Offaly to field walking wounded to avoid drop

OFFALY manager Mike McNamara will ask Brian Whelahan, Ger Oakley and Neville Coughlan to play through the pain barrier on Sunday as the county battles to avoid the drop to Division Two of the NHL.

Whelahan and Oakley returned to light training on Wednesday evening, despite the fact both men are still struggling with facial and shoulder injuries respectively. McNamara admits that, with his team facing into the abyss of relegation, all three may be asked to tog out in Birr against neighbours Laois at the weekend.

“Eleven of what I would call our first fifteen are injured at present so we’re at crisis levels and, with our situation in the league as it is, one or two players may have to play through the pain barrier,” McNamara said yesterday.