Injuries force changes for Offaly senior hurling team

INJURIES to key players have resulted in enforced changes on the Offaly team to play Galway in round 2 of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship in Pearse Stadium, Salthill on Sunday.

There are three changes to the starting line-up with Sam Bourke, Ciaran Burke and Jack Clancy named instead of Brecon Kavanagh, Cathal King and Dan Ravenhill.

The three replaced players all picked up injuries in last Saturday's draw with Dublin. Offaly gave a heart warmingly encouraging performance, full of intensity and strong running and while they could very easily have won, a draw was still a good result.

While Kavanagh, King and Dan Ravenhill are out for this one, Offaly's injury situation has improved. Charlie Mitchell made a sensational return to the attack last Saturday, scoring 1-3 after sitting out the league as he went through a series of tests following a heart scare. Thankfully the Kilcormac-Killoughey man has received the all-clear and he was in flying form in the attack. He has been named to start again.

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Ciaran Burke also made a welcome return after missing the league with an ankle injury. The Durrow club man came on in defence at half time for Kavanagh and went very well. He has been named to start and will be expected to retain his place from here on, once fit. Burke has been named at wing back for Sunday but is more likely to play in the full back line with his club colleague Dan Bourke moving out the field.

Jack Clancy has been named instead of Dan Ravenhill at midfield. The Belmont man is a physically strong player, able to run at power and pace. Ross Ravenhill arguably Offaly's strongest player in terms of physicality, stopping power and ability to last the pace and manager Johnny Kelly will be hoping that them and others can stop Galway running down the throats of the defence from deep – he has spoken about the importance of blockers and stopping power in the middle third of the field.

Apart from that, the Offaly team is the same that started against Dublin and there was no case for making changes. Lusmagh speedster Ruari Kelly returns to the panel after a hamstring injury and he bolsters the defensive options.

As always with announced teams, the possibility of late changes is present and this can never be ruled out.

Offaly have a large training panel and apart from Brecon Kavanagh, Cathal King and Dan Ravenhill, it includes Eamon Cleary (Shinrone), Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh), Cian Burke (Coolderry), James Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Eoin Burke (Coolderry), Ailbe Watkins (Birr) and Dara Maher (Shinrone) – James Mahon is another player recovering from a medium-long term injury, having got injured at the start of the season in the Walsh Cup against Galway.

Galway had a big win over Kilkenny last Sunday and will be warm favourites on home turf but Offaly will be putting their best foot forward, taking them on and seeing where this takes them.

Offaly have a much needed weekend off after this and then face into a gruelling block of three season defining games in successive weeks with Kilkenny and Wexford at home and Kildare away. Last Saturday's draw means that a top three position is possible but the first priority for Offaly is to pick up more points and try and ensure that the closing game against Kildare in Newbridge is not a winner takes it all Joe McDonagh Cup relegation shootout.

OFFALY: Liam Hoare (Carrig-Riverstown); Patrick Taaffe (Belmont), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), Sam Bourke (Durrow); Ciaran Burke (Durrow), Killian Sampson (Shinrone), Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Ross Ravenhill (Durrow), Jack Clancy (Belmont); Shane Rigney (St Rynagh's), Dan Bourke (Durrow), Conor Doyle (Clara); Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Brian Duignan (Durrow), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey). Subs – Mark Troy (Durrow), Eoghan Cahill (Birr), Ciaran Cleary (Shinrone), Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Luke Watkins (Shinrone), Ben Miller (Birr), David Nally (Belmont), Oisin Kelly (Belmont), Ruari Kelly (Lusmagh), Luke Nolan (Birr), Leigh Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey).