The best, albeit nebulous, formulation governing replays is that the team which learns most from the drawn match should win. It's not likely that Kildare learned too much from their failure to defeat Offaly after dominating them for most of the 70 minutes. Mick O'Dwyer won't have needed reminding that his team is seriously short of firepower, particularly in the absence of his son Karl.

Offaly possibly did need reminding that beating Meath was only a first-round achievement. Their subdued performance three weeks ago suggested that they had difficulty re-adjusting their focus for Kildare.

It was possible after the drawn match to conclude that Kildare were so much better than their opponents that they had to win the replay, that Offaly couldn't be as lucky again. They may not be as fortunate but they may be better than they were.

Tactically, Padraig Nolan learned that the clever game plan which worked against Meath wouldn't have the same effect on as formidable a half back line as Kildare's. It is unlikely, for instance, that Finbarr Cullen will have as distracted a match as he put in the last day.

The big worry for Kildare is that tomorrow's match cannot really go any better for them in terms of possession and control. Whether the forwards can raise their game with two changes is open to question, as neither Padraig Brennan nor Ronan Sweeney look sufficiently different to the men they replaced.

Ciaran McManus's return from suspension will greatly strengthen Offaly in the very area where Kildare had most control, and his scoring ability from play and long-range frees will be a further asset.

Nonetheless, the overall balance looks to have shifted in Offaly's favour.