OFFALY boss John McIntyre has been forced to delay until tonight finalising his team for Sunday’s Leinster Championship clash with Laois, at Tullamore, because of injury doubts over four key players.

 

Defenders Ger Oakley (knee), Barry Teehan (dead leg), and David Franks (ankle), as well as forward Joe Bergin (finger) will have fitness tests at tonight’s training session at Tullamore.

“I’d be quite optimistic that the lads will come through, but you never know what might happen in training,” explained McIntyre. “We won’t pick them unless they prove they are 100 per cent.

Already, Offaly have been hit by the unavailability of defenders Cathal Horan, who broke a bone in his hand in a club championship game, and Michael Verney who sustained a bruised ankle in training.

“The two lads did very well in the game against Waterford (won by Offaly), and they’ll be a big loss,” said McIntyre. “Because he was sitting exams, Cathal’s injury was not diagnosed for 10 days after it happened.”

In the corresponding Championship clash last year, Offaly cantered to a 2-12 to 0-8 victory over Laois. But the Faithful County boss warned that his county could face a much stiffer challenge on this occasion.

“Laois got a lot closer to Limerick than we did (in the relegation play-off ties), and they’ll take a confidence from that,” he argued.

Filed under: Laois Hurling