OFFALY BOSS OLLIE Baker has made three changes for Saturday’s All-Ireland hurling qualifier against Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and handed a championship debut to goalkeeper Eoin Kelly in the process.
The Lusmagh netminder will replace James Dempsey, who lined out in Offaly’s heavy Leinster championship defeat to Galway. Conor Hernon and Sean Ryan make their first championship starts of the season at right corner-back and midfield respectively as David Franks and Cathal Parlon make way.
Positional changes also see Derek Morkan moved to right halfback, James Rigney to left corner-back, Conor Mahon to centre-forward, Colin Egan to right half-forward and Joe Bergin to full-forward. Opponents Cork will name their team for the game tonight.
OFFALY SH: Eoin Kelly (Lusmagh); Conor Hernon (St Rynagh’s), David Kenny (Belmont), James Rigney (Kinnitty); Derek Morkan (Shinrone), Rory Hanniffy (Birr), Diarmuid Horan (St Rynagh’s); Kevin Brady (Coolderry), Sean Ryan (Birr); Colin Egan (Belmont), Conor Mahon (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Brendan Murphy (Ballyskenagh); Shane Dooley (Tullamore), Joe Bergin (Seir Kieran), Brian Carroll (Coolderry).
