Injury hit Offaly announce team versus Antrim
March 30, 2013Offaly make the trip to Casement Park, Belfast to face Antrim in the fifth and final series of games in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League tomorrow, Easter Sunday (March 31st), throw-in 3pm.
Manager Ollie Baker and selectors Mark Corrigan & Stephen Byrne have made two changes in personnel to the side that succumbed to Limerick last Sunday in O'Connor Park, Tullamore by 3-8 to 0-21.
Shinrone's Derek Morkan (foot injury) and Kilcormac/Killoughey's Conor Mahon (unavailable) both started against Limerick, and they are replaced by the Seir Kieran duo of Dermot Mooney and James Mulrooney.
Another Seir Kieran stalwart, Joe Bergin, who scored the decisive late goal in Offaly's 1-12 to 1-10 win over Carlow on March 18th and missed the game against Limerick owing to a facial injury he sustained during the pre-match warm up, is ruled out of tomorrow's game against Antrim also. While K/K's Daniel Currams is recovering from the broken arm he sustained while lining out with his club in a challenge game against Kilkenny U-21's on Sunday, March 10th.
A Division 1B final appearance and promotion is beyond Offaly's (two victories from four outings) reach, while Antrim, after their 3-14 to 0-13 victory over Carlow last weekend, will be looking for a second consecutive win and should they achieve that, then Offaly will be in a relegation play-off against Carlow. So while there is nothing at stake in terms of promotion, there is much to play for in terms of avoiding the spectre of relegation.
Five Offaly players have made league debuts during the campaign to-date - David King (Coolderry), Sean Gardiner (Lusmagh), Tomas Bolger (Birr), Sean Cleary (Shinrone) and Ciaran Slevin (Kilcormac/Killoughey). While the bench tomorrow includes four players - Michael Cleary (Shinrone), Pat Camon (St Rynagh's) and Conor Slevin & Peter Geraghty (Kilcormac/Killoughey) awaiting their league debuts.
Six of the Offaly panel members - Thomas Carroll, David King, Peter Geraghty, Michael & Sean Cleary and Pat Camon - will be in action with their clubs in the Molloy Environmental Systems Offaly GAA U-21 Hurling Championship quarter-finals on Saturday.
In last year's Allianz Hurling League, Offaly registered a 1-22 to 1-17 victory over Antrim in O'Connor Park, Tullamore, so expect tomorrow's clash in Casement Park to be nip and tuck.
The Offaly team for Sunday is ;
1 James Dempsey (Kinnitty)
2 Chris McDonald (Brosna Gaels)
3 David Kenny (Belmont) captain
4 Paul Cleary (Birr)
5 Dermot Mooney (Seir Kieran)
6 Rory Hanniffy (Birr)
7 Kevin Brady (Coolderry)
8 Ciaran Slevin (Kilcormac/Killoughey)
9 Brian Carroll (Coolderry)
10 Colin Egan (Belmont)
11 Sean Ryan (Birr)
12 Cathal Parlon (Coolderry)
13 Shane Dooley (Tullamore)
14 James Mulrooney (Seir Kieran)
15 Thomas Carroll (Seir Kieran)
SUBS;
16 Conor Slevin (Kilcormac/Killoughey)
17 David King (Coolderry)
18 Derek Molloy (Shamrocks)
19 Peter Geraghty (Kilcormac/Killoughey)
20 Tomas Bolger (Birr)
21 Michael Cleary (Shinrone)
22 Sean Cleary (Shinrone)
23 Pat Camon (St Rynagh's)
24 Ger Healion (Kilcormac/Killoughey)
25 Colm Coughlan (Kinnitty)
26 Odhran Kealey (Kinnitty) Tweet
