Hyland named on Offaly U-20 football team for crunch game against Wicklow

ONE change has been made on the Offaly U-20 football team for their crunch Leinster U-20 Football Championship clash with Wicklow in Faithful Fields in Kilcormac this evening.

Tom Hyland has been named in defence in place of Clonbullogue's Diarmuid O'Neill at corner back. Bracknagh man Hyland played very well as Offaly won the All-Ireland U-20 Football Championship in 2021, coming onto the team at full back when captain Kieran Dolan got injured.

He is just back from injury and came on as a sub during Offaly's fortunate draw in Louth last Tuesday.

Tullamore speed merchant Cormac Egan has not been named on the team or subs. Egan broke a finger a few weeks ago and didn't play any part in the first round. However, it will not be a surprise if he features, either starting in a late change or coming on as a sub. If Egan is fit, Offaly will have to start him as they need to inject real pace into their play.

With Dublin next up at home next Tuesday evening, this is really a must win game for Offaly – two qualify out of the group and they will have to improve considerably from the Louth game.

Weather conditions were awful in Stabannon, however, and it is much more favourable for football at the moment.

OFFALY: David Dunican (Ferbane); Daire McDaid (Tullamore), Diarmuid Finneran (Ballinagar), Tom Hyland (Bracknagh); Ben Heffernan (Tullamore), Cathal Ryan (Daingean), Luke Bourke (Tullamore); John Furlong (Tullamore), Harry Plunkett (Tullamore); Geordi O'Meara (Ballinagar), Niall Furlong (Tullamore), Pauric Robbins (Tubber); Dylan Byrne (Edenderry), Sean Conway (Ballycommon), Jamie Guing (Clonbullogue). Subs – Conor Melia (Bracknagh), Diarmuid nO'Neill (Clonbullogue), Eamon Bolger (Raheen), David Dempsey (Clonbullogue), Dylan Kilmurray (Rhode), Sean Finneran (St Rynagh's), Cian Murphy (Rhode), Alex Egan (Clara), Luke Kelly (Doon).