Saturday May 27

Joe McDonagh Cup Final

Carlow v Offaly, Croke Park, 4.45pm, RTE

Ref: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)

Unsurprisingly the 2023 edition of the Joe McDonagh Cup has provided plenty of drama.

Since 2018 the competition has been hugely competitive with another interesting decider imminent at Croke Park on Saturday.

Offaly have enjoyed a productive campaign under the shrewd guidance of Johnny Kelly, who continues to make a coaching impact.

Carlow, though, were the inaugural winners back in 2018 and are beginning to generate momentum once again.

Tom Mullaly's panel is sprinkled with plenty of talented performers including Marty Kavanagh and Chris Nolan, who carry a potent attacking threat.

At the opposite end of the field Carlow will be fully aware that Eoghan Cahill is a classy and accurate finisher for the Faithful.

Throughout the Allianz League and Joe McDonagh Cup Cahill has accumulated significant scoring hauls.

These are encouraging times for Offaly hurling with the Leinster U20 success, featuring Charlie Mitchell, illustrating the potential in the county.

Carlow, though, will believe that silverware can be attained at GAA headquarters too. So this promises to be a fascinating encounter.

Carlow: Brian Tracey, Paul Doyle, Conor Lawlor, Niall Bolger, Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Diarmuid Byrne, Jack McCullagh, Conor Kehoe, Kevin McDonald, Jon Nolan, Chris Nolan, James Doyle, Jack Tracey, Martin Kavanagh, Paddy Boland, Damien Jordan, JP Treacy, Richard Coady, Michael Joyce, Fiach O'Toole, John Michael Nolan, Jack Kavanagh, Paudie O'Shea, Ciarain Kavanagh, John Doyle, Lorcan Doyle.

Offaly: Stephen Corcoran, Dara Maher, Ciaran Burke, Ben Conneely, David King, Jason Sampson, Killian Sampson, Sam Bourke, David Nally, Cillian Kiely, Jack Clancy, Adrian Cleary, Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan, Eoghan Cahill, Eamonn Cleary, Eimhin Kelly, Paddy Delaney, Paddy Clancy, Joey Keenaghan, Shane Dooley, John Murphy, Eoghan Parlon, Conor Hardiman, James Nally, Liam Langton.