Preview- Leinster Final within reach as Kilkenny aim to maintain promising start

After a two-week break, it’s back to action in the GAA Hurling Leinster Championship, with three games on the schedule this afteroon including the meeting of Kilkenny and Offaly in UPMC Nowlan Park.

Kilkenny have won their first two games, beating Galway and Antrim while Offaly lost their first two to Dublin and Galway so points are definitley at a premium for both counties.

It will be the first championship meeting between the sides since the 2018 round-robin when Kilkenny claimed a nine point success over the Faithful County and they will be strong favourites to repeat the trick this evening.

Offaly are seeking their first championship win over Kilkenny since the 1998 All-Ireland Final, which they won by 2-16 to 1-13. They are seeking their first win in the Leinster Championship since beating Westmeath by 4-15 to 1-20 in the 2017 Quarter-Final.

During his playing career, Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng was on teams that beat Offaly three times in the championship and it will be a major shock if he doesn't add a first win as manager aswell with the likes of David Blanchfield, TJ Reid and Adrian Mullen all returning to the squad after injury.

Offaly are also without a couple of crucial players including Adam Screeny who picked up a bad foot injury during the Under 20 defeat to Dublin in Newbridge last Monday and his loss will be keenly felt by the visitors.

While Offaly should challenge Kilkenny for periods, this has the hallmarks of a comfortable win for the Cats with two counties that are looking at opposite ends of the table.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS

2018: Kilkenny 2-19 Offaly 1-13 (Leinster Round Robin)

2014: Kilkenny 5-32 Offaly 1-18 (Leinster Quarter-Final)

2013: Kilkenny 0-26 Offaly 4-9 (Leinster Quarter-Final)

2008: Kilkenny 2-24 Offaly 0-12 (Leinster Semi-Final)

2007: Kilkenny 1-27 Offaly 1-13 (Leinster Semi-Final)

Kilkenny- Eoin Murphy (Glenmore); Mikey Butler (O'Loughlin Gaels), Huw Lawlor (O'Loughlin Gaels), Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan); David Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge), Mikey Carey (Young Irelands), Paddy Deegan (O'Loughlin Gaels), Cian Kenny (James Stephens), Jordan Molloy (O'Loughlin Gaels), Harry Shine (Dicksboro), John Donnelly (Thomastown), Billy Ryan (Graigue Ballycallan); Stephen Donnelly (Thomastown), Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan), TJ Reid (Shamrocks Ballyhale).

OFFALY: Mark Troy (Durrow); Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), Ciaran Burke (Durrow), James Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Ross Ravenhill (Durrow), Donal Shirley (Tubber), Jason Sampson (Shinrone); Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown), Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Killian Sampson (Shinrone), Dan Bourke (Durrow), Oisin Kelly (Belmont); Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), Brian Duignan (Durrow), Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey).