Kildare football's confidence is at a low ebb ... can neighbours Laois take advantage of that in Tullamore this evening?

The pressure is very much on Jason Ryan and his players as they attempt to restore some pride into the Lilywhite jersey following their relegation to Division 3 of the league.

Since then, the loss of Keith Cribbin to a cruciate ligament injury and the decisions of Daniel Flynn and Tomas O'Connor to opt out of the panel have compounded their woes.

Tommy Moolick, Peter Kelly and Niall Kelly don't feature on the starting 15 released by Ryan and his selectors during the week but there are ten survivors from the team that brought Monaghan to extra-time in the qualifiers last year.

"What's happened in the league is gone," captain Eamonn Callaghan stated during the week. "We can't do anything about that now, it's done. We just have to move forward.

"Like that, it's a new season. Anything can happen. We're just hoping if we get a few wins under our belt that the league campaign will be forgotten about."

Laois have a game under their belts but, in truth, Tomás O Flatharta and his selectors will have learnt little from their 3-16 to 0-8 stroll in Netwatch Cullen Park against Carlow.

The O'Moore County have kept the faith the same starting 15 and they will be out to avenge the 1-9 to 1-12 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Lilywhites in the league back in March.

The fitness of defender Paul Begley will be monitored, however, as he struggles with a hip problem.

"It is a local derby and there is going to be an edge to the game for supporters and that's great from an entertainment point of view," O Flatharta commented.

The mighty Dublin await the winners in the last four.

Verdict - Laois.

Kildare team: Mark Donnellan; Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Mick O'Grady, Ollie Lyons; Kevin Murnaghan, Fergal Conway, Emmet Bolton; Gary White, Paul Cribbin; Padraig O'Neill, Eoghan O'Flaherty, Cathal McNally; Eamonn Callaghan, Alan Smith, Padraig Fogarty.

Laois team: Graham Brody; Damien O'Connor, Mark Timmons, Stephen Attride; Darren Strong, Robbie Kehoe, Colm Begley; Brendan Quigley, John O'Loughlin; Niall Donoher, Conor Boyle, Evan O'Carroll; Ross Munnelly, Donal Kingston, Paul Kingston.

Match details: Saturday, O'Connor Park, Tullamore, 7pm.

Referee: Cormac Reilly.

Odds: Kildare evens, Draw 15/2, Laois 11/10.

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