Previewing Thursday night’s Laois minor football championship semi finals

Midlands Park Hotel Laois MFC Semi Final Portlaoise v Graiguecullen
In LOETB Centre of Excellence at 7.15pm

Portlaoise and Graiguecullen meet in the semi finals of the minor football championship in what is expected to be a keenly contested affair.

Portlaoise breezed through their group – defeating Na Fianna Og and Emo-Courtwood with relative ease before receiving a walkover from Portarlington.

They are stacked with quality as Ben Dempsey, Ben Reddin, Brian Smith, Kieran O’Donnell, Conor Brown, DJ White, Josh Hogan and Sam Birrane all named on the Laois minor panel earlier in the year.

But Graiguecullen are strong too and they finished second in a group with Ballyroan-Abbey and St Joseph’s.

They have Conor Kelly, Jack Byrne, Jake Haughney, Kian Lawler and Lee Byrne who were named on the Laois panel while the likes of Aaron Dorgan and Scott Roycroft are very capable players too.

This should be a good contest but Portlaoise should prevail.

Verdict – Portlaoise

Midlands Park Hotel Laois MFC Semi Final Ballyroan-Abbey v Na Fianna Og 
In LOETB Centre of Excellence at 7.15pm

Ballyroan-Abbey are the favourites to win their second minor football title in the last three years and they face Na Fianna Og in the semi final.

Na Fianna Og are an amalgamation of Arles-Kilcruise, Arles-Killeen, Barrowhouse and Crettyard – and they fielded a second team at this grade which played in the B competition.

They finished second in a group that contained Portlaoise, Portarlington and Emo-Courtwood – so they should be very competitive here.

Colin Dunne, Lee Day and Josh Kelly are three of their players who were named on the minor panel earlier this year.

Ballyroan-Abbey topped their group following big wins over Graiguecullen and St Joseph’s – and they look very strong once again.

Davin McEvoy, Odhran Delaney and Shaun Fitzpatrick are all inter-county players while Lawson Obular, Sam Quinn and Darren Mulhall are all extremely important for them too.

Na Fianna Og will push them all the way but Ballyroan-Abbey should prevail.

Verdict – Ballyroan-Abbey

SEE ALSO – Stinger device needed to deflate tyres of dangerous driver in Laois town while Gardai appeal for information as Dunnes Stores broken into

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source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/09/17/previewing-thursday-nights-laois-minor-football-championship-semi-finals/