Injury hit Offaly set Leinster U-20 hurling final place in sights

WITH their confidence soaring after a fantastic win over Galway, Offaly will have a place in the final of the Leinster U-20 Hurling Championship in their sight when they welcome Dublin to Tullamore for the semi-final on Wednesday evening.

A home draw against Dublin gives Offaly a great chance of progress, though this is more or less a 50-50 game and it will take another high intensity, excellent performance to get through.

Injuries could go against Offaly. Both Adam Screeney and Brecon Kavanagh went off injured against Galway and there is considerable doubt about their participation. There is a strong possibility that neither will start and if this happens, Brecon Kavanagh's place will almost certainly go to Ter Guinan while either Cormac Egan or Dan Ravenhill is likely to start instead of Screeney – Ravenhill is just back from injury and it could be Egan, who has received plenty of game time since coming onto the panel a few weeks ago.

Kavanagh received lengthy injury treatment after getting a fierce second half hit while star forward Screeney went off after getting a belt before half time. He came back on, scoring a crucial and sensational point but went off again after throwing up on the O'Connor Park pitch.

The two players will want to play but Offaly will be wary of any concussion type injuries and won't be taking risks. Offaly could do with both players. They were outstanding as Offaly went to the All-Ireland minor hurling final last year.

Kavanagh may not have captured public attention the way Adam Screeney and Dan Ravenhill did but his importance to that minor team was as profound in its own way. He is such a capable, solid defender, very rarely makes mistakes and his prospects of playing at the highest level are as good as anyone off that exceptional team.

Screeney is the brightest talent to emerge in Offaly since a golden generation came on the scene in the late 1980s, early 1990s. His skill level, imagination and ability is just breathtaking and his desire to play at the highest level is obvious to all.

The Kilcormac-Killoughey man will be a massive loss if he doesn't make it and management will be doing everything in their power to get him out on the field.

While Kavanagh would be sorely missed from the defence, Screeney's loss would be even more acutely felt. He has the ability to win a game, turn one with a moment of magic and even if he doesn't do that, he will be a marked man and that will free up space for other forwards.

If Kavanagh is ruled out, there is a ready made replacement in his Kilcormac-Killoughey club mate Ter Guinan. Guinan came on for him against Galway and is just back from injury. He is also a very steady, consistent player and probably would have been on the team earlier in the campaign only for injury.

There was great news for Offaly when Dan Ravenhill came on as an injury time sub against Galway. Ravenhill's introduction in the 63rd minute was largely a cosmetic exercise at that stage but it was great to get him back after a long lay off with a hamstring injury. He is a different player than Screeney but he is also an exceptional talent and has great physicality for a young man.

It remains to be seen if management will start the Durrow man but he will have a much bigger part to play in the semi-final.

The 3-20 to 2-17 quarter-final win over Galway was arguably the biggest win by an Offaly hurling team in years.

Offaly may have won an Leinster minor hurling final and All-Ireland semi-final last year and manager Leo O'Connor was of course right when he said afterwards that it was only a quarter-final. However, it was a hugely sigificant win for Offaly. It's importance was enhanced by it came against one of hurling's marquee counties in Galway and they had won the All-Ireland minor hurling title three years ago.

One swallow will never make a summer but that one win has the potential to change a lot of things for Offaly hurling. They need to build on it and there will be an acute sense of disappointment if they don't at least make the Leinster final but it was impossible not to feel a buzz of excitement in O'Connor Park that day as Galway were put to the sword.

Offaly started five of last year's minor side, James Mahon, Brecon Kavanagh, Conor Doyle, Shane Rigney and Adam Screeney while Ter Guinan and Dan Ravenhill came on as subs.

It is early for these players and they will all be eligible for this grade in 2024 and 2025. 2025 will be pinpointed as their year but who is to say that they can't win titles before that.

They have an emerging Offaly senior star in Charlie Mitchell in the attack and the older players are very important to this team, especially those in their last year. Offaly won't win anything this year without a few of last year's minors but they won't be successful either without the physical strength and experience of the older players.

It is creating a potent mix at the moment and you just would not know what this team will do this year. The minors still have plenty of physical developing to do and they will know all about it when taking a big hit from a bigger player in his last year at U-20. Injuries could scupper Offaly but nothing would surprise you with this team. They could exit on Wednesday but equally they could still be on the road in a few weeks time. They have that potential, that combination of pure skill and sheer hard work. And even if it doesn't happen, that is a very good place for Offaly to be in.