First Round: Offaly v Meath

Croke Park, 1.45.

This should be straightforward for Offaly who have beaten tomorrow's opposition with varying degrees of comfort in the last two years. Although riddled with injury, the team should have enough in hand.

Meath: B Carley; S Keely, M Gannon, P Guy; J O'Loughlin, P Donnelly, A O'Neill; T Reilly, F McMahon; G O'Neill, N Horan, R Dorran; M Cole, D Dorran, D Fitzsimons.

Offaly: S Byrne; Barry Whelahan, H Rigney, M Hanamy; C Cassidy, Brian Whelahan, K Martin; J Pilkington, G Oakley; M Duignan, M Hand, P Mulhare; B Dooley, J Troy, Joe Dooley.

Team News: Martin Hanamy is subject to a late fitness test and is considered doubtful by Offaly's manager Babs Keating, who brings in two debutants. Meath manager Seamus Carney had a full pick and selects seven newcomers in a very young team.

Key Confrontation: It might not decide the match, but the tussle between Meath full back Mark Gannon and John Troy will be one to watch. Gannon has been converted from goalkeeper and has been performing well in his new role. For Troy this will be a rare enough outing at full forward as John Ryan has been left to the footballers tomorrow.

View From The Camps: "I'm happy enough with last Sunday's challenge (victory over Dublin), an improvement on previous performances in the League."

- Babs Keating (Offaly manager).

"We lost a lot from last year, so the policy we adopted - the only one that was going to work - was to bring in young players. The young hurlers are the best in the county."

- Seamus Carney (Meath manager).

Verdict: Offaly.