Injury hit Offaly name team for Leinster U-20 FC opener

A GLANCE at the subs bench and extended panel shows the scale of the problems that have hit Offaly for the Leinster U-20 Football Championship this year.

The team has been announced for tonight's opener away to Louth in Stabannon Parnells ground, Castlebellingam with some of their best players ruled out. Two key players from the All-Ireland U-20 football winning squad in 2021, Cormac Egan and Keith O'Neill have been ruled out and are not on the subs bench this evening.

They are both included on a list of extended panel members but O'Neill is unlikely to figure in this campaign – A younger brother of O'Neill., Diarmuid is on the team at corner back. Tullamore flier Egan fractured a finger in a recent challenge game against Cork and faces a race against time to get back for the following games at home to Dublin and Wicklow. He will be doing everything he can to get back and Offaly could certainly do with him.

Another certain starter Marcas Dalton is also out with a hamstring injury and is on the extended panel list as is Ballycommon's Chris Kenny, who has made great progress in the past couple of years. Clara's Alex Egan played well on that 2020 minor team and he is also a sub.

Offaly were unluckily pipped by Meath in the Leinster minor football final three years ago and would be expected to mount a strong challenge with a full strength team but there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding their prospects. Another All-Ireland U-20 star, defender Tom Hyland is also battling with injury and is named in the subs.

Offaly still have plenty of quality. John Furlong, outstanding on that All-Ireland U-20 team, is named at midfield alongside his Tullamore club mate and team captain, Harry Plunkett. Furlong missed all last season with a groin injury and while he is restricted in the volume of training he can do, it is great to see him back in action and starting.

His younger brother Niall Furlong will lead the attack at centre half forward while Daingean's Cathal Ryan will anchor the defence at centre half back – Ryan was a key player on the minor side three years ago and also won an All-Ireland U-20 medal. He makes up a solid looking half back line with Tullamore's Ben Heffernan and Luk Bourke each side of him.

With the weather likely to be bad, this game may be something of a lottery but a win is crucial for Offaly. Two progress out of the group with the top team going into a semi-final. Two home games is a big help to Offaly and a win in Louth would really set them up but it will take a mighty effort to achieve this.

OFFALY: David Dunican (Ferbane); Daire McDaid (Tullamore), Diarmuid Finneran (Ballinagar), Diarmuid O'Neill (Clonbullogue); 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), Tom Hyland (Bracknagh), Eamon Bolger (Raheen), David Dempsey (Clonbullogue), Dylan Kilmurray (Rhode), Sean Finneran (St Rynagh's), Cian Murphy (Rhode), Alex Egan (Clara), Luke Kelly (Doon).

Extended panel: Keith O'Neill (Clonbullogue), Adam Joyce (Ballinagar), Adam Daly (Ballycumber), Cathal Mahon (St Rynagh's), Chris Kenny (Ballycommon), Cormac Egan (Tullamore), Deven Henchy (Tullamore), Eoghain Grennan (Ferbane), Eoin Smith (Rhode), Jack Daly (Tullamore), Marcas Dalton (Clara), Robbie Gallagher (Ballinagar).