Gaelic Games NewsIt seems a year never passes without some sort of player defection in Laois football. It has now become apparent that captain-elect Colm Parkinson will be in Australia come this summer's championship.
Parkinson had indicated some time back that he would travel after Portlaoise's championship run ended, yet as county champions the club still put his name forward for the captaincy.
In part due to Parkinson's outstanding performances, Portlaoise won the Leinster championship before Christmas to set up an All-Ireland club semi-final against Crossmaglen Rangers tomorrow week at Parnell Park.
Mick O'Dwyer and the county management have yet to receive confirmation of Parkinson's departure, the player only returned from South-East Asia last week, but they have all but accepted the loss.
"He did indicate he would be going to Australia at the start of the year and was only staying around while Portlaoise are in the championship," said selector Declan O'Loughlin. "We held out hope he might stay around longer but it now appears that he is going."
Parkinson has had his difficulties with O'Dwyer in the past and had also taken a summer off before to work in America. However, in an interview last summer he indicated football was the number one priority in his life.
"Yeah, he went to America a few years back," O'Loughlin continued. "He's a single-minded young man, we were hoping to change his mind."
The Portlaoise players have been excused from intercounty duty in order to focus on the All-Ireland series. This, and a significant injury list, has severely weakened O'Dwyer's panel with Tom Kelly (collarbone), Joe Higgins (cruciate) and Brian McDonald (leg) all still unavailable.
They still managed to beat Limerick in the National League opener and face Sligo on Sunday, under the continued captaincy of goalkeeper Fergal Byron. Portlaoise will be allowed to nominate another candidate for the role with Kevin Fitzpatrick an obvious candidate, although he is due a groin operation after the Portlaoise campaign ends.
