Offaly named unchanged team for Tailteann Cup clash

OFFALY senior footballers have named an unchanged team for their second Tailteann Cup game in Waterford on Saturday.

Joint managers Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte have gone with the same team that started in last week's satisfactory win over Wicklow. Late changes can't be ruled out and forward speed merchant Keith O'Neill is a doubt after sustaining a knock in last week's win.

A win in Waterford will more or less guarantee qualification for the knockout stages – Offaly will have a week off then before facing Laois in their final group game at a neutral venue.

While they have plenty to work on, the win over Wicklow eased the pressure after last year's campaign when they endured bad losses to London and Limerick. They were much more focused in the opener and the management will be trying to ensure the same mentality for this week's game. Offaly will be conscious of the fact that Waterford scored 1-16 in their defeat by Laois and can't take anything for granted.

They need to hit the ground running and not give the home team any sniff of an upset but are warm favourites. It will be a busy day for County Board officials and some supporters who will make the journey to Waterford for this 1.30pm throw in and then head to Wexford for the 5pm Leinster Senior Hurling Championship clash there.

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OFFALY: Paddy Dunican (Shamrocks); Lee Pearson (Edenderry), David Dempsey (Ballycommon), Daire McDaid (Tullamore); Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore), John Furlong (Tullamore), Cormac Egan (Tullamore); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Jordan Hayes (Edenderry); Kyle Higgins (Ferbane), Cathal Flynn (Ferbane), Keith O'Neill (Clonbullogue); Dylan Hyland (Raheen), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks), Shane Tierney (Daingean). Subs – Sean O'Toole (Shamrocks), Cillian Bourke (Tullamore), Marcas Dalton (Clara), Cathal O'Donoghue (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Rory Egan (Edenderry), Aaron Kellaghan (Rhode), Oisin Keenan-Martin (Tullamore), Aaron Leavy (Tullamore), Ruari McNamee (Rhode), Shane O'Toole-Greene (Shamrocks), Morgan Tynan (Ballinagar).