Offaly hurling manager John Joe Dooley believes his hindered side could not have asked for a tougher draw in the All-Ireland qualifiers than Cork, but is still keen to get on with the task at hand in Tullamore this Saturday. The Faithful men will be without four key players through injury, including team captain Ger Oakley (elbow), James Rigney (shoulder), Daniel Currams (finger) and Cathal Parlon (knee). "We have prepared as well as we can. We have a young team and if we hurl to our maximum we are in with a shout," said Dooley. "We are a top of the ground team really. We like the ball moving fast. We have put in the work, the lads have given great commitment and the mood in the camp is good." Now, Dooley is looking forward to facing the Rebels this weekend at O'Connor Park, where he hopes the home venue can play some kind of advantage towards his team. "To be honest we would have preferred to have got Laois or Antrim but we always knew there would be a chance we would get Cork. It possibly focuses the mind a bit more but we said after the Wexford game whoever we get we get and we didn't look for anyone and whoever came out we'd take it. "It is Cork and it is in Tullamore but it could have been away in Cork. It's going to be a tough one either way," he added. Tweet

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