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Rematch: Kilkenny's Ger Aylward and Wexford's Michael O'Regan will square off at U21 level again tonight. INPHO/Cathal Noonan
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Leinster Lowdown: Guide to tonight's U21HC semi-final action

Kilkenny entertain Wexford in Nowlan Park and Carlow host Laois in Dr Cullen Park tonight as final places are on offer in this year’s Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21HC.

LEINSTER U21HC SEMI-FINALS

Kilkenny v Wexford, Nowlan Park, 7.30pm, (D Hughes, Carlow)

Latest from the medics and the management…Cillian Buckley has been named at left half-forward on the Kilkenny team despite struggling with a hamstring injury recently. He is joined in the starting line-up by fellow senior panellists Willie Phelan at full-back, Richie Doyle at centre-back and Padraig Walsh at centre-forward. Wexford have kept faith with the side that defeated Offaly in the quarter-final with Willie Devereux, Matthew O’Hanlon and Jack Guiney all having featured in the county senior side’s recent Leinster championship loss to Offaly while Lee Chin is involved with the Wexford senior football side.

KILKENNY U21H: D Walsh; J Corcoran, W Phelan, J Lyng; L Harney, R Doyle, B Kennedy; G Brennan, O Walsh; C Kenny, P Walsh, C Buckley; G Aylward, W Walsh, K Kelly.

WEXFORD U21H: M Fanning; W Devereux, M O’Hanlon, A Nolan; M Maloney, C Goff, A Cash; A Nolan, D O’Keeffe; L Chin, M O’Regan, G Moore; J Hobbs, J Guiney, B Carton.

Checking the odds…Kilkenny are warm favourites at 4/9 with Wexford available at 2/1. A handicap of -3 on Kilkenny is priced at 11/10 while Wexford attacker Jack Guiney is decent odds for anytime goalscorer at 9/4.

Clues from the form guide…Wexford were ruthless in despatching Offaly in their quarter-final tie by 1-19 to 0-10 with Gary Moore (0-8), Jack Guiney (0-4) and Barry Carton (0-3) catching the eye in attack. Kilkenny are making their U21 seasonal bow but with four senior panellists and 12 of their team having started in either the 2008 or 2010 All-Ireland minor winning sides, they have plenty experience at their disposal.

The game breakers are…The aforementioned trio of Moore, Guiney and Carton pose threats in the Wexford attack but a Kilkenny defence spearheaded by Willie Phelan, Luke Harney and Richie Doyle will be a more resolute unit to break down. Kilkenny’s forward line is loaded with potential in the shape of Buckley, Ger Aylward and Kevin Kelly, and Wexford will need Matthew O’Hanlon and Conor Goff to ensure they stem the tide in the early stages.

Gazing into the crystal ball…Wexford have the benefit of a game under their belts but this represents a step up in opposition and travelling to Nowlan Park is a challenge. Kilkenny should be highly motivated after losing out to Wexford in this grade last season and there is enough potential in their to chisel out a success.

Carlow v Laois, Dr Cullen Park, 7.30pm, (J Keenan, Wicklow)

Latest from the medics and the management…Carlow manager and former Waterford hurling star Paul Flynn has selected four players who have seen game time for the county seniors in the Leinster championship this year – John Corcoran, Ross Smythers, Alan McDonald and Marty Kavanagh. Laois have made one change from the team that beat Dublin in their last outing with Brendan Reddin, who grabbed a goal when sprung from the bench in the quarter-final, coming into the attack for Paddy Whelan.

CARLOW U21H: B Tracey, B Lambe, C Lawlor, L Kinsella, J Corcoran, D English, J Doyle, A Kenny, C Wall, R Smythers, J Nolan, A McDonald, K Roberts, M Kavanagh, P Shaw.

LAOIS U21H: E Fleming; P Flynn, G Burke, J Finane; J Fitzpatrick, A Phelan, N Unwin; D Freeman, B Dunne; W Dunphy, P Lalor, S Maher; B Reddin, N Foyle, D King.

Checking the odds…Laois are strongly tipped here at 2/9 with Carlow available at odds of 10/3. The handicap betting has Laois (-5) at 5/6 while Carlow (+5) are at evens.

Clues from the form guide…Laois will enter this game full of confidence after defeating Dublin, who were backboned by the products of promising minor teams from the past two years, by 2-15 to 0-17 in their quarter-final tie. Carlow in contrast are making their debut in this season’s championship.

The game breakers are…They may have been humbled at senior level by Dublin but the experience gained by Gearóid Burke, Barry Dunne, Willie Dunphy, Stephen Maher and Neil Foyle in that grade has stood to them in their Laois U21 endeavours. Dunphy, Maher and Foyle struck a combined tally of 1-12 against Dublin and supply vital attacking class.

Gazing into the crystal ball…It’s a massive occasion for both counties with Laois chasing a first Leinster U21 final appearance since 1990 while Carlow have never featured in this decider. Yet the form display by Laois in claiming the scalp of Dublin at the quarter-final stage suggests they should have the edge over the Barrowsiders.

Join us tonight as we go minute-by-minute for the Kilkenny v Wexford clash in the Leinster U21HC semi-final.

Daly: “I’m not medically qualified and I even think the medically qualified people don’t know”