Dublin unchanged for Offaly clash - Div 1A preview

Offaly host Dublin in Division 1A of the National Football League today, but both sides are out of contention for a league semi-final place.

However, the rivalry between the sides has always been intense, ensuring a hard-fought battle.

Offaly boss Kevin Kilmurray has named the same team that started last weekend's victory over Donegal for today's match.

However, Kilmurray is still without his skipper, Barry Mooney, who missed last weekend's win after damaging ligaments in his thumb in training.

Therefore Nigel Grennan continues at left half-back in his absence.

Dublin manager Paul Caffrey has named an unchanged team, despite last weekend's nine-point drubbing at the hands of Cork.

The Metropolitan boss also named 15 substitutes, but will reduce the final panel before the game.

Alan Brogan, who was introduced to action last weekend, remains on the bench, despite having recovered from knee surgery.

There are no semi-final places up for grabs as relegated Donegal host Cork in Ballyshannon. However, the Rebels will be keen to improve their away record after dropping costly points on the road during the campaign.

Billy Morgan has made three changes to the Cork side that makes the long trip up north.

Diarmuid Duggan replaces Gary Murphy, who is ill. Duggan is named at full-back and Niall Geary moves to the right corner.

Philip Clifford gets his first start of the campaign at right corner-forward, replacing Kevin O'Sullivan, while Colin Crowley goes into the other corner in place of Micheál Ó Croinín.

Donegal have been unlucky, in that they have lost so many matches by the minimum of margins, last week blowing a strong lead against Offaly.

Kerry host Tyrone at Fitzgerald Stadium in the tie of the round, with all to play for. Forget the 2003 All-Ireland semi-final, Kerry need to win, or at least draw, to join the Red Hands in the semi-final line-up, thus keeping their hopes alive of retaining their league title.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte welcomes back ace attacker Owen Mulligan for the visit to Killarney.

Mulligan has recovered sufficiently from recent hamstring trouble to take his place in attack - after coming through an appearance from the bench last time out.

Harte continues his policy of rotating goalkeepers, with John Devine getting the nod ahead of Pascal McConnell.

Mayo host Westmeath in a crunch match for both sides, albeit for different reasons. Mayo need to win and hope Kerry lose or draw, in which case the Connacht champions qualify for the semi-finals.

Westmeath will be hoping the Dubs can see off Offaly, but they still need to beat Mayo by 16 points or more to avoid relegation.

Mayo manager John Maughan has made five changes from the side that lost to the Kingdom last weekend for today's contest in Castlebar.

Alan Roche replaces James Nallen at centre-back and Pat Harte replaces Aidan Kilcoyne in the half-forward line.

Maughan has changed his entire full-forward line, with Conor Mortimer, Austin O'Malley and John Prenty coming in for Gary Mullins, Alan Dillon and Trevor Mortimer respectively.

OFFALY (SF v Dublin): P Kelly; C Daly, C Evans, S Sullivan; K Slattery, S Brady, N Grennan; C McManus, A McNamee; N Couglan, M Daly, J Reynolds; C Quinn, N McNamee, J Coughlan.

DUBLIN (SF v Offaly): S Cluxton; P Griffin, P Christie, S O'Shaughnessy; P Casey, B Cullen, P Andrews; C Whelan, S Ryan; C Moran, J Sherlock, D Lally; M Vaughan, C Keaney, T Quinn.

CORK (SF v Donegal): K Murphy; N Geary, D Duggan, C O'Connor; E Sexton, A Lynch, M Cronin, N Murphy, S Levis, J Masters, C McCarthy, A Cronin, P Clifford, BJ O'Sullivan, C Crowley.

TYRONE (SF Kerry): J Devine; R McMenamin, C Lawn, S Sweeney; J McMahon, G Devlin, P Jordan; C Holmes, S Cavanagh; E McGinley, S O'Neill, M Penrose; R Mellon, O Mulligan, M Coleman.

MAYO (SF v Westmeath): D Clarke; L O'Malley, D Heaney, K Higgins; C Moran, A Roche, P Gardiner; R McGarrity, BJ Padden; A Moran, C McDonald, P Harte; C Mortimer, A O'Malley, J Prenty.