The wheels came off the Laois hurling wagon against Galway in the Leinster SHC semi-final and later today they play host to a Dublin team which suffered a similar fate against the Tribesmen.

Both Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett and Ger Cunningham will be looking for their players to restore pride to their respective jerseys.

"We were very, very disappointed. It was a Leinster semi-final and we had high hopes, with the goal of putting one over on Galway," Plunkett remarked.

"That didn't happen and the gap was big and we just have to go back and look at that and try to bounce back again."

There will have been plenty of head scratching in the Dublin backroom team following their no-show against Galway in the Leinster SHC quarter-final replay.

Aidan Harte rescued a draw for the Tribesmen at Croke Park but there was only one team in the replay six days later in O'Connor Park, Tullamore.

They finished 13 points behind Galway - 1-18 to 5-19 - so they take their first step on the road to redemption this evening.

The O'Moore County possess forwards who are capable of asking serious questions of the Metropolitans defence but it would be a major surprise if Dublin's name is not in the hat for Monday morning's second round draw.

Verdict - Dublin.

Laois team: tbc.

Dublin team: Gary Maguire; Niall Corcoran, Cian O'Callaghan, Paul Schutte; Chris Crummey, Liam Rushe, Shane Barrett; Johnny McCaffrey, Ryan O'Dwyer; Cian Boland, Eamon Dillon, Danny Sutcliffe; Paul Ryan, Conal Keaney, Mark Schutte.

Match details: Saturday; Portlaoise; 7pm; extra-time playable.

Referee: Johnny Ryan.

Odds: Laois 8/1; Draw 16/1; Dublin 1/14

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