COLM BEGLEY REMAINS an ‘important member’ of the Laois panel despite not being omitted for today’s Leinster championship game against Wicklow.
Laois ran out 0-21 to 1-11 winners in today’s provincial opener in Aughrim but Begley was not part of the squad after reportedly being dropped as he played in a Dublin senior championship game for Parnells last Wednesday night.
Laois boss Tomás Ó Flatharta accepted after today’s game that it was ‘a difficult decision’ for Begley but insisted that the player remains an ‘important member’ of their panel ahead of their Leinster quarter-final against Dublin on June 8th.
“We had to make a decision and equally Colm had to make a very difficult decision as well,” Ó Flatharta told Newstalk’s Off The Ball programme. ”He plays club football in Dublin and is also a coach with the club. I understand he had to make a very difficult decision.
“The situation is that he remains a very important member of our panel, a vital member of it. We’ve Dublin in two weeks time. We’re all going to be back in Tuesday night and ready to go at that. It’s all finished now and we move on.”
Laois now gear up for the considerable challenge of trying to stop the country’s leading side Dublin.
“Everybody knows that they’re All-Ireland champions and league champions, they’re a powerful team,” said Ó Flatharta.
“We’re in there against them and we’re delighted to be in Croke Park to be facing the Dubs. The next two weeks, we’ve to put all our focus in our preparations to perform to our ability.”