Offaly football boss Tom Cribbin has made a whopping eight changes from the side that surrendered meekly to Kildare for today's All-Ireland football qualifier against Wexford. Cribbin gave five players - Stephen Lonergan, Richie Dalton, Conor Carroll, Ken Casey and William Mulhall - their first championship starts against the Lilywhites, but of that quintet, only Birr clubman Lonergan has retained his place in a team which is notable for the return of experienced stars Padraig Kelly, Ger Rafferty, Shane Sullivan, Alan McNamee and Ciaran McManus. Former Westmeath player PJ Ward also returns at full forward after serving an eight-week suspension. Dropping out along with Dalton, Carroll, Casey and William Mulhall are goalkeeper Alan Mulhall, Conor Evans, Matthew Mitchell (who has left the panel) and John Reynolds. The Walsh Island pair of Tomas O'Connor and Brian Connor have also got their call-up papers. Offaly (SF v Wexford): P Kelly; S Lonergan, G Rafferty, B Darby; K Slattery, S Sullivan, T O'Connor; A McNamee, B Connor; C McManus, S Ryan, N Smith; T Deehan, PJ Ward, N McNamee. Tweet

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