Offaly make several changes for Dubs showdown

SEVERAL changes have been made on the Offaly senior football team for Saturday's O'Byrne Cup quarter-final against Dublin in Gracefield – a 1.30pm throw in.

As expected manager Declan Kelly has availed of the opportunity to give a chance to other players after Wednesday's fine come from behind, 1-11 to 0-12, win over Laois.

The Kilclonfert man stated after the game that a different team would take to the field against Dublin, explaining that some squad members are playing Sigerson Cup next week and he would be limiting their involvement.

Adam Bolger of Daingean has been called into the defence at corner back and will make his debut at this level. Jack McEvoy and Cathal Donoghue provide a new midfield pairing, replacing Morgan Tynan and Jordan Hayes. Donoghue came on as a late sub in Stradbally and it will be interesting to see how he goes after coming back from a knee injury.

There are four changes in the attack with Kevin McDermott and a new full forward line of Ruari McNamee, Cian Farrell and Nigel Dunne in from the start. Cormac Egan will now lead the attack at centre half forward.

From the team that started against Laois, Diarmuid Finneran, Morgan Tynan, Eoin Carroll, Cathal Flynn, Jack Bryant and Anton Sullivan are on the subs bench while Jordan Hayes is not named.

Sub goalkeeper Mikey Cunningham, Jordan Quinn and Dan Wyer didn't get into action yet and it remains to be seen if they get a run on Saturday.

The game against Dublin will be a very welcome one for Offaly as they prepare for the league opener at home to Westmeath at the end of the month.

Once again, the Offaly team has a mixture of youth and experience with Lee Pearson, Rory Egan, John Furlong, Cathal Donoghue, Cormac Egan, Mikey Cunningham (as an forward sub), Cathal Flynn, Morgan Tynan and Jack Bryant all winning All-Ireland U-20 football medals under Kelly in 2021.

Dublin will be fielding an experimental, unfamiliar team and Offaly will have a chance of winning but the match and performance levels is more important than the result. Offaly were quite static on the ball for long periods against Laois and it would be nice to see them play with more pace and drive when attacking forward, taking on their men and letting the ball in quicker.

OFFALY: Ian Duffy (Walsh Island); Adam Bolger (Daingean), Declan Hogan (Tullamore), Lee Pearson (Edenderry); Rory Egam (Edenderry), David Dempsey (Ballycommon), John Furlong (Tullamore); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Cathal Donoghue (Oughterard); Dylan Hyland (Raheen), Cormac Egam (Tullamore), Kevin McDermott (Durrow); Ruari McNamee (Rhode), Cian Farrell (Edemderry), Nigel Dunne (Shamrocks). Subs – Mikey Cunningham (Bracknagh), Daire McDaid (Tullamore), Jordan Quinn (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Dan Wyer (Durrow), Diarmuid Finneran (Ballinagar), Cathal Flynn (Ferbane), Eoin Carroll (Cappincur), Morgan Tynan (Ballinagar), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks), Nathan Poland (Erin Rovers), Anton Sullivan (Rhode).