Micko's Laois gunning for revenge
Mick O'Dwyer's young Laois side have waited two years for revenge on Armagh, and it could finally come today when the sides clash in an intruiging All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park (3.30pm).
2003, O'Dwyer's first season in charge of the O'Moore men, saw Laois pick up their first Leinster title for 57 years, but Armagh halted their progress with a 0-16 to 0-14 defeat in the last-eight of the All-Ireland.
It's likely to be just as close this afternoon as Laois goalkeeper Fergal Byron, an All-star in 2003, has conceded just one goal in four championship games this summer.
"People say that Armagh are a physical team but we played them in 2003 and they beat us 0-16 to 0-14. You can’t call a team that scores 16 points cynical," insisted Byron this week, the oldest member of the Laois team at 30.
"On top of that they have brillant players like Ronan Clarke and Stevie McDonnell who are crying out for quick, direct balls into the full-forward line.
"So there’s no need for us to get involved in the cynical side of the game."
Joe Kernan's have been dubbed "a team with more steel than style" in 2005, but there's no doubting the National League winners' pedigree and forward power.
They've rattled in 8-67 in six championship games and a three-week break from their Ulster final replay win over Tyrone will have their batteries undoubtedly recharged.
Oisin McConville, who hit two late points to defeat the Red Hands last time out, and Stephen McDonnell, the Orchard side's chief scorer (2-12), wil have to shackled well throughout.
Kernan has opted for one change in personnel, with Martin O'Rourke coming back into the side at wing forward to indirectly replace his brother Aidan. The dropping of Paul McGrane and Ciaran McKeever's four-week suspensions has provided a timely boost too.
O'Dwyer will hope to sting the Armagh backs with his side's undoubted pace up front. They accounted for Derry last time out, 1-11 to 0-11, in the qualifiers, and welcome back Barry Brennan from a hamstring injury.
Stephen Kelly also starts, Ross Munnelly will purr on the '40' once more and Brian 'Beano' McDonald gets in ahead of an injury victim Chris Conway at corner forward.
"This is the kind of match you want, a contest in which you can judge how far you have come," said O'Dwyer this week.
The wily Kerryman knows this championship needs a surprise, and Laois might just have the gall to knock Armagh off their perch.
ARMAGH: P Hearty; A Mallon, F Bellew, E McNulty; A Kernan, K McGeeney, C McKeever; P McGrane P Loughran; M O'Rourke, J McEntee, O McConville; S McDonnell, R Clarke, B Mallon.
LAOIS: F Byron; A Fennelly, D Rooney, J Higgins; C Begley, T Kelly, P McMahon; P Clancy, N Garvan; R Munnelly, B Brennan, B Sheehan; D Brennan, S Kelly, B McDonald.
Referee: John Geaney (Cork)
