Stage is set for another thriller

Under-21 Football All-Ireland Semi-final (replay) -  Laois v Cork Gaelic Grounds, Limerick Today, 6.30pm:  The cliché of neither team deserving to lose proved true last Sunday when these two served up a superb semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds, a fitting curtain-raiser to the Division One final between Kerry and Galway.

Not surprisingly both teams are unchanged for this evening's replay.

Laois forward Chris Bergin was one of the heroes last week when he slotted the equalising point late in extra time. Donie Brennan, one of those previously dropped for his involvement with the Laois seniors the previous Sunday, scored a brilliant 1-2. Colm Kelly and Peter McNulty also made vital contributions.

Cork led 2-5 to 0-7 at half-time and Laois were chasing the game at the end, Daniel Murphy forcing extra time. Cork had till then looked slightly more composed, with seniors Daniel Goulding and Fintan Gould standing up well to the extra pressures.

With Mayo awaiting in next weekend's final, we are practically guaranteed another thriller here.

Cork still get the nod, purely on the basis of their start last week, but as Laois have proved in recent years their underage talent is formidable, and victory here is not beyond them.

CORK: K O'Halloran; R Carey, C Murphy, S O'Donoghue; D Limerick, M Shields, E Cadogan; A O'Connor, P Kelly; F Goold, B Cotter, P Kerrigan; D Goulding, B O'Flynn, J Hayes.

LAOIS: C Gorman; C Healy, M Timmons, B Meredith; C Rogers, C Ryan, P O'Leary; B Quigley, D Murphy; D Brennan, C Bergin, P McNulty; M Tierney, C Kelly (Stradbally), C Kelly (St Joseph's).