Offaly U-20 hurlers aim to pass first big examination

HAVING qualified for the Leinster U-20 Hurling Championship quarter-finals with predictable ease, Offaly will enter the real business when they welcome Galway to Tullamore on Saturday.

They have had to work hard to reach this stage but this will be their first major examination and Galway will tell a lot about the true quality of this team,

So far, the outlook looks good. Offaly may have been playing within themselves and they certainly have the scope to improve more but they look to have the basis of a very good team.

With a number of last year's outstanding minor team on board, it is an exciting time for Offaly underage hurling. Offaly were desperately unlucky to lose to Tipperary in the All-Ireland minor final last year but already a number of that squad have adapted very quickly to life at a higher level. Despite their tender years and eligibility for 2024 and 2025, James Mahon, Brecon Kavanagh, Conor Doyle and Adam Screeney have nailed down places on the team and are playing very well.

Ter Guinan was a welcome introduction at half time in Friday's preliminary quarter-final win over Kildare while Brecon's twin, Leigh Kavanagh also came on.

Those 2022 minors are blending in very well with older players and Offaly are rightly optimistic about their prospects of further progress.

They have also had to deal with a considerable injury list. Dan Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Ruari Kelly and Cillian Martin along with long time absentee Liam Hoare have all been on the casualty list.

Offaly could really do with having some of them back for the big guns. Kelly was a sub on Saturday and the return of Ravenhill is pivotal to Offaly's prospects. The Durrow man is one of the most exciting talents in Offaly and their chances would be much improved with him leading the attack or adding options to the midfield sector.

The preliminary stages have been very beneficial to Offaly. Playing in the weaker second tier, they have had the luxury of being able to experiment and allowing injured players to recover. They had to work hard to beat Westmeath in their first group game and followed up with easy wins over Meath and Antrim.

Friday's preliminary quarter-final was typical of their campaign. They only hit top gear in fits and starts but were never in trouble as they sauntered to a 2-20 to 1-10 win.

Their days of sauntering and operating in a comfort zone, however, are over for the year and it will take a mammoth performance to beat Galway.

There is a chance for Offaly. Galway were third in tier 1 and have shown mixed form. They lost to Dublin in their first game, 1-19 to 1-17; lost to Kilkenny, 5-20 to 3-20 and finally got a win, beating Wexford by 1-20 to 1-17 on Friday.

Their form won't have Offaly quaking in their boots but Galway are deservedly favourites. Offaly have learnt a lot from their games to date, they have found out which of the younger players are ready and they have discovered the question marks about a couple of the older ones. They will be selecting their strongest possible team on Saturday and will have to be ruthless when it comes to this.

It is hard to know how good Offaly are. They have potentially the best county team in Offaly this year but haven't found top form yet. They have, however, done exactly what has been required and there does look to be another gear in them.

They look to have a very realistic chance on Saturday but there are limitations in the squad and Galway will be trying to expose them.

Offaly will have taken encouragement from the performance of the minor hurlers against Kilkenny on Sunday. Offaly were beaten, 2-15 to 0-14 but performed with heart warming commitment and desire. They really gave it everything and were not that far away, conceding two soft first half goals.

The first requirement on Saturday is to get their work rate to the highest level possible. This is generally a hallmark of Leo O'Connor sides and if Offaly can do this, they will have a chance. They have a lot of quality to go with this, some genuinely exciting players and while Galway are favourites, Offaly will ask serious questions of them.