Offaly hurlers make changes for Waterford showdown

A NUMBER of changes have been announced for the Offaly team that is travelling to Waterford on Sunday for round 3 of the National Hurling League Division 1.

Manager Johnny Kelly and selectors have rang the changes as expected after last week's heavy defeat by Tipperary.

As anticipated, Cathal King, Dan Bourke and Adam Screeney come back into the starting line-up after being rested because of Fitzgibbon Cup commitments last weekend – they did come on against Tipperary. A significant change is the return of Mark Troy to the goals after being on the subs bench for the opening defeats against Kilkenny and Tipp – Liam Hoare was in goals for those games but Troy returns with Shinrone goalkeeper Eamon Cleary handed the number sixteen jersey. Sam Bourke is also selected to start in the defence with Patrick Taaffe, Colin Spain, Conor Doyle and Ciaran Cleary on the subs bench.

There are also important positional changes if the team does line out as selected – and you can never be sure of that in the modern era.

Ben Conneely is named at full back with Ross Ravenhill returned to more familiar defensive duty at wing back after playing in the attack last week. Offaly went for strength in their full forward line last Sunday with Brian Duignan, Oisin Kelly and Ciaran Cleary there but if the team released on Saturday morning is accurate, that experiment has been jettisoned – Duignan is named at full forward with Kelly on the half forward line and Cleary on the subs bench.

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OFFALY: Mark Troy (Durrow); Ben Miller (Coolderry), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), Sam Bourke (Durrow); Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), Brecon Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Ross Ravenhill (Durrow); Luke Watkins (Shinrone), Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown); Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Dan Bourke (Durrow), Oisin Kelly (Belmont); Eoghan Cahill (Birr), Brian Duignan (Durrow), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey). Subs – Eamon Cleary (Shinrone), Luke Nolan (Birr), Patrick Taaffe (Belmont), Ciaran Cleary (Shinrone), Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Jack Clancy (Belmont), David Nally (Belmont), Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh), Cian Burke (Coolderry), Dara Maher (Shinrone), Ailbe Watkins (Birr).