Hickey: Offaly a test for the best

HISTORY tells us that underdogs rarely get the better of things when it comes to replays but Kilkenny’s Noel Hickey isn’t drawing up his Leinster final battle plans with Galway in mind just yet.

Offaly surprised everyone by recovering from a poor start to hit John McIntyre’s side for three goals and take a seven-point lead last weekend and they showed that same spirit in reeling in arrears twice more whilst down to 14 men.

“It’s hard to call,” said the Kilkenny full-back who was speaking at the launch of the Guinness Hurling ‘A County Will Rise’ campaign in the brewery’s James’ Street headquarters yesterday.