Offaly consider forward options

There is no immediate change in the Offaly line-up for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling quarter-final against Tipperary at Croke …

There is no immediate change in the Offaly line-up for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling quarter-final against Tipperary at Croke Park. There is, however, a vacancy left in the half-forward line as manager Mike McNamara waits before deciding on the best option.

It is possible that Simon Whelahan will get his first championship start of the season, having come off the bench in their previous three outings. His introduction in the win over Limerick a week ago was notable. Neville Coughlan, who started the last day, is also in contention, as is Stephen Browne, who replaced Coughlan in the first half against Limerick.

There are a few minor positional switches as Rory Hanniffy and Brendan Murphy swap roles, with Hanniffy moving back to the half forward line, and Murphy, scorer of 1-3 the last day, into the corner.

The Antrim team announced for their quarter-final against Wexford shows the same line-up as started in the successful Ulster final against Derry last month.

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In football, Roscommon have announced the same team that beat Offaly in the previous qualifier round for Saturday's game against Kildare at Portlaoise. It means Francie Grehan and Derek Connellan, both injury concerns earlier this week, are set to play. Paul Noone and John Nolan, who've rejoined the panel after being dropped for disciplinary reasons, are among the substitutes.

Finally, the Cork County Board has indicated that the next senior football manager will not be in a position to choose his own selectors. The decision, made at the county board meeting on Tuesday, might well rule Billy Morgan out of the running as it is understood he was intent on choosing his own selectors if moving into Larry Tompkins's position

OFFALY (SH v Tipperary): B Mullins: N Claffey, G Oakley, D Franks; J Brady, Brian Whelahan, C Cassidy; M Cordial, Barry Whelahan; A N Other, G Hanniffy, R Hanniffy; B Carroll, J Errity, B Murphy.

ANTRIM (SH v Wexford) D Quinn; M Kettle, K Kelly, J Campbell; M McCambridge, K McKeegan, C Herron; C Cunning, J Connolly; P Richmond, C McGuckian, L Richmond; L Watson, G O'Kane, B McFall.

ROSCOMMON (SF v Kildare): S Curran; R Cox, D Casey, J Whyte; M Beirne, F Grehan, E Towey; S O'Neill, S Lohan; G Cox, G Lohan, D Connellan; J Dunning, K Mannion, F Dolan.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics