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GAA

SFC 2012: O'Gara handed Laois chance

Dublin have made one change ahead of Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Laois.

PAT GILROY HAS handed Eoghan O’Gara a first Championship start of the season as Dublin prepare for their All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Laois.

A fringe player for most of the summer, O’Gara impressed when introduced as first-half sub in the Leinster final win against Meath last month.

The Templeogue-Synge Street forward scored 0-2 from play and helped shift the momentum of a tight contest when he created the Dubs’ opening goal for Bernard Brogan on the stroke of half-time.

O’Gara’s inclusion at corner-forward sees Kevin McManamon drop to the bench, the only change made by Gilroy for Saturday evening’s showdown in Croke Park.

Despite concerns over the groin injury which forced him off against Meath, Alan Brogan returned to training last night and keeps his place at centre-forward.

Michael Dara MacAuley is again named at full-forward and so Diarmuid Connolly, who missed the Leinster final to serve a one-match ban, will have to be content to start on the bench.

Meanwhile, Laois boss Justin McCarthy has named an unchanged team from the side which beat Meath in round four of the All-Ireland qualifiers.

There is no place in the starting XV for MJ Tierney, who scored 0-2 from the bench against the Royals last weekend.

Throw-in on Saturday is at 7pm, with Mayo and Down opening proceedings with the first part of a senior double-header at 5pm.

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Michael Fitzsimons, Rory O’Carroll, Philly McMahon; James McCarthy, Kevin Nolan, Cian O’Sullivan; Eamon Fennell, Denis Bastick; Paul Flynn, Alan Brogan, Bryan Cullen (c); Bernard Brogan, Michael Dara MacAuley, Eoghan O’Gara.

Laois: Eoin Culliton; Cahir Healy, Kevin Meaney, Peter O’Leary; Darren Strong, John O’Loughlin, Conor Boyle; Brendan Quigley, Colm Begley; Ross Munnelly, Gary Walsh, Damien O’Connor; Billy Sheehan, Padraig Clancy, Colm Kelly.