Laois v Wexford, Dr Cullen Park Carlow, 3.30

Both sides emit suggestions of having gone as far as they're going. Wexford's achievement in winning the preliminary pool last year was followed by a heavy defeat to Dublin, whereas Laois followed up a year when they should have beaten Dublin by getting brushed aside by Westmeath. Colm Browne's dedication to Laois's cause is exemplary and he is apparently happy that, even if many of the under-age talents from recent years have fled the coop, at least the remaining players have the required focus. Wexford could have done with a less disrupted league and the misfortune of losing top gun Mattie Forde for the second year (12 months ago with suspension, this time with a knee injury). Whereas Wexford have some good players, so do Laois, as well as more exposure to life at the top. Colm Parkinson, converted to full forward, is a genuine injury doubt, but Laois should have enough in hand to get over this first hurdle.