Wicklow set to field four debutants

Wicklow have selected four championship newcomers for their Leinster football championship game against Laois in Carlow next Monday. But injury and defection played a major part in manager John O'Leary's selection.

First-time championship players are goalkeeper Robert Hollingsworth, full back Gary Jameson, and forwards Barry Mernagh and Paddy Dalton. Mernagh was part of Rathnew's run through the Leinster club championship, while Dalton was one of the better forwards that reached the Leinster under-21 final last month, only to fall heavily to Dublin.

For the first time in 10 years, however, the Wicklow team does not include one of the Coffeys. Brothers Ronan and Darren and cousin Mark have opted out either through injury or personal reasons. Keith Byrne also did not return this season.

Another of their regular forwards from last year, Tony Hannon, was also ruled out through injury, while the Rathnew duo of Tommy Gill and Trevor Doyle are still suspended as a result of incidents in the All-Ireland club semi-final against Ballinderry.

This game also marks the first meeting between the sides since in the infamous encounter in 1986, when Laois were defeated just two weeks after they had won their first league title in 60 years. The Laois half-forward line was sent off that day, as were two Wicklow players.

WICKLOW (SF v Laois): R Hollingsworth; S Cush, G Jameson, T Burke; B O hAnnaidh, C Twomey, B Daly; F Daly, B O'Donovan; A Foley, S O'Neill, B Mernagh; A Nolan, P Dalton, J Behan.