Offaly and Laois name teams for Leinster quarter-final

Kieran Galvin

Published: Sat 13 Apr 2024, 12:36 PM

Last updated: Sat 13 Apr 2024, 12:40 PM

Nathan Poland is set to make his Leinster SFC debut for Offaly in their quarter-final clash with Laois in Portlaoise tonight (Saturday), throw-in 7pm.

The Erin Rovers player has been selected at full-forward in what will be Declan Kelly's first senior championship match as Offaly manager. With Poland getting the nod alongside corner-forwards Keith O'Neill and Jack Bryant, Ferbane's Cathal Flynn has to be content with a place on the bench.

Offaly are without Nigel Dunne through suspension, while Aidan Bracken and Anton Sullivan are out through injury.

The fact that the two counties played out a draw in last year's Tailteann Cup encounter suggests this will be another tight game.

Offaly operated in Division 3 this year, retaining their place in that tier despite a bad start to the campaign.

For their part, Laois earned promotion from Division 4 and defeated Leitrim in the league final. Former Armagh player Justin McNulty is back in charge of Laois this year, having previously had a spell in charge of the O'Moore County.

The Laois team includes such players as Mark Timmons, Kieran Lillis, Eoin Lowry, Evan O’Carroll and Paul Kingston (see both team lists below).

The winners of tonight's game in Portlaoise will face All-Ireland champions Dublin or Meath in the Leinster semi-finals.

Offaly (vs Laois):

1. Ian Duffy

2. Lee Pearson (captain)

3. Declan Hogan

4. David Dempsey

5. Cormac Egan

6. Peter Cunningham

7. John Furlong

8. Eoin Carroll

9. Jack McEvoy

10. Dylan Hyland

11. Ruairi McNamee

12. Jordan Hayes

13. Keith O'Neill

14. Nathan Poland

15. Jack Bryant.

Subs: Mikey Cunningham, Adam Bolger, Jack O'Brien, Daire McDaid, Rory Egan, Cathal Flynn, Kevin McDermott, Diarmuid Finneran, Morgan Tynan, Cian Farrell, Cathal Donoghue.

Laois (vs Offaly):

1. Killian Roche

2. Ben Dempsey

3. Seamus Lacey

4. James Kelly

5. Eoin Buggie

6. Mark Timmons

7. Brian Byrne

8. Kieran Lillis

9. Damon Larkin

10. Kevin Swayne

11. Eoin Lowry

12. Shaun Fitzpatrick

13. Mark Barry

14. Evan O’Carroll

15. Paul Kingston.

Subs: Aaron Cooney, Niall Corbet, Brian Daly, Mikie Dempsey, Niall Dunne, Simon Fingleton, Conor Heffernan, Jack Lacey. Rioghan Murphy, Sean O’Flynn, Daniel O'Reilly.