Slattery fit for Offaly opener

Former captain Karol Slattery has been passed fit to line out for Offaly in their Leinster SFC opener against Carlow this Sunday (Portlaoise, throw-in 2.10pm).

The Gracefield clubman went over on his ankle during a training session last Friday but is expected to make the O'Moore Park clash, having responded well to treatment and been named at left half-back.

Thomas Deehan and PJ Ward have also shaken off injuries to be included in Pat Roe's side, but an ankle injury keeps defender Nigel Grennan sidelined. Grennan's place at left corner-back has gone to James Keane.

Roe has included two championship debutants in his starting fifteen - Gracefield's Niall Smith, who will link up with skipper Alan McNamee in midfield, and PJ Ward, the former Westmeath player who has been positioned at full-forward.

Ward, who actually played for Westmeath against Offaly in last year's Leinster championship, caught the eye of the Offaly management in a recent challenge match against Roscommon.

Strangely enough, Sunday's tie is the first Leinster championship meeting between Offaly and Carlow since 1993. However they did encounter each other in the All-Ireland qualifiers two years ago, with Carlow scoring a surprise 0-14 to 1-10 win over the Faithfuls.

Offaly were 3-12 to 1-8 winners when the sides met in the National League in Tullamore in February.

OFFALY (SFC v Carlow) - P Kelly; G Rafferty, J Quinn, J Keane; P McConway, S Brady, K Slattery; N Smith, A McNamee (capt); N Coughlan, P Kellaghan, C McManus; T Deehan, PJ Ward, N McNamee.