Offaly hurlers will have to plan without goalkeeper James Dempsey for the 2018 campaign.

Dempsey made his debut for Offaly in 2010 and has been ever-present between the posts since then; producing some excellent displays down through the years.

However, new Offaly manager Kevin Martin confirmed to the Midland Tribune that the Kinnity clubman will not be part of the squad for 2018.

"He is definitely not coming in this year," stated Martin. "He is living up in Dublin and he has been coming up and down for eight or ten years now and he has a life outside hurling. We have to respect that; he was a great servant for Offaly hurling.

"It was a bit of a shock I have to say. I wasn't expecting that but we have good goalkeepers. Conor Slevin, Conor Clancy and Eoghan Cahill are all top 'keepers as well, while he is a loss, he is replaceable."

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