Offaly to emerge convincing winners

Antrim v Offaly:JOE DOOLEY is in his third year as Offaly manager and with Division One status retained will want to get past this one and set up a semi-final date with either Galway or Wexford.

Derek Morkan is the sole championship debut in the half-back line which also features James Rigney and David Kenny – and while Brendan Murphy (back), Ger Healion (broken thumb) and Ger Oakley (shoulder) have failed to make the starting team, they are included among the subs.

Brian Carroll and Shane Dooley bring real scoring ability and they certainly have ample ability and experience to beat Antrim.

Even with Dinny Cahill’s famous enthusiasm driving them again, Antrim look to have gone back quite a bit over the past year.

Thomas McCann is the only debutant at centre forward on a team that shows seven changes from that which lost heavily to Offaly in last year’s ultimately meaningless relegation play-off.

OFFALY: B Mullins; D Franks, P Cleary, M Verney; J Rigney, D Kenny, D Morkan; R Hanniffy, K Brady; D Currams, J Brady, D Molloy; B Carroll, J Bergin, S Dooley.

ANTRIM: G McGhee; K McGourty, C Donnelly, A Graffin; N McAuley, J Campbell, C Herron; P Shiels, K Stewart; E McCloskey, T McCann, J Scullion; S McNaughton, N McManus, K McKeegan

Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).

In the Last Episode: After losing to Dublin in Leinster last year and then to Laois in the qualifiers, Antrim later played Offaly in a relegation play-off and were beaten 1-28 to 0-13 yet remained in the top tier as relegation was subsequently scrapped.

You Bet:Antrim are outsiders at 8/1, with the draw 16/1, and Offaly well fancied at 1/16.

On Your Marks: With Brian Carroll and especially Shane Dooley is firing form, Offaly have the potential to put this game out of Antrim's sight quite early on.

Gaining Ground:Offaly looked far more comfortable at Parnell Park last year when easily beating Antrim in a relegation play-off.

Just The Ticket: Stand tickets; €20 – no concessions; family tickets for the stand (adults €20 and children €5) and terrace (adults €15 and children €3). Terrace €15). Students and OAPs can get €10 rebate on stand tickets and €5 on terrace tickets.

Crystal Gazing:Offaly to emerge as convincing winners.