The importance of a strong Spring campaign is not lost on Laois football stalwart John O’Loughlin.

The 31-year-old midfield powerhouse points out that the O’Moore County simply cannot afford to be relegated to Division Three of the national football league if they are to fulfil their ambition of contesting the Super 8s.

As counties from the bottom two divisions will be re-routed into the new second-tier championship this summer – unless they reach a provincial final – Laois must retain their second-flight status.

“I’d imagine if you talked to any team in Division Two or Three, they would say ‘we want to be in Tier One, we want to be in the Sam Maguire’,” he comments in The Irish Independent ahead of Sunday’s league opener in Roscommon.

“For Laois to get to the Super 8s was a huge incentive but we fell short. We’ve made progress but we didn’t get past the last twelve. That’s my goal this year and I want to be in Tier One.

“You want to be playing the best teams at as late a date as you can. That’s the business end and if you are at that stage, you’re going places.”

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