U21 hurlers face Laois in Leinster opener

Dublin's under-21 hurlers face Laois this Saturday in the Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21HC first round at O'Moore Park, Portaoise (2.0).

The Dubs have contested the last three Leinster MHC finals so have a good conveyor belt of talent feeding through to this year's U21 crop.

Dublin lost last year's Leinster MHC final to Kilkenny (3-15 to 1-17) while 12 months earlier they defeated Wexford in the provincial decider (2-12 to 0-12) and in the 2015 the Cats were again the victors when prevailing by two points (1-17 to 1-15).

The U21HC is played on a straight knock-out basis and the winners of Saturday afternoon's clash will emerge to face the winners of Antrim versus Carlow in Round 2 on June 6 with the victors there heading into the quarter-finals where Westmeath await (June 13).

Several Dublin U21s have gained senior league and/or championship experience this season such as Paddy Smyth, Donal Burke, Ronan Hayes, Fergal Whitely and Daire Gray.

Na Fianna clubman Donal Burke, who is on the road back to fitness, has missed Dublin's two SHC games to date this season against Kilkenny and Wexford after enjoying a good league campaign before he suffered injury on club duty.