at Croke Park (throw-in 4pm).

Manager Justin McNulty has kept faith with the side that struggled to beat Longford in a preliminary round fixture two weeks ago. Kieran Lilis, Donie Kingston, Conor Boyle and Padraig Clancy, who were all used as substitutes in that game, have been kept in reserve again.

The O'Moore men struggled to see off Longford in blustery conditions in Portlaoise, with the 10 points shared out between Daithi Carroll (0-04), Niall Donoher (0-02), Billy Sheehan (0-02), Ross Munnelly (0-01) and Michael John Tierney (0-01).

Captain Colm Begley and Brendan Quigley struggled to win possession in midfield that day, with just one clean catch from Eoin Culliton's 25 kickouts. If they struggle in that area again, Clancy is expected to be introduced.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's crunch clash, McNulty said: "Dublin are going to be expected to trounce us. That is obvious given their form.

"They are a team with a serious All-Ireland pedigree, and they have been knocking on the door the last few years. For us to go and compete with them alone, we will be happy to do that.

"They are going to be raging hot favourites. So I guess it is a 'no lose' scenario for us. There is no pressure, no expectation. Our lads can just go out and play without fear and play without inhibition and just have a go."

If Laois manage to upset Pat Gilroy's men, they will advance to a June 26 semi-final against Kildare or last year's champions Meath, who meet in Sunday's curtain raiser at GAA headquarters.

LAOIS (SFC v Dublin): Eoin Culliton; Cahir Healy, Kevin Meaney, Mark Timmons; Darren Strong, Shane Julian, Peter O'Leary; Colm Begley (capt), Brendan Quigley; Daithi Carroll, John O'Loughlin, Niall Donoher; Ross Munnelly, Billy Sheehan, Michael John Tierney.