Neighbours Carlow and Laois go head-to-head in Netwatch Cullen Park tomorrow with precious Leinster SHC round-robin series points at stake.

Laois are licking their wounds after coming up just short against Antrim - 3-22 to 5-17 - in Ballycastle last weekend.

It was a bitter disappointment for the O'Moore County and manager 'Cheddar' Plunkett says defeat is not an option for his players: "The match is very, very important for this group of players.

"Everybody has invested a huge amount of time, and a huge amount of their lives into this. In terms of the development of this team it is very, very important and we're going to give it everything we have."

Plunkett's Carlow counterpart Pat English has made two changes to his starting 15 following last Sunday's 2-17 to 2-19 defeat to Westmeath.

Shane Kavanagh (right corner-back) and Paul Coady (left half-forward) get the nod with Ger Coady and Jack Kavanagh making way.

"The character is in them," English commented after the Westmeath loss. "It will turn and they will come good. They will get results."

Verdict - Laois.

Carlow team: Kevin Kehoe; Shane Kavanagh, John Rogers, Alan Corcoran; Richard Coady, David English, Edward Coady; Diarmuid Byrne, Craig Wall; John Michael Nolan, Edward Byrne, Paul Coady; Sean Murphy, Seamus Murphy, Martin Kavanagh.

Laois team: tba.

Match details: Sunday, Netwatch Cullen Park, 3.30pm.

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan.

Odds: Carlow 10/3, Draw 11/1, Laois 1/4.

Tweet

Most Read Stories