TEAM NEWS

THE CHANCES of Offaly hurlers remaining in the championship via the back roads suffered a severe blow when Joe Dooley’s men were recently drawn against a Cork team nearing recuperation.

It got significantly worse after losing veteran centre back Ger Oakley to a blood clot in his elbow. The half-back line is further decimated by the absence of James Rigney due to a shoulder injury.

It means Rory Hanniffy, having just recovered from a knee problem, switches to number six where he will be flanked by fellow Birr club men, Dylan Hayden and Paul Clearly.

David Franks makes a seemingly miraculous recovery from a collapsed lung to be included at corner back beside another injury concern in fullback David Kenny, the man charged with keeping tabs on Aisake Ó hAilpín. Daniel Currams (finger) and Cathal Parlon (knee) have also been ruled out making the task that more daunting for an Offaly side that meekly exited the Leinster championship at the hands of Wexford (2-17 to 0-16) on May 30th.

The Dublin hurlers released a team at 1.20pm yesterday for Sunday’s Leinster final only to retract it at 3.49pm, stating an incorrect lineout. That said, Liam Ryan looks set to return at centre forward in place of Peter Ryan, having missed the semi-final victory over Wexford and free-taker Alan McCrabbe is expected to be fit following a knock sustained in the same match.

Anthony Daly will release the actual team later today. Kilkenny manager Brian Cody shall announce his side this evening.

The pick of tomorrow’s football qualifiers is the meeting of Monaghan and Armagh in Clones.

With Tommy Freeman going before the DRA this evening, Monaghan boss Séamus McEnaney has recalled Ciarán Hanratty to the full-forward line alongside Ray Ronaghan and Rory Woods. JP Mone comes into midfield.

Armagh manager Peter McDonnell has sprung a few surprises with Philip McEvoy coming in for his championship debut ahead of regular goalkeeper Paul Hearty.

Aidan O’Rourke comes in at left-wing back ahead of Finian Moriarty. James Lavery and Kieran Toner remain the midfield partnership but Charlie Vernon is named amongst the substitutes after recovering from a broken jaw.

Wexford manager Jason Ryan makes a number of changes for the visit of Offaly. They include a debut for Damien Carter at corner back as regular full back Philip Wallace is replaced by Graeme Molloy. David Fogarty comes into midfield for Eric Bradley and Shane Roche makes a first start of the season at full forward.

Fermanagh too make changes in their team to play Wicklow. Shane Lyons and Shane McDermott move to the subs bench with Hugh Brady moving to full-back from the corner where Shane Goan will start. Ryan McCluskey is at centre half back and Peter Sherry takes the latter’s former place on the wing.

Meath manager Eamon O’Brien has made four changes for their clash with Waterford from the team that lost to Dublin – with Chris O’Connor, Peadar Byrne, Joe Sheridan and David Bray coming in for Niall McKeigue, Mark Ward, Kevin Reilly and Stephen Bray.

OFFALY (SHC v Cork): B Mullins; D Franks, D Kenny, M Verney; D Hayden, R Hanniffy, P Cleary; K Brady, B Murphy; B Carroll, C Mahon, D Molloy; S Dooley, J Brady, J Bergin.

MONAGHAN (SFC v Armagh): P McBennett; D Mone, V Corey, D McArdle; D Freeman, G McQuaid, D Hughes; JP Mone, D Clerkin; S Gollogly, P Finlay, C McManus; C Hanratty, R Ronaghan, R Woods.

ARMAGH (SFC v Monaghan) : P McEvoy; A Mallon, B Donaghy, B Shannon; A O’Rourke, C McKeever, A Kernan; K Toner, J Lavery; P Duffy, M O’Rourke, B Mallon; S McDonnell, R Clarke, K O’Rourke.

WEXFORD (SFC v Offaly): A Masterson; N Murphy, G Molloy, D Carter; B Malone, D Murphy, C Morris (capt); D Fogarty, B Doyle; R Barry, S Cullen, A Flynn; C Lyng, S Roche, PJ Banville.

LEITRIM (SFC v Longford): E Lyons; M McGuinness, P Gilmartin, D Reynolds; G Reynolds, J McKeon, B Prior; G McCloskey, S Canning; M Foley, D Maxwell, P McGuinness; D O’Connor, T Beirne, J Glancy.

FERMANAGH (SFC v Wicklow): C Breen; N Bogue, H Brady, S Goan; P Sherry, R McCluskey, T McElroy; M McGrath, J Sherry; R Keenan, C McElroy, M Little; D Keenan, R Carson, E Maguire.

MEATH (SFC v Waterford): P O’Rourke; C O’Connor, A Moyles, E Harrington; S Kenny, C McGuinness, C King; N Crawford, B Meade; P Byrne, J Sheridan, S McAnarney; D Bray, B Farrell, C Ward.