Offaly go with Rigney in midfield

Offaly will start their Leinster hurling semi-final on Sunday with a selection that's best described as experimental. In their efforts to upset overwhelming favourites Kilkenny, the Offaly management have named just three players in the same positions as the similar fixture a year ago.

Only goalkeeper Stephen Byrne, midfielder Barry Whelahan and right-corner forward Rory Hanniffy hold the same positions as the side that fell so unceremoniously to Kilkenny last year. Seven other players remain, but they've all been placed in new positions, some totally unexpected.

Seasoned defender Hubert Rigney takes on a new role at midfield. Simon Whelahan, who started last year at corner back, starts at corner forward. After years in the half-back line, Kevin Martin is now at centre forward while Brian Whelahan is at centre back. And Gary Hanniffy has also been moved up to full forward.

In terms of absentees the obvious name is Johnny Dooley, wing forward a year ago and their top scorer of recent years. Ruled out with a knee injury, it means Offaly will be without a Dooley in their starting championship team for only the second season in 18 years. Older brother Joe Dooley was there since 1984, though missed out on the 1990 season through injury.

Earlier this week, manager Fr Tom Fogarty talked about the importance of the Birr players in his panel, especially after their return from a successful All-Ireland club campaign. Incredibly, nine players that started in the club final win over Clarinbridge last March start on Sunday.

Along with the Whelahan trio and the Hanniffy brothers are Joe Errity, Niall Claffey, Stephen Browne and John Paul O'Meara. Browne and O'Meara both get their first championship starts, as do defenders Mick O'Hara and Joe Brady. Only Brady has appeared in the championship before, coming on as a substitute against Kilkenny last year.

Dooley's yesterday he admitted his great disappointment at missing out. "I went down to training on Tuesday night hoping I could convince the selectors I might even start on the bench," he said. "But I'm just not in any position to play. I thought the worst of the injury was behind me, but it looks like I'm back to square one now."

Of the revolutionary new positioning, Rigney at midfield is likely to cause the most attention. One Offaly observer, however, noted the position is ideally suited to Rigney, in that he may be short of pace, but not of skills.

Errity held the full back position throughout the league after Kevin Kinahan's retirement, while Simon Whelahan's switch to corner forward was the least unexpected as he has been regularly playing there for Birr.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has named the same team that won the league final over Cork last month for Sunday's clash. It means first championship starts for defender Richie Mullally, midfielders Derek Lyng and Pat Tennyson, and full forward Martin Comerford.

Defender JJ Delaney has also recovered from his knee injury to start at wing back, although John Power and Charlie Carter have to be content with a place on the bench. DJ Carey was ruled out through injury.

KILKENNY (SH v Offaly): J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, P Larkin; R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, P Tennyson; J Hoyne, H Shefflin, A Comerford; E Brennan, M Comerford, S Grehan.

OFFALY (SH v Kilkenny): S Byrne; M O'Hara, J Errity, JP O'Meara; J Brady, Brian Whelahan, N Claffey; H Rigney, Barry Whelahan; S Browne, K Martin, B Murphy; R Hanniffy, G Hanniffy, S Whelahan.