Three players opt out of Offaly senior football panel for Tailteann Cup

THREE young players have pulled out of the Offaly senior football panel for the Tailteann Cup as they are travelling to America in the coming weeks.

Rory Egan, Jack Bryant and Bill Carroll told team manager Martin Murphy last week that they won't be available for the second tier competition. They are going to the USA on playing sanctions and are also likely to miss some action in the club championship later in the year for Edenderry, Shamrocks and Cappincur, respectively -  intercounty players who have been on the official panel for a championship game can't get a sanction, under rule, until their team is out of the championship but the trio are gone off the panel for the Tailteann Cup.

Egan had been outstanding in the first half of the Leinster Senior Football Championship win over Meath, scoring a crucial goal and a point from wing back but went off with a hamstring injury at half time. That resulted in him missing the semi-final defeat by Louth.

Bryant and Carroll came on as subs in the Louth game in Croke Park and the absence of three quality young players is a blow to Offaly's chances in the Tailteann Cup. Egan and Bryant were outstanding as Offaly won the All-Ireland U-20 Football Championship in 2021. Egan established himself on the team this year while Bryant's development in the coming two years is crucial for Offaly football. Carroll came into the squad in 2021 and is a very good utility player, capable of playing in midfield or attack.

They open their campaign with a home game against London this Sunday, followed by Laois away and then Cavan at a neutral venue.

Martin Murphy confirmed the departure of the three players on Monday. They still have a panel of 32, including Jordan Hayes whose return from an Army tour has been delayed for a week, meaning that he won't be on the squad for the London game.

Keith O'Neill was also added to the panel in recent weeks while the 32 includes Bernard Allen who got a knee injury against Meath – Ferbane's Kevin Nugent had pulled out before the Meath game. John Furlong and Cormac Egan had been asked in but Furlong wants to give his injured groin time to heal while Egan went onto the Offaly U-20 hurling panel and did well when coming on as a sub in the great win over Galway.

Allen definitely won't be available this Sunday but could come back into the equation after this and Martin Murphy hopes he will be fit for the third round at least.

The Offaly squad returned to training on Friday and the Gracefield man was encouraged by what he saw and heard. “The mood was very good, very upbeat. There was great enthusiasm for the Tailteann Cup. The players were happy that they acquitted themselves well in the championship. They were disappointed that we aren't in a Leinster final and that is natural. We will be only looking at what is in front of us, take it as it comes and try and perform to the same level.”

The top two teams definitely qualify along with the best three of the four third placed teams. This means that Offaly will be under pressure to put a good score on the board against London on Sunday but Murphy is not looking on it that way.

“The bottom line is if you win two games, you qualify. We want to win every game and it is not a matter of scoring difference. We want to give it a good rattle. If you go in thinking of scoring difference, that is in your mindset, you are battling against the current and forcing things. It often doesn't happen when you are in that place and our aim is to win the game.”

While his team won't be announced until Saturday, Offaly are likely to give an opportunity to a couple of players who didn't play in the championship to date.

Offaly will be expected to beat London and the winning margin will be very important if they were to lose their other two games. While Martin Murphy is right in his attitude, Offaly will need to be ruthless when the opportunity arises on Sunday and really go for it.