Will offalys good offfield news lead to onfield success

 

WITH good news coming in recent days regarding Offaly GAA’s proposed new 21-acre Centre of Excellence close to Kilcormac, the county face two big matches this Saturday, April 25.

At 2.30pm, the minor hurling team face Dublin in Parnell Park in the Leinster MHC second round, before the senior football side take on Longford in the Allianz FL Division 4 final in Croke Park (5.15pm). The starting line-up for the minor hurling match has been named and is listed below.

Meanwhile, it emerged last weekend that the proposed Centre of Excellence will boast four playing pitches, dressing rooms, meeting rooms and a running track, as well as floodlighting and indoor training facilities. Offaly GAA have obtained a 999-year lease on a 21-acre site close to Kilcormac, where they plan to develop the Centre.

The annual cost of the lease will be a nominal fee of €1, while the Faithful County expect development of the facility to cost in the region of €1m. According to development officer John Leahy, 80 per cent of this will be covered by Croke Park while the balance will be raised through local fundraising. For Kevin Egan's views on the Centre of Excellence, see this week's Offaly Independent.

Offaly Minor Hurling manager Joe Errity names the same starting 15 to face Dublin that beat Carlow in the opening game of this year’s Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship:

1. William Malone, Coolderry
2. Cathal O’Brien, Shamrocks
3. Ben Conneely, St Rynagh’s
4. Paddy Delaney, Kinnitty
5. Shaun Lowry, Kilcormac/Killoughey
6. Jack Fogarty, Durrow
7. Eimhin Kelly, Lusmagh
8. Michael Gilligan, Seir Kieran
9. Conor Molloy, Coolderry
10. Ciaran Cleary, Shinrone
11. JP Cleary, Shinrone
12. Oisin Kelly, Belmont
13. John Murray, Drumcullen
14. Eoghan Cahill (Captain), Birr
15. Liam Langton, Na Fianna