Offaly name unchanged team for big Tailteann Cup test
Early throw in is to facilitate Wexford request
OFFALY senior footballers have named an unchanged team for their big Tailteann Cup quarter-final test at home to Wexford on Saturday.
The game has an early 1pm throw in because of a request by Wexford and as expected Offaly have stuck with the team that had a great 3-22 to 1-20 win over favourites Wexford in the last round – as usual late changes can't be ruled out but these will only occur because of injury.
With Offaly having turned their season around with wins over Clare and Down, they will approach this game with optimism but full awareness of the threat posed by Wexford, who got promotion from Division 3 of the National Football League – a great victory over eventual Leinster champions, Westmeath secured them promotion at the expense of the midlanders.
That result and their overall form will have Offaly on high alert. Louth were way too strong for them in the championship, while they have displayed mixed form in the Tailteann Cup, beating Limerick, losing to Fermanagh and taking out Leitrim to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Wexford will certainly fancy their chances of advancing but it still represents a real opportunity for a rejuvenated Offaly. They entered the Tailteann Cup on the back of eight successive league and championship defeats.
Injuries were a major factor in them being relegated from Division 2 of the National Football League but they really plumbed the depths in their championship surrender to Laois. They have done really well to turn things around in the Tailteann Cup, getting a solid win over Clare and playing some great attacking football when surprising the favourites Down in round 2.
That win has really ignited their season and hopefully there will be a big crowd at Saturday's game, even though the early throw in won't suit everyone. Cormac Egan has received the all clear following a groin scare and Offaly have most players fit now, apart from long term absentees Paddy Dunican, John Furlong and Cathal Flynn.
They have showed the right appetite for the Tailteann Cup and while this game is a banana skin, there is a great chance of extending their season.
SEE NEXT: Former Offaly GAA referee to sell huge collection of sporting memorabilia for charity close to his heart
OFFALY: Conor Melia (Bracknagh); Shane O'Toole-Greene (Shamrocks), David Dempsey (Ballycommon), Lee Pearson (Edenderry); Cormac Egan (Tullamore), Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore), Marcas Dalton (Clara); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Jordan Hayes (Edenderry); Kyle Higgins (Ferbane), Keith O'Neill (Clonbullogue), Aaron Leavy (Tullamore); Dylan Hyland (Raheen), Shane Tierney (Daingean), Nathan Poland (Erin Rovers). Subs – Sean O'Toole (Shamrocks), Aidan Bracken (Ballycommon), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks), Eoin Dunne (Clodiagh Gaels), Rory Egan (Edenderry), Niall Furlong (Tullamore), Harry Goulding (Edenderry), Daire McDaid (Tullamore), Ciaran Murphy (Skerries Harps), Harry Plunkett (Tullamore), Cathal Ryan (Daingean).