Laois rightly big favourites for Joe McDonagh Cup clash with Kerry
The bad news? This isn't the game you'd choose if you were looking to showcase Kerry hurling to the widest possible audience, as chances are there will probably be a wide margin between the sides come the finish.
Laois come into the game off the back of a 39-point victory over Down in the previous round, while the Kingdom suffered a 19-point defeat at the hands of Carlow.
Down, remember, are the Division 2 kingpins, while the Kingdom didn't even reach the final of the same competition. Chances are, then, that this could be another chastening enough experience for the green and gold in the small ball code.
The way the Joe McDonagh Cup has played out so far it's been pretty obvious that Carlow and Laois are a cut above the rest. And it's been a good wee while since the Kingdom ruffled the feathers of the O'Moore County in league or championship.
Indeed, when the sides met last year in Austin Stack Park the visitors on that occasion ran out very comfortable winners, 1-25 to 0-18, a ten-point margin between them come the finish.
And, being honest about it, if John Griffin's men were to emerge from Portlaoise next Sunday with a defeat of a similar margin they'd be fairly satisfied by a job well done.
The likelihood is Griffin and his management team won't risk Pádraig Boyle, Shane Conway and Daniel Collins for the game, given the importance of the final two games of the competition (away to Down, at home to Westmeath) when their survival in the grade will be decided.
That said when it comes to Kerry hurling, as we're fond of saying, expect the unexpected. We would be quite surprised if they were able to turn over Laois this weekend, but stranger things have happened.
Still Laois are formidable, a rejuvenated force under Tommy Fitzgerald, with players of the quality of Lee Cleere, Paddy Purcell, Aidan Corby, Tomás Keyes, Pádraig Delaney, Charles 'Cha' Dwyer, and Fiachra Fennell.
Even without old reliables like Enda Rowland and Stephen 'Picky' Maher, Kerry are going to find Laois a seriously tough ask. Laois, while they were relegated from Division 1B, spent the spring-time playing at a much higher level.
The bookmakers have Laois installed as overwhelming favourites for this one, nothing we've seen suggests they've called this one wrong.
Verdict: Laois
JOE McDONAGH CUP (Round 3)
Laois v Kerry
Sunday, May 11
O'Moore Park, Portaloise 4pm
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