Offaly U21 hurlers to face Wexford in semi-final clash tonight
By Kieran Galvin
Offaly face Wexford in the semi-finals of the Leinster U21 Hurling Championship at Wexford Park this evening (Wednesday, throw-in 7.30pm).
Although it’s a semi-final, it’s also Offaly’s championship opener as the county received a bye in the first round.
Offaly manager Dermot Hogan has named his starting 15 to face the Slaneysiders, who have selected an unchanged team from their quarter-final win over Kilkenny. Both team line-ups are given below.
The Wexford v Offaly U21 game will be shown on TG4.
Meanwhile, O’Connor Park will host the Leinster SHC semi-final replay between Kilkenny and Galway on Saturday evening (7pm). The drawn match provided an absolutely thrilling finale in Tullamore last Sunday as Galway’s stunning comeback secured a draw (Galway 5-16 Kilkenny 3-22).
There will be no live TV coverage of Saturday’s replay so the match is expected to attract a bumper crowd to the Tullamore venue.
Offaly (Leinster U21 HC v Wexford): Kevin O'Connor (Kinnitty); Niall Wynne (St Rynagh's), Dan Kelleher (Brosna Gaels), Stephen Connolly (Coolderry); Simon Óg Lyons (St Rynagh's), Conor Doughan (Shinrone); Sean Gardiner (Lusmagh); Con Mahon (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Joe O'Connor (St Rynagh's); Emmet Nolan (Birr), Peter Geraghty (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Jason Sampson (Shinrone); Thomas Geraghty (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Sean Dolan (St Rynagh's), Colm Mulrooney (Birr).
Management Team: Dermot Hogan (Manager), Kieran Mc Donald, Liam Dunphy and Ronnie Byrne
Wexford (Leinster U21 HC v Offaly): Oliver O'Leary; Garrett Foley, Liam Ryan, Eoin Conroy; Andrew Kenny, Shane O'Gorman, Jack O'Connor; Aidan Nolan, Conor Devitt; Jack Guiney, Pádraig Doyle, Kevin Foley; Rhys Clarke, Conor McDonald, Gary Moore.
Leinster GAA Fixtures
Wednesday 25th June
Leinster JFC Final
Longford (7.30) Longford v Cavan, Niall Ward (Westmeath)
Bord Gais Energy Leinster U21 HC Semi Finals
Mullingar (7.30) Westmeath v Dublin, Kevin Brady (Louth)
Wexford (7.30) Wexford v Offaly, Sean Cleere (Kilkenny)
(Extra time in above games, if necessary)
Saturday 28th June
Leinster Club SHC Division One Final Replay
Tullamore (5.00) Clonkill (Westmeath) v Buffers Alley (Wexford) Peter Burke (Kilkenny).
Leinster GAA SHC Semi-Final Replay
Tullamore (7.00) Kilkenny v Galway, James Owens (Wexford).
(Extra time, if necessary, in SHC Semi-Final Replay)
Sunday 29th June
Leinster GAA SFC Semi-Finals
Croke Park (2.00) Meath v Kildare, Rory Hickey (Clare).
Croke Park (4.00) Dublin v Wexford, Ciaran Branagan (Down).