Bourke out as Offaly U20 football team named for championship opener

OFFALY will begin their Leinster U20 Football Championship campaign on Wednesday evening without their star player, Cillian Bourke.

The hugely promising midfielder has not made the panel for the home game against Westmeath in Faithful Fields. He is a massive loss for manager Mark Plunkett and his management team and Wednesday's game is a crucial one as they are in a very difficult group.

Tullamore man Bourke had really impressed for Offaly senior footballers in their National Football League before getting a shoulder injury some weeks ago. The injury is not as bad as initially feared but this game comes too soon for him, though he may feature in the coming ones.

Offaly have a tough campaign and play on successive Wednedays with Dublin at home on April 2 and Meath away on April 9.

The top two qualify from the group and there is little margin for error. Offaly have worked hard under manager Plunkett and backroom team but have had a few injury problems and have had mixed form in warm up games.

The team is captained by centre back David O'Rourke. The Shamrocks man is a very promising footballer and could have been on the Offaly senior football squad this year. Cappincur's John Colgan is full back and Brian Carroll of Ferbane and Clodiagh Gaels' Eoin Dunne is midfield – another Shamrocks man, Dara Bates will be moving out here to try and win ball.

Tullamore's Niall Furlong will lead the attack at centre forward and his presence is very welcome as there were fears he would concentrate on the Offaly U20 hurling panel this year. This opening game will be a tough one for Offaly and a win will set them up while a defeat will pile on early pressure.

Offaly: Conor Meila (Bracknagh); Jake Maher (Ferbane), John Colgan (Cappincur), Christian McKeon (Clara); Harry Goulding (Edenderry), David O Rourke (Shamrocks, Captain), Darragh Bryant (Shamrocks); Brian Carroll (Ferbane), Eoin Dunne (Clodiagh Gaels); Dara Bates (Shamrocks), Niall Furlong (Tullamore), Steven Doran (Ballinamere); Cillian Foran (Edenderry), Conor Fox (Tubber), Kaelem Bryan (Edenderry). Subs - Sean Kavanagh (Tullamore), Luke Kelly (Doon), Jack Daly (Tullamore), Jack Maher (Tullamore), Patrick Kenna (Tullamore), Davin Keegan (Tullamore), Aaron Rattigan (Clodiagh Gaels), Billy Quinn (Rhode), Cian Bracken (Daingean).