Offaly hurling manager Michael Fennelly (left) and football manager John Maughan (right).

Footballers to start with Clare clash as hurlers face Galway

Offaly will begin their 2022 Allianz Football League Division 2 campaign with a trip to Ennis to face Clare on Sunday, January 30.

John Maughan's side have four home games from their seven fixtures which comes as a boost for a team promoted from Division 3 in 2021.

The opener against Clare will be followed by a home game against Derry, who defeated Offaly in the 2021 Division 3 league final.

Games against Galway (away), Meath (home) and Down (away) will be followed by a home match against Roscommon, who Offaly defeated in the 2021 All-Ireland U-20 football final.

Offaly will end their programme of games at home to Cork on March 27.

Teams who finish the 2022 league campaign in divisions 3 and 4 will not be allowed to enter the All-Ireland football qualifiers unless they reach their provincial final. Otherwise, they will go into the Tailteann Cup, the second tier competition which has yet to get off the ground.

In advance of the Allianz Football League, Offaly will play O'Byrne Cup games against Dublin (Saturday, January 8), Longford (Wednesday, January 12) and Louth (January 15). The Dublin and Longford games are at home with Offaly travelling to Louth for their last group game.

In hurling, Offaly will make their return to Division 1 action with a trip to Pearse Stadium to face Galway, now managed by Kilkenny legend Henry Shefflin.

Michael Fennelly's charges will then have two home games, with 2021 All-Ireland finalists Cork and Clare coming to Tullamore.

Offaly's penultimate game will be away to Wexford, before a trip to the Gaelic Grounds to face All-Ireland champions Limerick.

In the opening round of the Walsh Cup, Offaly will play Galway in Ballinasloe on Sunday week, January 9 (throw-in 2pm).

The GAA unveiled its master fixture list for 2022 last week which will see the introduction of a new 'split-season' model. The All-Ireland senior hurling final is pencilled in for Sunday, July 17, with the football equivalent a week later on July 24.

Allianz Football League Division 2 - Offaly's fixtures

Round 1 - Sunday, January 30: Clare v Offaly, Cusack Park, Ennis, 2pm.

Round 2 - Sunday, February 6: Offaly v Derry, Bord na Móna O’Connor Park, 2pm.

Round 3 - Sunday, February 20: Galway v Offaly, Pearse Stadium, Salthill, 2pm.

Round 4 - Saturday, February 26: Offaly v Meath, Bord na Móna O’Connor Park, 2.30.

Round 5 - Saturday, March 12: Down v Offaly, Páirc Esler, Newry, 5pm.

Round 6 - Sunday, March 20: Offaly v Roscommon, Bord na Móna O’Connor Park, 2pm.

Round 7 - Sunday, March 27: Offaly v Cork, Bord na Móna O’Connor Park, 2pm.

Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A - Offaly's fixtures

Round 1 - Sunday, February 6: Galway v Offaly, Pearse Stadium, Salthill, 2pm.

Round 2 - Sunday, February 13: Offaly v Cork, Bord na Móna O’Connor Park, 2pm.

Round 3 - Sunday, February 27: Offaly v Clare, Bord na Móna O’Connor Park, 2pm.

Round 4 - Sunday, March 6: Wexford v Offaly, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm.

Round 5 - Sunday, March 20: Limerick v Offaly, TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, 1.45.