Portlaoise manager Malachy McNulty believes that he couldn't have asked any more of his much changed side this year.
Following their county final defeat to Stradbally last year, many wrote Portlaoise off for a few years, but just 12 short months later, they are back in a county final.
Despite losing some of their more experienced players for a variety of reasons, McNulty has managed to gel the side together as they prepare to face Ballylinan in Sunday's SFC final.
McNulty stressed to the Leinster Express that filling the players full of confidence was his first task this year.
"You just start the year with a clean slate, and try to put as much belief as possible into the new players and hope that they step up if you give them a chance, and they have responded with performances," said McNulty.
"A few lads now are still waiting to get their chance. They are waiting in the wings, there are three or four lads now in that position, and it is fantastic to have their wealth of experience and talent available to us."
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