The remarkable success rate of the Laois minor footballers in recent years has become the envy of all other minor county boards. The three-in-a-row Leinster champions return to Croke Park tomorrow to pit their skills against Kerry for the right to meet Tyrone in the All-Ireland decider on September 27th.
Brian "Beano" McDonald continues to be the driving force of the side since the start of his involvement, as a 15 year old, in 1996. The Arles youth's capacity to come to the rescue with a crucial score and inject high drama into a match has been an integral part of county's triumphs so far. A personal tally of 1-25 in this year's championship is clear testimony of McDonand's value. Given the varied demands on him by club, college and county he shows no sign of burn-out. He led Knockbeg College to victory in the Leinster Schools' final this year.
Yet Laois are far from being a one-man team. Only a huge team effort enabled them to overcome Dublin in the Leinster final and earlier victories over Kildare, Offaly and Longford were similarly acquired.
The selectors retain wing forwards Mark Dunne and John Michael McDonald, who were introduced in an inspired double substitution midway through the second half of the Leinster final. Jamie Moran and Benny O'Connell remain on the bench. Kieran Kelly moves to centre half forward, with Michael Clancy switching from left half forward to left corner.
Kerry will be trying to go one better than last year when they were crushed by Tyrone in the semi-final. The notion is that the side is not as good as last year's. Still, early sub-standard form that saw them having to replay with Waterford was somewhat off-set by victory over a strongly-fancied Limerick side in the Munster final.
Kerry: K Cremin; R O'Connor, S O'Sullivan, K Moynhan; M O Se, L Keane, R O'Connor; E Brosnan, E Courtney; T Kennelly, P Galvin, S O'Sullivan; R O'Connor, L Boyle, K Lynch.
Laois: W Moran; R Jones, B Gaynor, C Cleere; A Fennelly, P Leonard, B McCormack; J Behan, B Fitzpatrick; M Dunne, K Kelly, JM McDonald; P Clancy, B McDonald, M Clancy.
