Laois boss sticks with tried and trusted side

Laois manager Justin McNulty has given a vote of confidence to his players by naming an unchanged team for Saturday's showdown with reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin.

Laois have negotiated a successful path through the qualifiers having lost their Leinster SFC opener to Longford back in May.

McNulty's charges have seen off Carlow, Monaghan, Leitrim and beaten Leinster finalists Meath via the back door route and are now on the cusp of a first ever All-Ireland quarter-final success.

They boast a settled side with a nucleus of 12 players starting throughout the four-match run through the qualifiers. The only changes to the starting line-up have seen Jamie Kavanagh, Padraig McMahon and Kieran Lillis used.

Team captain Kevin Meaney continues at full-back this weekend with Lillis kept on the bench, while forwards Padraig Clancy and Ross Munnelly will share the honour of becoming the first Laois men to play in five All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals - including the 2006 replay against Mayo.

The O'Moore men have lost all four of their previous All-Ireland quarter-final ties, going down to Armagh in both 2003 and 2005 and then losing to Mayo after a replay six years ago.

Laois and Dublin are meeting in the Championship for a second successive year, with Dublin having won a Leinster quarter-final clash by 1-16 to 0-11 at Croke Park 14 months ago.

The Dubs have beaten Laois 23 times in 30 Championship encounters, the midlanders have posted five victories and there have been two draws.

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