Laois star Colm Begley has criticised the Leinster Council over its decision to fix Dublin's provincial championship opener for next summer at Nowlan Park.

Speaking at Ireland's International Rules training camp in Carton House, Begley said he believes that the winners from the Laois/Wicklow SFC first round clash should have home advantage for their Leinster quarter-final against the All-Ireland champions.

"I'm disappointed, to be honest with you," Begley said.

"I haven't read the reasons why. I wouldn't mind reading them, but I'm surprised again why it needs to be changed for no apparent reason.

"I think we'd have enough (capacity) in Portlaoise to hold it if we do win our game, to hold a big enough championship game that will have a massive atmosphere, and I don't see why Laois should lose out or Wicklow should lose out."

While the Wicklow's home ground in Aughrim would have presented problems capacity-wise, Begley says he still would have played preferred to play at Croke Park rather than travel to Kilkenny.

"We don't get as many chances to play in Croker any more. It's the place you want to play in," he stated. "People say about Dublin and the crowd, but I'd rather play in front of a big crowd than play down in Nowlan Park if it's not going to be our home ground. Might as well.

"Nothing against Kilkenny's ground or anything like that, it's fantastic, but two teams now have to travel for no reason and we're supposed to have a home game or Wicklow are supposed to have a home game. I just don't see the benefit from it. And also for players, we like to play in our home ground."

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