Offaly confirm team for Tailteann Cup tie

Offaly joint football managers Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte have named their team for the Tailteann Cup first round game against Clare in Zimmer Biomet Cusack Park Ennis on Saturday afternoon, at 4pm.

The team shows two changes to that which was defeated by Laois in the first round of the Leinster senior football championship.

Ferbane's Kyle Higgins replaces Rory Egan, while Marcas Dalton of Clara has been included in place of Daire McDaid.

Offaly have yet to win a competitive league or championship fixture in 2026 and face a Clare team who were heavily defeated by Kerry in the Munster senior football championship semi-final.

Offaly reached the quarter-final stage of last year's Tailteann Cup where they were defeated by eventual winners Kildare.

The Faithful County are one of 16 teams who will compete in Round 1 of the newly formatted Tailteann Cup draw.

The counties have been paired together in eight ties, with the eight winners advancing to Round 2A.

The winners of the subsequent four games will qualify for the All-Ireland quarter finals.

The eight losers from Round 1 will play in Round 2B.

The four losers of the Round 2B games will be out of the championships.

The four winners of those subsequent Round 2B games will move on to Round 3 where they will play the four losers from Round 2A.

The four Round 3 winners will then qualify for the quarter finals where the four original Round 2A winners will await.

Offaly (Tailteann Cup team vs Clare)