New Offaly boss Richie Connor has been boosted by the news that a number of high-profile players who weren't involved or opted out last year are set to return to the fold in 2009. The Clara trio of Joe Quinn, Kevin Meehan and Matthew Mitchell all attended recent team meetings, as did the Shamrocks duo Neville Coughlan and PJ Ward, who both quit the panel prior to this year's championship. Quinn, who was the county's regular full back in 2007, withdrew from the panel last year to concentrate on setting up his own sports conditioning centre in his home town. But he is now ready to return, saying: "I've been at all the team meetings and I'm working away on the fitness programme at the minute. "It probably suits me that there is a ban on inter-county training at present, but I hope to be in a position to commit fully come January. The centre has been going well so far and hopefully it will be recession-proof." Mitchell recently returned from a lengthy spell in New York which saw him represent the Exiles in the Connacht championship a number of times. Offaly fans are also hoping that St. Brigid's forward Ken Casey will make himself available, having walked out in frustration after being brought on and then substituted in a National League game against Waterford last spring. Tweet

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