David Dooley: Laois not there to make up the numbers as Wexford visit

"Oh yeah" - the emphatic response of Laois' David Dooley when asked could his side cause a major upset against Wexford in Saturday’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final at O’Moore Park.

He was far too young to be involved back in 2019 when Laois defeated Dublin at this stage, watching from the stands instead during the one and only time a Joe McDonagh Cup team has won an All-Ireland game.

His focus in the following years would be on rugby anyway, but despite a couple of seasons in Leinster’s sub-academy, a contract never materialised and Willie Maher brought him into the Laois team this year and already he has become a key pillar of the side.

From the outside it may seem that confidence levels would be on the floor after last week’s Joe McDonagh final loss to Offaly, but the Rosenallis man isn’t one to throw the towel in before a ball has been pucked.

"We’ll always be confident, no other point in playing it otherwise," the 21-year-old attacker told RTÉ Sport’s Marty Morrissey.

Just a few weeks before Laois’ 2019 win over Dublin, Dooley lined out in a Leinster minor quarter-final against Wexford and despite a fine first-half display, they were beaten by 10 points in the end.

Richie Lawlor is the main player from that Wexford side to have burrowed through to Keith Rossiter’s starting 15. Alongside Dooley, Ian Shanahan, Tomas Keyes and James Duggan are likely to start from that Laois minor side.

The player is confident in the team-mates he has shared the journey with, and those he has joined in the senior ranks.

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