New players get chance as Offaly hurling team released for Kilkenny showdown

A HANDFUL of unestablished players will be thrown in at the deep end for Sunday's National Hurling League Division 1 opening match in Kilkenny.

A spate of injuries to several first team players has forced management to blood more players than they would have been planning on for a game of this magnitude.

Ruari Kelly, David Nally, Killian Sampson, Ciaran Burke, Shane Rigney, Ter Guinan, James Mahon and recently appointed captain Charlie Mitchell are all ruled out with a mixture of injuries and issues. Mahon is out for the league and there is uncertainty about when the others will return.

The scale of the injuries loads the dice against Offaly surviving in the highest division but it has created an opportunity for others to impress and make their mark.

Liam Hoare, Patrick Taaffe, Ben Miller, Brecon Kavanagh, Luke Watkins and Conor Doyle are among the newer players aiming to lay down markers for the season ahead. Hoare is named in goals with the normal first choice, Mark Troy on the subs bench – the battle for the number one jersey is intense with some outstanding goalkeepers in Offaly and Shinrone's Eamonn Cleary not making the bench. It remains to be seen what management's longer term intentions are with this.

Brian Duignan will lead the attack from centre half forward and his power running will be an asset from out the field while his Durrow club mate Ross Ravenhill is given a new role beside him in the attack.

Oisin Kelly is back on the team at full forward and the Belmont man will be hoping for a long injury free run.

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OFFALY: Liam Hoare (Carrig-Riverstown); Patrick Taaffe (Belmont), Ben Miller (Coolderry), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's); Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), Donal Shirley (Tubber), Brecon Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Luke Watkins (Shinrone), Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown); Conor Doyle (Clara), Brian Duignan (Durrow), Ross Ravenhill (Durrow); Dan Bourke (Durrow), Oisin Kelly (Belmont), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey). Subs – Mark Troy (Durrow), Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Leigh Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Eoin Burke (Coolderry), Eoghan Cahill (Birr), Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh), Jack Clancy (Belmont), Luke Nolan (Birr), Daniel Hand (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Ailbe Watkins (Birr), Ciaran Cleary (Shinrone).