Offaly youngbloods to progress as Lilywhites to miss Ryan inspiration

A GLEN RYAN type of Sunday at Croke Park tomorrow. An afternoon for leaders to instil belief in those around them, to rally colleagues in doubt to head trouble off at first sight.

Trouble for Kildare is that Ryan is likely to miss their titanic Leinster Championship quarter-final tussle with Offaly. And it will be a tussle. There is no county in the GAA (hurling and football) which belies its league form as completely as Offaly.

When I arrived in Kildare, they were downtrodden and choking on having Offaly’s 1982 All-Ireland shoved down their throat. The balance has tipped in the last decade, and from an even start, I’d favour Kildare to progress tomorrow.

However, the absence of Ryan and fellow defender Damien Hendy would be an odds-changing handicap for the Lilywhites. That, plus form — Offaly are already after a day out in headquarters, defeating Westmeath with some ease. Kevin Kilmurray is reshaping Offaly, and while that will take time, getting a Croke Park Championship game under their belt is a huge plus for Offaly’s youngsters.

Both McNamees, Alan and Niall, and Tomas Deehan have already shown genuine promise, and the coach is blooding two more

Championship debutants tomorrow, with Paul McConway at half back and Trevor Phelan in attack.

Kildare have promising youngbloods, not least David Lyons and full back Kevin O’Neill. But the absence of some experienced old heads will increase the responsibility on the likes of John Doyle — pound for pound, still one of the best scoring attackers in the country. Doyle, like Anthony Rainbow, has been struggling for fitness, and while both will probably play, aren’t we getting to the point where there are too many “ifs” and question marks about Kildare?

The victor (I expect it to be Offaly) will get first-hand intelligence on their semi-final opponents, with Meath and Wexford opening the double bill tomorrow. Just as Glen Ryan is the totemic figure for Kildare, so too is Graham Geraghty for Meath. I described him as a general after the defeat of Louth, but he was only one of a number of Royals who impressed.

Nobody truly knew what to expect from Eamonn Barry’s first Championship side, but on reflection, the venue was a contributory factor. Meath, like Kerry, are different at Croke Park. If the game versus Louth had been in Portlaoise or Longford, they may have come a cropper.

However, after a shocking first half, the likes of Geraghty, Kevin Reilly and Caoimhin King drove Meath forward.

Now a quarter-final, again in Croke Park, against Paul Bealin’s Wexford. Anyone else sense a hint of Meath momentum beginning here?

The Yellowbellies haven’t had an outing to date, so analysing them is difficult. However, they held an Armagh side fighting relegation to a point in their final league game. If Bealin has progressed them further, they’ll provide a challenge to Meath. But only that.

Both hurling and football All-Ireland champions make their 2006 bows tomorrow, but Tyrone are virtually unrecognisable in attack from the side that defeated Kerry last September. Losing Stephen O’Neill, Brian McGuigan and the retired Peter Canavan will not only dilute their scoring potential, it will also be a test for Tyrone’s famed self-belief. Ger Cavlan is also missing, but it’s a fair testament to Mickey Harte’s strength in depth only one player will make their Championship debut: Raymond Mulgrew at left half forward.

Nevertheless, Derry must grasp this golden opportunity, even if it is in Omagh. Tyrone will be resilient — champions always are — but that extra bit of class will be missing, despite Owen Mulligan’s recovery.

Derry have four Championship debutants, but formidable full forwards in Paddy Bradley, his brother Eoin and Enda Muldoon. If there is a surprise tomorrow, it could be in Omagh. I’d take Derry each way.

Finally, a few eyebrows were raised at Kerry’s inept display in Killarney last Sunday, against Waterford.

This may prove the eye-opener Kerry need. Some suggested Kerry might be better off with a few tough qualifiers but the best road is always the straightest one. Our Kerry side was lucky to come out of Clonmel with a win in the Munster Championship first round in 1975, and we did okay.

Forecast: Derry, Offaly, Meath, Galway.