Mark Barry kicks Laois' third wide after an industrious run from Damon Larkin.

Antrim go down the other end and make no such mistake as Patrick McBride curls over.

Paul Kingston gets Laois up and running after seven minutes of action with a fine kick off his right boot.

Laois kick both their and the game's second wide.

Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon) is fouled inside and Dominic McEnhill taps over the close range free.

Laois kick the first wide of the game playing against a stiff breeze.

At the other end Colm McLarnon taps over the first score and Antrim lead.

Liam Devenney the match referee from Mayo throws the ball in and the first Tailteann Cup semi-final between Antrim and Laois is underway in the presence of strong sunshine.

Laois manager Justin McNulty speaking on RTE 2: "We know the scale of the challenge before us, we know what a well-coached, well-organised, disciplined team Antrim are and we know we're really up against it.

"We're excited by the challenge.

"We're in the semi-final the same as Antrim and we're here to play a match and hopefully we'll perform to a level within our capabilities."

Image source, Getty Images

Antrim make two changes to the team named on Friday with Dominic McEnhill and James McDonnell coming in, Niall Burns and Ryan McQuillan drop out.

Laois also make two changes from the team in the match programme with Ben Dempsey replacing Kieran Lillis at full back and Eoin Lowry starts at right corner forward in place of Rioghan Murphy.

Antrim manager Andy McEntee speaking on RTE 2:" The truth of the matter is we made vital mistakes at crucial times last year and it cost us. Obviously you'd be hoping to avoid that.

"We've just got to perform a little bit better and that's been the mantra for a while now. Every step further you take you're playing a better team so you've to play a little bit better yourself."

Image source, Getty Images

Derry edged Mayo 4-3 after a dramatic penalty shoot-out to book their place in next week's All-Ireland quarter-finals at Croke Park.

The sides were level six times across normal and extra-time as the nail-biting preliminary quarter-final in Castlebar finished 0-15 to 1-12.

Chrissy McKaigue's fisted point deep in stoppage time at the end of regulation took the game to extra-time before Conor Loftus' late score forced penalties.

Read the report here

Image source, Inpho

Last year, Peter Healy lined out at Croke Park for the biggest game of his Antrim career. It was a Tailteann Cup semi-final against Meath. The afternoon ended in misery for Antrim, but for captain Healy, the pain came much sooner.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Healy - who started at full-back - was hurt and couldn't continue. Replaced by Gerard Walsh, he ensured the double agony of a fresh injury while watching his team-mates fall to the Royals by two points.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Not many would have predicted this semi-final last weekend never mind at the start of the season.

Antrim made a lazarus like recovery at Brewster Park last weekend to topple Fermanagh given they were seven down heading into the final quarter and had registered just 0-2 in that spell.

The Antrim team named on Friday showed one change from the side that won at Fermanagh last time out with Niall Burns listed to start at right half-back in place of James McDonnell.

Declan Lynch starts once again to solidify that Saffron defence, it seems he has been doing that forever.

Laois were not fancied last weekend either when they toppled Kildare in a huge upset, especially when they struggled to see of New York a fortnight ago.

Justin McNulty can call upon talent such as Paul Kingston, Niall Dunne and Evan O'Carroll to provide scores.

Both sides lost at this stage of the competition twelve months ago and the beauty of today is that one side will have the chance to exorcise that demon while, it will be a case of deja-vu for the loser.

We'll bring you news of any changes if and when we have them.

Antrim: Michael Byrne; Declan Lynch, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; Niall Burns, Joseph Finnegan, Dermot McAleese; Patrick McAleer, Cathal Hynds; Colm McLarnon, Patrick McBride, Ruairi McCann; Ryan McQuillan, Ruairi McCann, Marc Jordan.

Subs: Luke Mulholland, Calum Higgins, Conhuir Johnston, Conor Hand, Daniel McNichol, Dominic McEnhill, Eoin Hynds, James McDonnell, Liam McLarnon, Pat Shivers, Peter Healy.

Laois: Killian Roche; James Kelly, Kieran Lillis, Mark Timmons; Séamus Lacey, Brian Byrne, Simon Fingleton; Damon Larkin, Conor Heffernan; Mark Barry, Evan O'Carroll, Kevin Swayne; Rioghan Murphy, Niall Dunne, Paul Kingston.

Subs: Conor Brown, Eoin Buggie, Ciarán Burke, Niall Corbet, Brian Daly, Mikie Dempsey, Ben Dempsey, Shaun Fitzpatrick, Jack Lacey, Eoin Lowry, Aaron McEvoy.

Image source, BBC Sport

Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of today’s Tailteann Cup semi-finals at Croke Park.

Three of the four teams in action today also made it to the semi-finals last year, with Down hammering Laois and Antrim losing to the eventual champions Meath.

First up today is the meeting of Antrim and Laois (1400) and both sides will be buzzing after their respective wins in the quarter-finals last weekend.

Antrim came from seven points down to stun Fermanagh with a late goal, while Laois pulled off their first Championship win over Leinster rivals Kildare since 2005.

Laois will regard today’s trip to HQ as a shot at redemption after humiliation a year ago when Down put eight goals past them in the semi-finals.

They already won the Division Four league title this year and it never hurts to know how to win in Croke Park.

Antrim put in a very creditable display against Meath in last year’s semi-final but ultimately came up two points short.

It’s a great opportunity for both sides to go a step further.

The second part of today’s double-bill features Down against Sligo (1600).

Down boss Conor Laverty already saw off one of Armagh's 2002 All-Ireland winners in Oisin McConville's Wicklow last weekend.

Now another of the Armagh 2002 boys, Tony McEntee, stands in his way with McEntee doing a great job with Sligo this year..

And should Down advance to the final, and perhaps face Laois, then they would be taking on yet another Armagh All-Ireland winner in Justin McNulty.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves!

Down and Sligo won't be thinking about the final because they will both know this is going to be a finely balanced contest.

Sligo have been praised for their performances this year and regarded by some as dark horses to win this competition.

However Down will draw on their 2-17 to 1-8 league win over Sligo in March in Newry, on route to their promotion from Division Three, to remind them of their pedigree heading into this fixture.

So, two decent games to look forward, and of course we also have the last All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final taking place with Louth facing Cork. Hope you can stay with us to enjoy.

Image source, Inpho