Offaly v Wexford, O

Leinster GAA Senior Football Championship Preliminary RoundOffaly v Wexford, O'Connor Park, Tullamore, 5.00pm

The Delaney cup has not been in these parts for quite some time but this year might hold something different to other years. Offaly and Wexford go into this game knowing that none of the big three from Leinster are on their side of the draw and see it as a real opportunity to progress to Jones' Road on July 10.

In 2010, the Leinster GAA Football Championship draw told a very different story for the hopes of both sets of fans. The most successful teams to come out of Leinster were pitted against these counties. Wexford faced Dublin at Croke Park while Offaly had the hard task of trying to overcome a well favoured Meath side.

Tom Cribbin's men were comfortably beaten by the Royals in that preliminary round of the Championship. However, the Faithful County went on to overcome both Clare and Waterford through the first and second round of the GAA Football All-Ireland Qualifiers respectively. But their summer came to an end when they met their demise to All-Ireland Football finalists Down, only losing by a mere two points.

Wexford almost mirrored their opponents run in the Championship last year. The Model County caught an off colour Dublin side at GAA Headquarters and forced them to extra-time but eventually lost by seven points. Jason Ryan worked his magic again through the Qualifiers by beating London and a well favoured Galway only to be undone by eventual All-Ireland Football champions Cork in the third round of the Qualifiers.

The sides have met recently in the Allianz Football League this year. Wexford again were the team to come out on top with a 1-12 to 0-11 win at O'Connor Park but Offaly captain Niall McNamee says that the league victory will have no bearing on this game.

"They had the beating of us early on in the year, but that was on wet ground and you really can't take a whole lot from it.

"It's summer now and lads are looking forward to the game. We played them a couple of years ago in Wexford Park as well and that was another close game. There's never much between the sides".

Jason Ryan has said that his men are aware of the threat that Offaly pose this Saturday evening but says that his team are confident going into the encounter. "Offaly are a great championship side but we will be looking positively towards the challenge and going in to win. You go into every championship game confident of winning, that's the way it should be."

Offaly will hand Championship debuts to both Bernard Allen and Nigel Dunne against Wexford this weekend. Allen, who impressed in the Allianz Football League, will start in the full forward line along side fellow debutant Dunne.

Offaly: A Mulhall; B Darby, S Brady, S Pender; S Lonergan, R Brady, K Slattery; R Dalton, N Smith; C McManus, S Ryan, A Sullivan; B Allen, N Dunne, N McNamee.

Wexford: TBC