Fri, 17 Apr, 2026 - 10:21

Flanagan names team for Laois clash

There is some good news on the injury front in the team named by Brian Flanagan but Kildare are still short some key men

Ger McNally

Brian Flanagan has named his team for Sunday’s Leinster Senior Football Championship quarter-final against Laois (Cedral St Conleths Park, 3.45pm) but it’s a team that still shows signs of the injury problems that have dogged the squad all season.

The missing include last year’s Tailteann Cup Player of the Year, Alex Beirne, Jack Robinson, Colm Dalton, Padraic Spillane and Ryan Sinkey.

Beirne’s loss is huge considering the impact his presence can have on the Kildare attack, while Robinson was the one bright spark for Kildare in the final couple of league games with superb cameos off the bench against Cork and Louth. Spillane and Dalton both suffered injuries against Louth while Sinkey’s sole appearance in the league was as a substitute in the opening round against Tyrone.

On the plus side for Kildare, captain Kevin Feely is fit enough to return to the centre of midfield, while James McGrath and Tommy Gill are others who have had their injury problems this year but are named to start.

With Spillane out, it’s no surprise to see Mark Dempsey come in for his first start of the year at full back after a very good showing once introduced as a first half substitute against Louth.

With Cian Burke keeping his place in goal, Brian Byrne and Ryan Burke are named either side of Dempsey in the full back line.

McGrath and Gill are named as the wings with Eoin Lawlor again named at number six.

Brendan Gibbons gets the nod to return to the starting line up to partner Feely in midfield.

After an experiment that saw him play in midfield against Louth, Brian McLoughlin returns to his favoured position at right half forward, with Callum Bolton on the opposite flank. Darragh Swords is picked at centre half forward.

Darragh Kirwan is named at full forward with two players making their Leinster Championship start in either corner, Ben Loakman and Eoin Cully.

Among the subs, Harry O’Neill, Ben McCormack and Neil Flynn have the most experience, while Sean Hanafin, another player who won an U20 All-Ireland title under Flanagan, is included in a matchday squad for the first time.

Click here for a full preview of the game.

Kildare team to play Laois:

1. Cian Burke (Clane)

2. Brian Byrne (Naas)

3. Mark Dempsey (Moorefield)

4. Ryan Burke (Caragh)

5. James McGrath (Athy)

6. Eoin Lawlor (Naas)

7. Tommy Gill (Carbury)

8. Kevin Feely (Athy)

9. Brendan Gibbons (Kilcock)

10. Brian McLoughlin (Clane)