Sweeping changes from Fitzgerald for hurlers first league outing against Westmeath
Laois hurlers on the march
WHAT do they say about ‘a new brush sweeps clean’. Well it might well have been endorsed by the new Laois hurling manager, Tommy Fitzgerald. The Portlaoise stalwart stood into the breach when Darren Gleeson had to step aside just weeks after being appointed due to illness.
The then manager, Willie Maher resigned after Laois’s ignominious lass to neighbours Offaly in the Joe McDonagh Cup final. Whether that result had any bearing on Fitzgerald’s fist selection, for the National League opener against Westmeath on Saturday, is anyone’s guess.
But only five who started that day are in the starting 15 for Mullingar, while another two are on the subs’ bench. One of the McDonagh Cup final subs starts on Saturday.
It is no great surprise that Enda Rowland retains his position between the sticks. The only starting backs from that final are Tom Cuddy and Fiachra C Fennell while the substitute, Donnachadh Harnett gets his chance at corner back.
Aidan Corby retains his position in midfield where he is joined by Tomas Keyes who played corner forward that day in June.
Up front David Dooley, Jer Quinlan and Aaron Dunphy retain their position while Willie Dunphy and Liam O’Connell are on the subs bench.
But the big news is that Cha Dwyer and Eanna Lyons have returned to the fold and start against Westmeath.
LAOIS PANEL V WESTMEATH Enda Rowland (St Lazarian’s Abbeyleix); Padraic Dunne (The Harps), Lee Cleere (Clough/Ballacolla), Donnachadh Hartnett (Rosenallis); Tom Cuddy (Camross), Fiachra C Fennell (Rosenallis), Jordan Walshe (Clough/Ballacolla); Aidan Corby (Clough/Ballacolla), Tomas Keyes (Camross); David Dooley (Rosenallis), Jer Quinlan (Borris/Kilcotton), Eanna Lyons (Ballyfin); Cha Dwyer (Ballinakill), Aaron Dunphy (Borris/Kilcotton), Martin Phelan (Castletown).
Subs: Cathal Dunne (Clough/Ballacolla), Ciaran Flynn (The Harps), Liam O’Connell (Rathdowney/Errill), Cody Comerford (The Harps), Ben Conroy (Slieve Bloom), John Lennon (Rosenallis), Colin Byrne (St Lazarian’s Abbeyleix), Willie Dunphy (Clough/Ballacolla), James Keyes (Colt-Shanahoe), Paddy Purcell (Rathdowney/Errill) Mark Dowling m(Camross).
