Allianz Hurling League Preview: Offaly

Manager: Ollie Baker (2nd Year)Captain: David KennyAllianz League 2013: Division IB; opener v Dublin, Feb 23Allianz League 2012: 3rd in Division IBChampionship 2012: Lost to Galway in Leinster S-F; Beaten by Cork in Phase 2 of QualifiersAllianz League Record: Champions in 1991Star Man: Shane DooleyOne to Watch: Ciarán SlevinPlayers Out: David Franks, Brendan Murphy, Joe Brady (all retired), Diarmuid Horan, Eoin Kelly, Conor Hernon (all emigrated), James Rigney, Seán Coughlan, Éanna Murphy, Barry Harding (all left panel).Injury List: Paul Cleary (ankle; long-term), Stephen Wynne (hip; long-term)Players In: Ciarán Slevin, Conor Slevin, Dan Currams, Peter Geraghty (all Kilcormac-Killoughey), David King (Coolderry), Pat Camon (St Rynagh's), Dermot Mooney (Seir Kieran), Michael and Seán Cleary (Shinrone), Seán Gardiner (Lusmagh), Dan Kelliher (Brosna Gaels), Colm Coughlan (Kinnitty), Tomás Bolger (Birr).

One look at the 'Players In' section above tells its own story. The off-season has been a time of change for Offaly hurling, with ten of the squad for last year's Leinster Championship semi-final defeat to Galway no longer involved.

Three stalwarts of Offaly hurling - David Franks, Brendan Murphy and Joe Brady - have retired, while Diarmuid Horan, Eoin Kelly and Conor Hernon have left the country in search of work. Franks and Murphy were both involved in the 2000 All-Ireland final defeat to Kilkenny, meaning the last remaining ties to the great Offaly side of 1990s/2000s have been severed.

Manager Ollie Baker has drafted in a slew of new players to plug those gaps, and it's with a new-look panel that they embark on their Division IB campaign in the Allianz League.

Kilcormac-Killoughey's success in the AIB All-Ireland Club Championship has been a real fillip for Offaly hurling, and Baker will add a number of the Offaly and Leinster champions' star performers to his squad as soon as their involvement in the competition is over on St Patrick's Day.

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The Slevin brothers, Ciarán and goalkeeper Conor, Peter Geraghty and Dan Currams (he played with the footballers in 2012) will all join the panel in late March/early April. Ciarán Slevin and Currams, in particular, have been brilliant for the 'KKs' in their run to the All-Ireland final and will be a major bonus for Baker if they can bring their club form to the inter-county arena.

Baker has also made a new addition to his backroom team, with 1998 All Star and All-Ireland winner Stephen Byrne replacing Paudge Mulhare as a selector. Mark Corrigan continues in his role as selector in 2013.

Offaly start their campaign on Saturday night with arguably their toughest game of the lot when they face Dublin in Parnell Park. Offaly, Dublin and Limerick look the trio most likely to battle it out for a place in the divisional final, which will then determine who goes up to the top flight in 2014.