Relegation will do Offaly good, says Westmeath boss Michael Ryan

Westmeath hurling manager Michael Ryan says the Leinster championship should not be expanded to six teams, insisting Offaly will benefit from time spent in the second-tier.

Offaly were relegated to the Joe McDonagh Cup last Sunday and Ryan is adamant there should be no tweaking of structures during the off-season so to allow the Faithful County remain at hurling’s top table in 2019.

There’s a strong chance it will be Westmeath who replace Offaly in next year’s Leinster SHC, as Ryan’s charges have booked their place in the Joe McDonagh Cup decider with a round to spare. They’ll also feature in an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final later in the summer. Either Carlow or Antrim will join Westmeath in the final, with the winners earning promotion to the 2019 Leinster SHC.