Offaly name hurling team for Antrim rematch

 

By Kieran Galvin

The Offaly team for this Sunday's Allianz Hurling League Division 1B relegation play-off against Antrim has been named.

For the second weekend in a row, Offaly will face the Saffrons with this Sunday's play-off taking place in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim at 2pm.

Last Sunday, Offaly hammered Antrim in a dead rubber clash at O'Connor Park (5-27 to 4-9), but the game was overshadowed by the UIster side's attitude to the fixture.

The Antrim squad arrived only about ten minutes before the 2pm throw-in time, and afterwards their manager Kevin Ryan made the astonishing claim that they thought the game was listed for a 3pm start.  

The loser of Sunday's game will still have another opportunity to preserve their Division 1B status - as they will face the winner of Division 2A final (Carlow or Kerry).

There has been plenty of criticism of the fact that the loser of the Antrim v Offaly game will have another chance to escape relegation - with many observers of the view that the winner of Division 2A title should automatically be promoted to Division 1B.

In any case, Offaly will be hoping to ensure their survival with a win over Antrim this weekend and therefore avoid the last chance saloon encounter with Carlow or Kerry.

The clocks go forward this Saturday night/Sunday morning but, given last weekend's controversy, both teams will no doubt manage to make it to Ballycastle on time!

 

Offaly SH team v Antrim

1. James Dempsey (Kinnitty)

2. Niall Wynne (St Rynagh’s)

3. Ger Healion (Kilcormac/Killoughey)

4. James Rigney (Kinnitty)

5. Cathal Parlon (Coolderry)

6. Colin Egan (Belmont)

7. Chris McDonald (Brosna Gaels)

8. Kevin Brady (Coolderry)

9. Thomas Geraghty (Kilcormac/Killoughey)

10. Joe Bergin (capt.) (Seir Kieran)

11. Conor Mahon (Kilcormac/Killoughey)

12. Shane Dooley (Tullamore)

13. Brian Carroll (Coolderry)

14. Dan Currams (Kilcormac/Killoughey)

15. Stephen Quirke (St Rynagh’s)