Changes on Offaly minor hurling team for season defining shootout with neighbours
THE Offaly minor hurling management have made a handful of changes for Saturday's season defining Leinster preliminary quarter-final against Laois in Portlaoise.
They have made positional and personnel changes from the side that fell away to defeat in the second half of their last tier 2 group game against Westmeath last Saturday.
Philip Larkin, Adam Martin and Aaron Screeney all come into the team with Barry Bennett, Fiachra Carroll and Conor Thornton losing out. Larkin has been named at full back with Jack O'Donoghue switched to the half back line. Dual player Eamon Maher is selected at wing back instead of the forward line while Sean Walshe goes to midfield where he will partner Darragh Phelan. Adam Martin returns to the line up to lead the attack and Aaron Screeney has been rewarded for scoring two goals and injecting life into a struggling attack when introduced after 43 minutes in Raharney.
It is a busy week for the Ferbane and Belmont duo of Eamon Maher and Ruari Woods. Both played the full game in Thursday's terrific Leinster Minor Football Championship quarter-final win over Meath and the semi-final against Kildare is in Tullamore next Wednesday evening.
The minor hurlers have done what has been asked of them so far, beating Meath, Wicklow and Antrim to qualify out of their second tier group. The disappointing 4-15 to 2-17 defeat to Westmeath in their final group game last Saturday earned them the runners-up spot and a much more difficult preliminary quarter-final against Laois.
Saturday's defeat gave them plenty of food for thought and they will be under no illusions about the chances of a defeat ending their campaign this weekend. Indeed, Offaly are probably slight underdogs for this one and it will take their best performance of the season to survive.
Offaly have worked hard at improving their game under manager Brian Carroll and impress as a very honest, determined group, albeit with obvious limitations. There is no real feeling that this team can win a provincial title but the target has always been to make the quarter-final proper and play a top tier team.
Last year's team did that and then gave a very brave display when losing to Wexford. The current squad will be similarly hoping for the opportunity to see where they are against Dublin, Galway or Wexford – Kilkenny are already assured of a semi-final berth and the winners of Galway and Wexford will join them there this weekend. The game in Portlaoise, however, is a real banana skin and it will take a huge Offaly display to win.
OFFALY: James Carroll (Birr); Sean Finlay (Tullamore), Jason Donoghue (Tullamore), Philip Larkin (Coolderry); Jack O'Donoghue (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Oisin Carroll (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Eamon Maher (Ferbane); Darragh Phelan (Ballyskenach-Killavilla), Sean Walshe (Coolderry); Jack Dunican (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Adam Martin (Tullamore), Macdara Mitchell (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Aaron Screeney (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Odhran Fletcher (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Ruari Woods (Belmont). Subs – Riley Dolan (St Rynagh's), Barry Bennett (Birr), Fiachra Carroll (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Edward Carty (Birr), Callum Connolly (Coolderry), James Dooley (Drumcullen), Tom O'Dwyer (Birr), Harry O'Sullivan (Carrig-Riverstown), Conor Thornton (Shamrocks).