Five changes made as Laois senior hurling team named for Kerry showdown in Portlaoise

The Laois senior hurling team has been named for Saturday's Round 4 clash against Kerry in this year's Allianz Hurling League Division 2.

Manager Tommy Fitzgerald has made five changes from the side that beat Derry by 10 points three weeks ago in Portlaoise.

The first change comes between the sticks as Cathal Dunne returns to the goals in place of Eoin Fleming. There's also change at full-back as The Harps' Padraic Dunne takes the place of Ciaran McEvoy. The third change is at centre-back as Podge Delaney, who missed the Derry game with a hamstring issue, takes the place of Lee Cleere, who went off injured against Derry three weeks ago. Cleere is named on the bench however.

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Aidan Corby comes back into the team in place of Eoin Gaughan at 9, while Mark Dowling takes Martin Phelan's place in the forwards. 

One big plus for Laois is the return of Jordan Walshe on the subs bench, with the Clough/Ballacolla star having not played since Clough/Ballacolla were knocked out of the Leinster Club Championship by Ballyhale Shamrocks last November.

Laois come into this game off the back of two wins from their first two league games and having had a three-week break since that game against Derry. That break was well overdue for Laois as they played five games from January 4- February 1 between their three games in the Walsh Cup/Shield and the league games against Mayo and Derry.

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The Laois starting 15 and substitutes for Saturday's game

LAOIS: Cathal Dunne (Clough-Ballacolla); Padraic Dunne (The Harps), Ian Shanahan (Ballinakill), Cody Comerford (The Harps); Fiachra C Fennell (Rosenallis), Podge Delaney (The Harps), Ryan Mullaney (Castletown); David Dooley (Rosenallis), Aidan Corby (Clough/Ballacolla); James Keyes (Colt/Shanahoe), Jack Kelly (Rathdowney/Errill), Aaron Dunphy (Borris/Kilcotton); Cillian Dunne (Clough/Ballacolla), Mark Dowling (Camross), Mossy Keyes (Camross).

Subs: Eoin Reilly (Abbeyleix), Ciaran McEvoy (Portlaoise), Jordan Walshe (Clough/Ballacolla), Eoin Gaughan (Camross), Lee Cleere (Clough/Ballacolla), Fionán Mahony (Abbeyleix), Martin Phelan (Castletown), Eoghan Cuddy (Camross), Fionn Holland (Clonad), Jack Breen (Castletown), Cormac Byrne (Abbeyleix).

The Laois and Kerry game will throw-in at 2pm in Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.