The Laois team to play Down in Sunday’s final NFL Division 2 game shows no changes from the side that started against Kildare in the last round.
Sean Dempsey has resisted the temptation to try out a few new players, instead giving a vote of confidence to the 15 that did so well in the four-point win over Kildare.

It means that John Scully, who missed the Kildare game because of a stomach
bug, doesn’t regain his place with Cathal Ryan starting at corner-back in a full-back line that also includes Denis Booth and Mark Timmons.

Cahir Healy is named at centre-back while Brendan Quigley again partners Kevin Meaney in midfield. Up front Craig Rogers starts again at centre-forward with Darren Strong getting his second start on the wing.

Sunday’s game against Down in Pairc Esler in Newry is a dead rubber as Down have already qualified for a place in the Division 2 final and Laois can neither be relegated or promoted. However, following on from the impressive showing against Kildare, Laois will be seeking to maintain their recent run of good form.

Down are one the form teams in the country and have knocked Laois out of the championship in each of the last two years.

LAOIS SF V Down: Marty Dowling; Cathal Ryan, Denis Booth, Mark Timmons; Padraig McMahon, Cahir Healy, Colm Begley; Brendan Quigley, Kevin Meaney; Billy Sheehan, Craig Rogers, Darren Strong; Michael Tierney, Donie Kingston, Niall Donoher

By Steven Miller, Leinster Express

Filed under: Laois Football, Laois NFL, Inter County