New Laois football manager Sean Dempsey has introduced 15 new faces to his squad for the O'Byrne Cup. The high-profile casualties of the new regime include Noel Garvan, Brian 'Beano' McDonald, Chris Conway, Paul Lawlor, Gary Kavanagh, Colm Kelly (St. Joseph's), David Murphy, Kevin Fitzpatrick and Donal Miller, all of whom have played in the championship in recent years. Also absent are the Portlaoise duo Colm Parkinson and Cahir Healy, who have opted to go travelling in the New Year. The experienced St. Joseph's pair, Tom Kelly and Joe Higgins, who came out of retirement last summer, are both included even though they are currently injured and are likely to miss the start of the National League. In all, there are 20 players in the squad that have never played in the championship. County champions Portlaoise have the most representatives with six players involved, namely Michael Nolan, Zach Tuohy, Brian 'Bruno' McCormack, Peter McNulty, Aidan Fennelly and Craig Rogers. Laois O'Byrne Cup squad: D Maher, P Begley, S Lawlor, D Murphy, C Kelly (all Stradbally), M Nolan, Z Tuohy, B McCormack, P McNulty, C Rogers, A Fennelly (all Portlaoise), D Rooney, C Gorman (both St. Manman's, Clonaslee), T Kelly, J Higgins (both St. Joseph's), C Ryan (Portarlington), P Clancy, B Quigley (both Timahoe), J O'Loughlin, G Reddin, S Conlan (all Mountmellick), P O'Leary, P Hyland (both O'Dempsey's), K Meaney, R Munnelly (Arles-Kilcruise), D Brennan (Arles-Killeen), M Timmons, M Hande, A Doran (all Graiguecullen), C Bergin (The Heath), D Strong, B Sheehan (both Emo), S Conroy, MJ Tierney, P McMahon (Ballyroan-Abbey), D Kingston, J Murphy (Barrowhouse), R Stapleton (Annanough), C Og Greene (Park-Ratheniska), N Donoher (Courtwood), J Horan (Ballyfin). Tweet

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