Laois stick with tried and tested for Leitrim clash

Laois manager Justin McNulty has selected an unchanged team to face Leitrim in Saturday's All-Ireland SFC third round qualifier at Carrick-on-Shannon (throw-in 7pm).

McNulty has backed the players who started last weekend's well-judged 2-12 to 0-12 victory over Monaghan at O'Moore Park.

Emo's Billy Sheehan has been retained despite being the only starting forward who failed to score against Monaghan.

Team captain Kevin Meaney will continue at full-back in the injury-enforced absence of Kieran Lillis, while the four substitutes used against the Farney men - including forwards MJ Tierney and David Conway - are on the bench once again.

The O'Moore men have failed to make it to round 3 in each of the last four seasons but got their campaign off to a good start this year, beating Carlow and Monaghan in the first two qualifier rounds.

Laois and Leitrim have never met before at Senior Championship level, with the hosts hoping to build on their home win over Wicklow which marked their first ever All-Ireland qualifier success.

LAOIS (SFC v Leitrim): Eoin Culliton; Cahir Healy, Kevin Meaney (capt), Jamie Kavanagh; Darren Strong, John O'Loughlin, Conor Boyle; Brendan Quigley, Colm Begley; Ross Munnelly, Billy Sheehan, Gary Walsh; Damien O'Connor, Padraig Clancy, Colm Kelly.