Rigney held in reserve as Offaly U-20 hurlers name unchanged team for big date with destiny

AS expected, Offaly have named an unchanged team for Sunday's eagerly anticipated All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Championship final against favourites Cork in Thurles' Semple Stadium.

Offaly have named the same team that started against Wexford in their thrilling Leinster U20 hurling final a few weeks ago. Flying forward Shane Rigney has recovered from a knee injury that ruled him out of that game but is only named on the subs.

The St Rynagh's man would have been an automatic starter only for an injury sustained in the win over Dublin. A very fast forward with an eye for the posts, he had been in excellent form but the decision to stick with the same team and hold him on the subs bench was anticipated.

While Offaly opted to start their strongest available team against Wexford with Adam Screeney, Brecon Kavanagh and Dan Ravenhill back from injury, they only used one sub that day and options from the bench will be crucial against Cork. Unless management spring a late rabbit from the hat and start Rigney, he will have a big role to play – and management have resisted any temptation to name dummy teams this year.

Unfortunately, Ben Miller has not recovered from a hamstring injury and is not named on the subs. The Birr man had been very solid at full back before missing the Leinster final and is a big loss.

There is mounting excitement and optimism in Offaly about this game with supporters from the county expected to make up 10,000 of the 30,000 attendance – the final is the second part of a double bill with the All-Ireland minor hurling final between Clare and Galway. It has a 3pm throw in and is live on TG4.

OFFALY: Mark Troy (Durrow); Patrick Taaffe (Belmont), James Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Brecon Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Luke Watkins (Shinrone), Sam Bourke (Durrow), Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown); Dan Bourke (Durrow), Cormac Egan (Tullamore), Conor Doyle (Clara); Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey). Subs – Kieran Coonan (Clodiagh Gaels), Joe Hoctor (Carrig-Riverstown), Ruari Dunne (Clodiagh Gaels), Barry Egan (Clara), Ruari Kelly (Lusmagh), Niall Furlong (Tullamore), Leigh Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Ailbe Watkins (Birr), Shane Rigney (St Rynagh's).