Laois in fine fettle for early season showdown

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE: IT'S STILL early days in the Allianz Football League, but Sunday's Division Two clash between Laois and Derry may well decide who joins the big boys in Division One.

Both teams come in with two wins from two games and whoever wins in Celtic Park on Sunday will assume pole position for promotion as the halfway point in the league approaches.

Derry are in fact unbeaten this season under new manager John Brennan, and have now won six games in succession when their Dr McKenna Cup campaign is included. Yet Laois’ form is perhaps the more impressive given they too are under new management, and exited the championship last summer with a shock defeat to Tipperary.

Last weekend’s win over Antrim – following their first round win over big rivals Meath – was notable on a number of counts, including another standout performance from dual player John O’Loughlin at centre forward.

O’Loughlin is concentrating solely on football this season and that decision appears to be paying off although, like most people in Laois, he’s not getting carried away by the good start.

“With two wins from two you’d have to be fairly happy with the progress,” he says. “I don’t think Laois have won two league games in a row the last few years, so we are happy, yes.

“But Derry is a huge test. They’re two from two as well, but we are going up there to get the two points. It will be our biggest test yet and we are looking forward to it.

“Maybe in a sense the shackles are off because we haven’t lost a game, and the relegation fear is gone. But like any team we want to get promoted and get into Division One where all the big teams are.”

The appointment of Justin McNulty was something of a gamble given he had no previous county managerial experience, but the former All-Ireland winner with Armagh has helped make the difference.

“Justin has brought a fresh approach to things,” says O’Loughin. “It’s very enjoyable at training, yeah, he’s very positive, he’s been very good. He knows what it takes. He has won an All-Ireland in recent years and hopefully be can bring that to the Laois squad, bring that positivity.

“He has just brought in a fresh footballing approach and he is very positive in everything he does and I think that is rubbing off on the players so far.

“And I really do think the talent is there in Laois. We just have to get that mentality and that thinking that Laois can do it. I know Laois are always recognised as a good county with minor and under-21, but we really have to push on. We just have to stand up and lead and show at senior we can do it. I believe we can.”

With O’Loughlin apparently settled at centre forward, McNulty still has a few more forwards to play around, particularly with the likes of Colm Parkinson and Donie Kingston back on board. There are plenty of old heads there too including Ross Munnelly, Pádraig Clancy and Gary Kavanagh.

O’Loughlin has opted out of the Laois hurling squad this season, but still has other obligations; studying for an MA in Sports Management at UCD, he lined out for their hurlers in the Fitzgibbon Cup, and is looking forward to the Sigerson finals weekend early next month, hosted by UCD.

In the meantime he has also joined the apparent stream of Laois players joining Dublin clubs, having transferred from Mountmellick to St Brigid’s.

Derry have home advantage on Sunday but despite their impressive wins over Tyrone and Kildare in the opening two games, they’ve had their confidence shaken a little with the news that several first-choice players including defenders Kevin McCloy and Michael Drumm and forward Mark Lynch are doubtful, having picked up injuries against Kildare.

For now, Laois also have a marginal advantage in that they top Division Two ahead of Derry on points difference, although with Donegal, Kildare and Meath all on their heels, so victory on Sunday would steal the winner a clear advantage in the race for promotion.