Sunday June 18

Leinster SHC Semi-Final

Offaly v Galway, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 2pm

Within minutes of a surprisingly comfortable Leinster Quarter-Final win over Dublin, Galway’s thoughts had quickly turned to their game at the penultimate stage.

Offaly finished with a flourish to defeat Westmeath the previous evening and Shane Dooley’s late scores captured the attention of Galway’s Aidan Harte.

“They showed that they can go 74/75 minutes, they got 1-1 between the 73 and 75th minute, I was following it online.

“They gave us a sticky game in Portlaoise last year on a bad day, who is to say it will be any different.”

Harte is correct because a year ago Offaly started well before eventually losing 2-19 to 2-9 against Galway.

Micheal Donoghue’s team just had too much firepower for the Faithful, who produced a committed display.

On the opening weekend of the 2017 Allianz Hurling League in Division 1B Galway hammered Offaly in Tullamore, but Kevin Ryan’s charges have improved considerably since then.

A relegation play/off seemed a distinct possibility, but Offaly rallied to beat Kerry to preserve their status at that level.

That provided a slice of good news and Offaly were content with how they overcame the Westmeath challenge.

In a thrilling derby encounter Shane Dooley’s 3-8 haul ensured Offaly advanced to the last four in the province.

Offaly haven’t defeated Galway in the Championship since the 1994 All Ireland Semi-Final, but they did go close in 2010.

Galway required a replay to shrug off a spirited Offaly outfit on a 3-17 to 2-18 scoreline in Portlaoise after the drawn match 2-19 to 3-16 at Croke Park.

So impressive in the closing stages of the League, high hopes are attached to this Galway team.

Paul Killeen’s cruciate knee ligament injury is a setback, though, so Donoghue will have to make a defensive change with John Hanbury expected to earn a recall.

At centrefield David Burke and Johnny Coen are forging a decent midfield partnership, while Jason Flynn, Conor Cooney, and Conor Whelan all impressed alongside Joe Canning in the Dublin triumph.

Offaly will need to restrict the supply and quality of possession being moved inside to a potent Galway attacking unit.

OFFALY: James Dempsey; Ben Conneely, Dermot Shortt, Enda Grogan; Sean Ryan, Sean Gardiner, David King; Paddy Murphy, Shane Kinsella; Padraic Guinan, Joe Bergin, Emmett Nolan; Sean Cleary, Shane Dooley, Oisin Kelly.

GALWAY: Colm Callanan; Adrian Touhy, Daithi Burke, John Hanbury; Padraic Mannion, Gearoid McInerney, Aidan Harte; Johnny Coen, David Burke; Jason Flynn, Joe Canning, Niall Burke; Conor Whelan, Cathal Mannion, Conor Cooney.