Sean Pender in action for Offaly against Westmeath attacker and Tullamore-based garda Denis Glennon during last Sunday's O'Byrne Cup game. Pender has been named in the Offaly team for this Sunday's clash with Kildare.

Mitchell and Sullivan to start against Kildare

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By Kieran Galvin There are two changes on the Offaly team for this Sunday's Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup semi-final against Kildare. From the team which narrowly defeated Westmeath last Sunday, Matthew Mitchell and Anton Sullivan have been handed starting berths in place of Paul McConway and Peter Cunningham. With Offaly drawn against Kildare in this year's Leinster championship, Sunday's clash will be something of a dress rehearsal, albeit it is early in the season to look at the game in such terms. Meanwhile, the Kildare team to face Offaly shows five changes from the side that edged out Wexford last weekend. Tomás O'Connor and Robert Kelly return in replace of Paddy Brophy and John Doyle, while in midfield Padraig O'Neill is back in ahead of Hugh Lynch. In defence, Ollie Lyons and Eoghan O'Flaherty come in for Eoin Doyle and Peter Kelly. Sunday's game will take place in O'Connor Park, Tullamore, at 2pm. Louth host Dublin in Drogheda in the other semi-final, also 2pm. Extra-time will be played in the event of a draw in both games. The Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup final is scheduled to take place on Sunday week, January 27. Offaly SF v Kildare: Alan Mulhall; Brian Darby, Eoin Rigney, Sean Pender; David Hanlon, Derek Kelly, Graham Guilfoyle; Alan McNamee, Richie Dalton; Ross Brady, Brian Connor, Eoin Carroll; Matthew Mitchell, Niall McNamee, Anton Sullivan. Kildare SF v Offaly: Shane Connolly; Ollie Lyons, Michael Foley, Hugh McGrillen; Emmet Bolton, Mikey Conway, Eoghan O'Flaherty; Gary White, Padraig O'Neill; Brian Flanagan, Cathal McNally, Morgan O'Flaherty; Robert Kelly, Tomás O'Connor, Daniel Flynn.

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