Dooley confident duo will be fit

OFFALY boss Joe Dooley is confident that Brendan Murphy and David Franks will be available for their Leinster SHC opener against Antrim on May 30 in Parnell Park as the duo battle to shake off back and hamstring injuries respectively.

Murphy missed Offaly’s entire NHL Division 1 campaign with a prolapsed disc in his back while defender Franks was forced to sit out Sunday’s league against Tipperary in Tullamore with a hamstring injury.

“Brendan has been bothered with a back injury but he should be back hurling in a couple of weeks,” says Dooley.

“He should be available for selection against Antrim. David Franks then had a hamstring injury coming into Sunday’s game, so we decided not to chance him.

“But he should be fine as well come championship.”