Offaly bid to go step further against Déise

Offaly footballers will attempt to hang around the championship beyond June for the first time since 2011 when they face Waterford in tomorrow afternoon’s All-Ireland qualifier in Dungarvan.

First-round backdoor defeats to Wicklow last year, Tyrone in 2013 and Tipperary three years ago have meant the Faithful County’s seasons have been truncated to just five playing months in the previous three seasons.

However, a victory against Waterford team would set up a July 4 second-round qualifier date with one of Tipperary, Dublin/Kildare, Fermanagh/Monaghan or Roscommon/Sligo, marking their first foray into that month since 2011, when they lost to Limerick.