Reigning All-Ireland under-21 football champions Dublin will begin the defence of that title with seven of the team that featured in the final win over Roscommon

. First up is this evening's Leinster quarter-final against Laois in Portlaoise, and manager Dessie Farrell – also back from the 2014 success – has been able to call on considerable experience.

There is however one notable absentee in that Cormac Costello, one of the standout players from last year, is not listed to start having sustained a leg injury while playing for Dublin against Kerry in the Allianz League last Sunday: Costello is however among the replacements.

The seven returning starters are goalkeeper Lorcan Molloy, defenders David Byrne, Ross McGowan, Eric Lowndes and Conor Mulally, and forwards Niall Scully and Conor McHugh.Killian O’Gara, brother of Eoghan, is one of the newcomers. DUBLIN (U21 FC v Laois): L Molloy; E Mullan, D Byrne, R McGowan; E Lowndes, C Mulally, E Murchan; S Cunningham, S Carthy; R Gaughan, M Deegan, N Scully; K O’Gara, C McHugh, C Basquel.