Offaly learn Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final opposition

OFFALY found out their opposition in the preliminary quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup on Sunday evening.

They have been drawn against New York and that game will most likely be in Tullamore next Saturday – Offaly face Mayo in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship quarter-final on Sunday next in Roscommon and that can't clash with a Tailteann Cup match.

Offaly were disappointed to end up in the preliminary quarter-finals after throwing away their group clash with Laois late on. Clinging to a one point lead deep into injury time, Offaly conceded a sloppy penalty and the goal from that condemned them to a 3-18 to 3-16 defeat. A draw would have been enough for Offaly to top the group and go direct into the quarter-finals.

A preliminary quarter-final is far from a disaster, however, and Offaly are performing way better in the Tailteann Cup than last year. They weren't at their best in Newbridge on Saturday evening against Laois but still had very good spells and played well enough to win it.

The big downside from the defeat and finishing second in the group is that Offaly will face a more difficult quarter-final away to one of the group winners if they do win the clash against New York next weekend. Offaly will be hot favourites to beat New York, though after last year's spectacular malfunction against another team of exiles, London, supporters will never take anything for granted again.

Offaly have injury worries. Brothers Diarmuid and Cormac Egan both missed Saturday's game with hamstring injuries – Diarmuid is likely to be out while they will be hoping that Cormac can be got back into action quickly: They would probably have won Saturday's game with Cormac firing on all cylinders. On the plus side, Keith O'Neill returned from injury and was outstanding before sustaining a late knock while they will be aiming to freshen up other exciting young guns, John Furlong, Cathal Flynn and Jack Bryant this week.

Their youngest player Cillian Bourke set the pulse racing with a superb man of the match display in Newbridge and it remains to be seen if he is available as the Leaving Certificate is just around the corner for him.

The other preliminary quarter-finals are: Sligo v Carlow, Wexford v Antrim, Westmeath v Laois. The four group winners, Wicklow, Kildare, Limerick and Fermanagh have home venue in the quarter-finals and group clashes will be avoided where possible, meaning that Offaly will be unlikely to meet Wicklow if they get over New York.

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Fixture details are likely to be confirmed on Monday.