Laois look too strong for Wicklow

LEINSTER SFC FIRST ROUND
Wicklow v Laois, Aughrim
Sunday, 3.30

If Harry Murphy and Tomás Ó Flatharta are keen on flying under the radar, they will have been pleased with a week during which there has been far more focus on when the counties last met at this venue 28 years ago and the ensuing scenes were said to resemble out-takes from The Crazies.

Laois have more pressing problems than the memory of their shiny league title left in bits in West Wicklow in 1986. The county has managed just one Leinster win in the past three seasons – although there was a good qualifier run two years ago.

Under Tomás Ó Flatharta Laois had a tolerable league, avoiding relegation with a good last-day win over Down. They've a decent attack with Ross Munnelly, Donie Kingston and AFL graduate Conor Meredith providing some quality up front. Injuries have undermined the defence and they might have been more vulnerable but for their opponents' extensive 'unavailable' list, which affects all sectors.

Wicklow have a good recent record at O’Byrne Park. As well as a feisty run in the qualifiers in 2009, they have lost in the championship just twice since 2005 at the Aughrim venue – the heavy defeat by Armagh in the 2011 replay and last year’s loss against Meath. In the league they signed off with a three-goal barrage in injury-time to hand divisional winners, a stunned Tipperary, their only defeat of the campaign.

They'll push hard if Laois are in any way dilatory about taking control – and there's some encouragement in the visitors' recent Leinster displays that this might happen – but Ó Flatharta's team look too strong to slip up.

Last meeting: 2008 Leinster quarter final, Carlow, Laois 0-15, Wicklow 0-13.
Odds: Laois 4 to 9, Wicklow 9 to 4 and 8 to 1 the draw.
Injuries: Laois have a plague in the full-back line with Mark Timmons out because of a hamstring and Dennis Booth suspended but Wicklow aren't faring a lot better. Ciarán Hyland is also out because of a hamstring whereas Niall Gaffney's thumb injury keeps him out of centrefield and Paul Earls's ankle injury sees him miss out.
Suspension: Dennis Booth for Laois and Wicklow full back Damian Power.
Just the ticket: General tickets (terrace) available at €10.
WICKLOW: R Lambert; A Murphy, P McLaughlin, A Byrne; K Murphy, P McWalter, D Healy; J Stafford, A McLoughlin; R Finn, M Kenny, D Hayden; L Glynn, S Furlong, P Cunningham.
LAOIS: G Brody; P McMahon, P Begley, P O'Leary; D Strong, S Attride, R Kehoe; K Meaney, J O'Loughlin; J Finn, D Kingston, B Sheehan; R Munnelly, C Meredith, D Conway.
Referee: Martin Higgins (Fermanagh)
Verdict: Laois to win.