Leinster SFC Laois v Carlow: After Chris Conway missed out on the glory of last year, Ian O'Riordan finds the Laois captain uncommonly motivated as his county begin their defence of the Leinster championship crown.

Among all the words of congratulations going to the Laois footballers last summer lay one word of consolation. For six years Chris Conway helped build the bridge between minor and senior success but when the crossing was finally made he was left behind.

Laois were Leinster senior champions, the first time since 1946, and Conway could only watch helplessly from the sidelines. Injury had denied him the chance to fully share what the likes of Brian McDonald, Colm Parkinson, Noel Garvan and Kevin Fitzpatrick were all embracing.

Minor potential finally turned into senior recognition. Only those who put so much heart and soul into sport and then endure injury at the worst possible time can relate to his emotions.

Yet Conway reflects calmly on the period. Tomorrow he'll run on to Dr Cullen Park, wearing the captain's armband and proudly leading Laois against Carlow. It would be hard to find another footballer in the country with more incentive for a big summer.

The groin injury that wrecked last season is passed off as a bad chapter, and the Laois forward resumes his story with added enthusiasm. This time last year the injury was so bad - tearing off the bone - that running was made impossible and football was just a dream.

"The problem started at end of February," he says, "just as a strain. I played on but by the end of April the damage was done. I togged out for the league final against Tyrone and came on towards the end. I was only on for a few seconds and I knew straight away it wasn't good, in fact it was a serious problem."

A week later Laois were playing in the championship against Wexford and, with no sign of improvement, Conway went for a scan. The tear was even worse than initially diagnosed and would require 12 weeks of complete rest to heal.

"All I could do was walk to try and keep some semblance of fitness. And this was the time when Mick O'Dwyer was still putting the panel through some punishing training sessions. And it was 10 days before the Leinster final when I first came back training. I togged out alright but there was no way I was going to play.

"So I wouldn't even consider it close to being any kind of season. And I'd never have been the greatest of spectators on the sideline. So it was very difficult. The only consolation was that the lads kept giving me something to aim for, another match to try and make, and that they were playing football of such quality.

"And obviously, I was delighted that Laois were able to bridge that gap and win in Leinster. I was just so disappointed not to be a part of it."

Defeat to Armagh ended the county's run but Conway's season was only taking off. With the injury fully healed he was able to embrace the club championship, and the success of Arles-Kilcruise became the side-bar of a famous year for Laois football.

The tiny club won the county final over Stradbally and then beat heavyweights O'Hanrahans of Carlow on the same weekend. Conway had found further consolation.

"It's a very close-knit club, with everyone working for one another," he says. "And we knew we'd a good young team starting out a few years back, and came up through the ranks. The addition then of, say, Ross Munnelly in the last couple of years and a few of the emerging minors, such as Ross's brother, Colm, in goal and my own younger brother, David, also helped. So it's just a real football community. We played some good football along the way, and had our bit of luck as well."

With his captaincy also confirmed, Conway entered the 2004 season with added intention. Yet in the league Laois were slow to get going, and not just because of the time-out in South Africa.

"There's no doubt there was a bit of a hangover from the win last summer. Things just didn't go too well for us in the opening few games. But we were doing a lot of heavy training. Part of that was because we hadn't started as early as last year. We were short several players as well, and were starting with six or seven younger players. You'd get away with three or four but not always that many at once."

Gradually they found their feet and a good win over Meath and a draw with Galway helped see off the threat of relegation. So since a handy win over Wexford on April 4th, Laois have been focused entirely on their date with Carlow.

"We're hoping we can just hit the ground ready. But I think we're ready for it. It feels like a long time now since our last seriously competitive match. So I feel we're ready to let go. Things are going well and there's no sign of any lackadaisical approach setting in."

As a teacher in Knockbeg College, within sight of the Carlow border, Conway knows all too well the challenge that lies in store. Carlow have gained great confidence with their win over Longford and would like nothing better than to put one over on their neighbours. Yet it's hard to see how any Carlow player could have more desire for victory than Conway.