Scoring threat the key as Offaly make two changes for Tailteann Cup opener
Offaly have point to prove in Tailteann Cup
TWO changes have been made on the Offaly senior football team for Saturday's crucial Tailteann Cup opener against Clare in Ennis.
Kyle Higgins and Marcas Dalton are named on the half forward line with Rory Egan and Daire McDaid on the subs bench. Apart from those, the announced team is the same as the one that had a really bad day at the office in their Leinster Senior Football Championship defeat by Laois.
There is one positional change in the defence with Lee Pearson named at corner back and Aidan Bracken moving out to the half back line.
There is considerable pressure on the Offaly management and players after their 3-12 to 0-12 malfunction against Laois. They were way off the pace that day, starting badly with their intensity levels below expectations. Their attacking play was stagnant with a lot of ball being recycled in the middle third and particular attention will focus on how Offaly go at this game and their scoring threat.
They played two established defenders, Daire McDaid and Rory Egan on the half forward line against Laois. They have been replaced with Higgins and Dalton. Neither are natural scorers but both are very good footballers. Higgins missed the entire league with injury, only coming on as a sub against Laois while Dalton has received plenty of game time, mostly on the half forward line.
Managers Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte have a policy of going with hard working foragers on each side of a flying Keith O'Neill on the half forward line as they bid to bolster Offaly's ability to win breaks and their ball retention in the middle third - Tullamore's Aaron Leavy is also very close to a starting place.
They also, however, need to go after the game, to get scores on the board and the manner in which they recycled so much ball against Laois, rather than breaking the line and getting quickly into the scoring zone, was frustrating to watch.
Offaly enter the Clare game with eight defeats from eight competitive games and are desperate to end that losing streak. They were relegated from Division 2 of the National Football League and injuries have been a big part of their problems. There is still no sign of two of their best players, John Furlong and Cathal Flynn coming back while goalkeeper Paddy Dunican is still recovering from a cruciate injury.
Dylan Hyland and Shane Tierney only got back in the latter stages of the league and they immediately boosted Offaly's scoring threat. Both are very good forwards, they can score and they bring real menace to the table. Raheen man Hyland has scored 12 points in three games and while Tierney has only got two in three, one from a mark and one from a free, he is a livewire of energy – the Daingean man provides something different, takes his man on and creates openings.
Keith O'Neill has been Offaly's main scorer this year and is in fantastic form. The lightening fast Clonbullogue man has scored a whopping 0-29 in seven games, twenty of those from play.
Apart from O'Neill, Offaly's scoring has been inconsistent. Defenders have got some while Jordan Hayes has got his share with nine from play. The second highest scorer is Tullamore's Harry Plunkett and his statistics command respect as it has been on more limited game time. Plunkett has scored 0-21 in six league and one championship game with 14 points from play – the only game he didn't score in was against Cavan while four of his seven games were as subs and Offaly may well need scores from him if they are to surprise Clare on Saturday.
Darragh Flynn has scored 1-9 from seven games – they all came in three league games against Tyrone, Cavan and Meath as he found his feet at this level.
It is a big game for Offaly, whose pride has been hurt after their Laois defeat and they will be eager to produce a big display. Offaly's attitude in the Tailteann Cup has often been a disgrace in the past. They gave it a much better go last year but the fear is that “normal service” will resume here and that on some level, the players are just waiting for the season to be over. Time and performances will adjudicate on that one – they defeated an experimental Galway team in a recent challenge and moved well that day.
Offaly are guaranteed two games and the Tailteann Cup is there to be won this year with Down the favourites. Even with the absence of Flynn and Furlong, Offaly should have a decent chance in it but the mood from outside the camp at the moment is pessimistic and Saturday's game will tell a lot.
OFFALY: Conor Melia (Bracknagh); Shane O'Toole-Greene (Shamrocks), David Dempsey (Ballycommon), Lee Pearson (Edenderry); Cormac Egan (Tullamore), Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore), Aidan Bracken (Ballycommon); Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), Jordan Hayes (Edenderry); Kyle Higgins (Ferbane), Keith O'Neill (Clonbullogue), Marcas Dalton (Clara); Dylan Hyland (Raheen), Shane Tierney (Daingean), Darragh Flynn (Ferbane). Subs – Sean O'Toole (Shamrocks), Aaron Leavy (Tullamore), Cathal Ryan (Daingean), Conor Dunican (Ferbane), Daire McDaid (Tullamore), Eoin Dunne (Clodiagh Gaels), Harry Plunkett (Tullamore), Nathan Poland (Erin Rovers), Niall Furlong (Tullamore), Robbie Gallagher (Ballinagar), Rory Egan (Edenderry).