Higgins sees importance of experienced players to Laois

Former Laois footballer Joe Higgins believes that his former county colleagues Padraig Clancy and Gary Kavanagh still have a huge amount to offer the current Laois set-up.

Clancy has been named by Laois manager Justin McNulty in the team to face Tipperary in Saturday's All-Ireland SFC first round qualifier, which will be the Timahoe clubman's first Championship start of the year.

"Padraig is there for a good while now and I have soldiered with him for years. There is still an awful lot of more football in Padraig as well and that bit of experience will count for an awful lot too," said Higgins.

Stradbally veteran Kavanagh was also a part of Laois' 2003 Leinster title-winning side, and scored two points against Dublin as a late substitute last time out.

Higgins believes Kavanagh is a vital cog in the current Laois panel, stating: "I think Gary is a very underestimated player. I played against him in a club league game in Stradbally and he was the main man for them.

"He seems to have loads of running still in his legs. He is a good ball player and he will work hard for you and he will get scores for you as well.

"I would like to see Gary maybe getting a shot from the start. He went in and he did prove a point (against Dublin) to try and pin down a position for himself. If he doesn't start and comes on as a sub I think he will do the business again."

Tipperary beat Laois by a point in Thurles last June and Higgins reckons that home advantage should swing it for the O'Moore men this weekend.

"Definitely I think a home venue is a big thing (for Laois). I don't think that they will need much motivation.

"Tipperary knocked them out of last year's qualifiers. They are coming up to Laois this time and I think the (Laois) lads will be well up for it.

"Some of the play in the Dublin game brought positives from a Laois perspective. I thought Cahir Healy had an outstanding day on one of the best forwards in the country (in Bernard Brogan) - he didn't give him a whole lot on the day.

"It is good to see that Padraig McMahon is back from injury as well. There are guys there and they are very good players and if they can get it right as a team I think that they can progress in the All-Ireland series," added the 2003 All-Star.

The Laois public should be more patient according to Higgins, with McNulty still finding his feet in his first inter-county post.

"It takes time, as I know. It was my first year in management last year as the Laois Ladies senior football manager and it takes that year to get to know players and get to know who will produce the goods for you on the day.

"You need to get to know them as people as well as players. What I would say is that Kieran McGeeney could have been gone after his first year in charge of Kildare and you know where they are to date.

"Kildare are improving all the time and they are up there now as one of the top teams in the country.

"I would say that Justin definitely needs time and he has a core of players there that are very good. I think if they buy into what he is trying to do and vice-versa that it will come good for them."