Cormac Egan on subs bench as Offaly name unchanged team for New York banana skin

CORMAC Egan has been named on the subs bench for Offaly's Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final against New York in Tullamore on Saturday last.

The Tullamore speed merchant had to sit out last week's group defeat to Laois after sustaining a quad injury in training days earlier. Egan has been in sensational form for Offaly at wing back this year and thankfully, his injury does not appear to be as bad as initially feared and he has been named among the subs. Offaly would probably have beaten Laois with him on board as they were denied by a late penalty goal and he is likely to be used here if needed.

Offaly joint managers Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte have named the same starting lineup that took to the field against Laois. Edenderry's Rory Egan replaced his namesake, Cormac while Keith O'Neill was a late call up onto the starting fifteen, coming in for Aaron Kellaghan. O'Neill was outstanding, especially in the first half and unsurprisingly has retained his place.

Tullamore's Cillian Bourke was superb in Newbridge and has been named again, even though he is currently sitting his Leaving Certificate at Colaiste Choilm in the town.

The possibility of late changes can't be ruled out – Ballinagar's Robbie Gallagher has been named on the subs bench for the first time in several weeks, replacing his club colleague, Geordi O'Meara.

Offaly will be on high alert for the visit of New York, fully aware of the danger that the exiles will present and taking nothing for granted. Offaly will be warm favourites to advance but can't take anything for granted and need to be more ruthless than they have been in recent games when their overall performance and intensity levels have dipped slightly but noticeably from the league and championship.

The New York squad began to arrive in Tullamore on Thursday, staying in the Tullamore Court Hotel and are giving themselves every opportunity to snatch an upset win. The Offaly squad selected for the game which has a 2pm throw in is:

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