All eyes on O’Moore Park as Laois U-20 footballers prepare for Longford battle

The 2026 Laois U-20 football panel, along with their starting 15 for Wednesday evening's Leinster Championship opener against Longford has been revealed by manager Kieran Kelly. Graiguecullen's Danny McGrath will captain the side.

Laois have been drawn into Group 2 of the championship alongside Meath, Carlow and Wednesday evening's opponents Longford. Laois will travel to Meath for Round 2 before ending the group stages against Carlow in Portlaoise.

13 of the players on the Laois U-20 panel were also part of the Laois minor football team that hammered Longford in Portlaoise in 2023.

Danny McGrath, Ben O’Connor, Fionn O’Sullivan, Robbie Murphy (scored 0-1), James Dunne, Eoin Johnson (scored 0-3), Niall Lalor, Darren Brennan, David Donohoe (scored 1-0), Paddy Fitzpatrick, Ennae Byrne (scored 0-4), Tom O’Connell (scored 0-1) and Cathal Buggie came on as a subs.

LAOIS: Cathal Tierney (Park-Ratheniska); Ben O’Connor (Portlaoise), Dan Boland (Courtwood), Fionn O’Sullivan (Crettyard); Hugo Emerson (Portarlington), Danny McGrath (Graiguecullen), Cathal Buggie (Stradbally); Robbie Murphy (St Joseph’s), Cormac Deegan (Annanough); Paddy Fitzpatrick (The Heath), Eoin Johnson (St Joseph’s), Darren Brennan (Portlaoise); Dylan Murphy (Graiguecullen), Ennae Byrne (Arles-Killeen), Ultan Dunne (O’Dempsey’s). Subs: Ed Slevin (Ballyroan-Abbey), David Donohue (Stradbally), James Dunne (Clonaslee-St Manman’s), Jack Julian (Ballylinan), Niall Lalor (Kilcavan), Tom O’Connell (Mountmellick), Eli Colbert (The Rock), James Horohan (Graiguecullen), Oisin Hade (Mountmellick).

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There are 12 more players part of the panel who have been named as part of the extended panel for the Longford game.

Adam O’Leary (O’Dempsey’s), Pauric Ramsbottom (Timahoe), Conor O’Callaghan (Portlaoise), Dillon Quick (O’Dempsey’s), Jack Doris (O’Dempsey’s), Niall Hickey (Ballylinan), Oran Darcy (Annanough), Ryan Phelan (O’Dempsey’s), Tadhg Slattery (Courtwood), Callum McElroy (Arles-Kilcruise), Hugh Connolly (Portarlington), Kyle O’Reilly (Crettyard).

Wicklow's Darragh Byrne will referee Laois v Longford on Wednesday evening and will throw-in at 7.30pm in Laois Hire O'Moore Park.