Ravenhill returns as Offaly make one change for Cork showdown

OFFALY have made one change for Sunday's eagerly awaited All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final against Cork.

Dan Ravenhill has recovered from injury and is named at midfield ahead of Colin Spain, who played well in their win over Kildare in the last game.

Durrow man Ravenhill went off injured just 22 minutes into the season making win over Wexford and didn't feature against Kildare when Offaly's victory and Dublin's win over Kilkenny secured qualification. An excellent hurler and a graduate of the minor and U20 sides who helped transform Offaly, Ravenhill has had plenty of injury problems in recent years, missing more action than he would like. He was midfield in the opening draw against Dublin, missed the Galway game with injury and came on as a sub in the draw with Kilkenny before starting against Wexford.

The only other real doubt surrounded wing back Ter Guinan who went off injured after 23 minutes in their win over Kildare in their last game. However, the long gap between that game and the quarter-final has given him ample time to recover and the flying Kilcormac-Killoughey speech merchant has been named at wing back.

There has also been changes to the subs bench. Brecon Kavanagh returns after getting injured in the first round draw against Dublin while Birr's Ben Miller is also added to the squad. Dan Ravenhill's return means that three of the subs against Kildare are not on the match day panel on this occasion – Brecon Kavanagh's twin Leigh, Luke Nolan (Birr) and Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh).

Apart from the call on Ravenhill, the Offaly team picked itself and there is great appreciation among GAA supporters in the county for what this team has done with a crowd of over 10,000 expected to travel to Thurles.

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OFFALY: Liam Hoare (Carrig-Riverstown); Ciaran Burke (Durrow), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), Patrick Taaffe (Belmont); Ross Ravenhill (Durrow), Killian Sampson (Shinrone), Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown); Shane Rigney (St Rynagh's), Conor Doyle (Clara), Dan Bourke (Durrow); Eoghan Cahill (Birr), Brian Duignan (Durrow), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey). Subs – Mark Troy (Durrow), Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Ruari Kelly (Lusmagh), David Nally (Belmont), Oisin Kelly (Belmont), Luke Watkins (Shinrone), Ciaran Cleary (Shinrone), James Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Eoin Burke (Coolderry), Brecon Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Ben Miller (Birr).