Mixed news for Offaly U-20s on injury front ahead of Leinster Final

THERE has been very mixed blessings for Offaly U-20 hurlers as they begin the final countdown to Wednesday's eagerly awaited Leinster final against Wexford in Carlow.

Adam Screeney and Brecon Kavanagh have been passed fit after missing the semi-final win over Dublin following head injuries sustained in the quarter-final victory against Galway. However, full back Ben Miller is definitely out and Shane Rigney is facing a race against time with a knee injury.

Miller injured his hamstring against Dublin and unfortunately the week turnaround is too short a space of time for him to recover. The Birr man, a son of an Offaly and Coolderry hurler from the 1980s and 1990s, John Miller, had been playing very well at full back, producing a series of consistently solid displays.

Shane Rigney hurt his knee against Dublin and watched a training session at Kilcormac's Faithful Fields at the weekend on crutches. The St Rynagh's man, however, is not ruled out yet and will be given every chance. He has been playing very well in the attack, scoring regularly and displaying great pace. “We won't know until the last minute,” manager Leo O'Connor said on Tuesday morning about Rigney, confimring that the team will be picked at training on Tuesday evening.

Dan Ravenhill is back fit after missing much of the campaign. The influential Durrow powerhouse came in as an injury time sub against Galway but was on at half time against Dublin where he was excellent as he helped power Offaly across the line.

It means the Offaly management have plenty of thinking to do when they pick the team. With Miller out, the likely solution is that James Mahon will move across to full back and Brecon Kavanagh will slot in at corner back. Mahon was full back as Offaly went so close to an All-Ireland minor hurling win last year and that is his best position while Kavanagh can play anywhere in defence. It would also mean Ter Guinan retaining his place on the half back line – the Kilcormac-Killoughey man missed most of the campaign with injury but played instead of Brecon Kavanagh against Dublin. He cramped up late on but is a very good, dependable hurler and an extra week's work will have brought him on.

The big dilemma will be further up the field with Screeney and Ravenhill now fully fit. They were the two star players on last year's minor team and would be automatic starters in normal circumstances. If Rigney is ruled out, one of them will start for him. However, if Rigney is fit, really hard decisions may have to be made – Rigney's place would be secure if fit and he would not be one of the players in danger of being left off for Screeney and Ravenhill. The general rule of thumb is to always start your best team but Leo O'Connor spoke about the conundrum they are facing when queried about the likely lineup.

“Without telling you the team, it's a Leinster final and you have to put your best foot forward when it comes to it. However, there are other things you take into consideration because you do need a bench. A lot is going on at inter county and it is a 20 man game now. We have finished our games strong. After ten minutes of the second half, we brought on subs and in the last twenty minutes against Dublin and Galway, we finished out games. Look at Cork last night, they finished very strong because of the power of their bench. There is a happy medium and we will be trying to get the balance right.”

Offaly have had other long term injuries. Donal Shirley, who would certainly have featured, has been out for the campaign as have Liam Hoare and Conor Dunican, who got an operation on his thumb and is getting the plaster off on Tuesday. Alex Kavanagh, older brother of twins Brecon and Leigh, was not a sub against Dublin after damaging thumb ligaments in training. He has featured in some games and his injury should be okay.

“The mood is good, there are only three teams left now (Munster champions, Cork, Offaly and Wexford), the Limerick man commented.

He was asked about the hype and air of expectancy among supporters and how he keeps the team away from that. “It is there but this is a team who has grown the whole time. On every occasion, they have always turned up and stepped up to the plate. They are a very young team, even for an U-20 team.”

Only goalkeeper Mark Troy, Luke Watkins, Sam Bourke, Charlie Mitchell, Cormac Egan and Joe Hoctor will be overage next year while James Mahon, Ter Guinan, Conor Doyle, Shane Rigney, Dan Ravenhill, Adam Screeney and Brecon Kavanagh all came off last year's outstanding minor team.

Wednesday's final promises to be a great occasion with huge interest in both Offaly and Wexford. A whopping 8,500 tickets were sold by Monday night and with the weather good, this is likely to increase significantly before throw in - the maximum attendance in Carlow is over 11,000. Parking around Dr Cullen Park will be at a premium, the approach roads will be jammed and supporters would want to be leaving with plenty of time.