Laois manager Mike Quirke admits that the O’Byrne Cup is all about giving new players a chance to impress.

The O’Moore County lost out to neighbours Offaly in the opening round of the early season competition last Saturday.

The result will matter little in the greater scheme of things as Quirke looks to unearth some new talent before the real business begins at the end of January.

He states in the Leinster Express: “We tried to win that game obviously, but if we can look at Paddy O’Sullivan at midfield, Niall Corbett in goals, Gearoid (Hanrahan) at full back, Jason Moore who hasn’t played before – that’s the real objective for us. To try and see all those guys, and then to win the game.

“What we’re trying to do is develop a team and a panel, and there’s a lot of these guys who weren’t playing last year who are obviously back into the mix now and the only way you’re going to be able to tell with those fellas is by throwing them into a competitive environment, and that was our first opportunity to do that.”

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