Offaly make wholescale changes for dead rubber Joe McDonagh Cup clash

OFFALY have made wholescale changes, 11 in all, for Saturday's dead rubber Joe McDonagh Cup clash in Carlow.

With their place in the final secured after winning their first four games, Offaly are starting just four of the players that started in last week's win over Kerry: Ben Conneely, Dara Maher, Killian Sampson and Paddy Delaney.

A number of players will be making their first appearance in the Joe McDonagh Cup this season, including Eamon Cleary, Conor Hardiman, Eoghan Parlon, Conor Langton and Cathal O'Meara.

The panel of 26 includes just two U-20 players, Sam Bourke and Joe Hoctor but they won't be played ahead of Wednesday's Leinster final against Wexford in Carlow – Charlie Mitchell, who has played several games for both senior an U-20s this year, is not named.

There had been speculation about what sort of team Offaly would field. While the match is a dead rubber for them, it is nothing of the sort for Carlow, Kerry and Laois. A Carlow win will put them in the final while if Offaly win, it opens up the door for Kerry and Laois, who meet in Tralee with the winner going through then.

With players having come through a gruelling schedule of league and championship games and having had just one free weekend in a couple of months, manager Johnny Kelly and selectors have decided to do the right thing for them and focus on the final a fortnight later as well as availing of a golden chance to get game time into others. They have opted to rest most of the established players as well as giving a chance to fringe players, including the above mentioned who have not got a game at all.

They have gone with an all Clodiagh Gaels half forward line with Joey Keenaghan flanked by brothers Liam and Conor Langton – Liam Langton will be hoping for a big game after falling down the pecking order this year and he is capable of inflicting real hardship on Carlow.

On the surface, the selected team opens up the door for Carlow to win and advance to the final but there could be a sting in the Offaly tail – assuming that the selected team actually lines out. Apart from the four who started last weekend, Joey Keenaghan, Jack Screeney and John Murphy will be aiming to stake a claim for selection in the Joe McDonagh Cup final – it is fixed for Saturday, May 27. The veteran Shane Dooley will also be trying to lay down a marker while Dara Maher and Paddy Delaney will be trying to make sure they retain their places.

Ben Conneely and Killian Sampson are certainties to start the final, unless they get injured. Cillian Kiely is not named among the subs after going off injured against Kerry arfter sustaining a fierce late hit while charging through the middle while his younger brother Cathal is not named on the panel.

The performance of the team will be interesting and they will also be able to play with a sense of freedom, free of real pressure and expectancy. While Offaly's decision to make such widespread changes may be queried by Laois and Kerry, it is none of their business and Johnny Kelly has to do the right thing for his players – and giving tired bodies a chance to recover is a good thing, even though there is a week off before the Joe McDonagh Cup final.

Apart from that, the selected team will be eager to impress and they will be very hungry to get a win and give management selection headaches for the final.

OFFALY: Eamonn Cleary (Shinrone); Conor Hardiman (Kinnitty), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), James Nally (Belmont); Dara Maher (Shinrone), Killian Sampson (Shinrone), Eoghan Parlon (Coolderry); Paddy Delaney (Kinnitty), Jack Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Liam Langton (Clodiagh Gaels), Joey Keenaghan (Clodiagh Gaels), Conor Langton (Clodiagh Gaels); Cathal O'Meara (Clara), Shane Dooley (Tullamore), John Murphy (Ballinamere). Subs – Stephen Corcoran (Coolderry), Paddy Clancy (Belmont), Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh), David King (Coolderry). David Nally (Belmont), Jack Clancy (Belmont), Jason Sampson (Shinrone), Ciaran Burke (Ballinamere), Brian Duignan (Durrow), Sam Bourke (Ballinamere) and Joe Hoctor (Carrig-Riverstown).