Much-changed Antrim side to face Offaly

Championship debutant Thomas McCann will lead the Antrim attack for Sunday's Leinster SHC quarter-final showdown with Offaly at Parnell Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

The Creggan clubman will start at centre-forward in a Saffrons team that shows seven changes to the one that lost 1-28 to 0-13 to the same opposition in last year's All-Ireland SHC relegation play-off.

Gareth McGhee replaces Ryan McGarry in goal, with full-back Cormac Donnelly and right half-back Neal McAuley the newcomers in defence.

Team captain Paul Shiels will partner Karl Stewart at midfield, while there are three additions to the Ulster side's attack in McCann, right half-forward Eddie McCloskey and full-forward Neil McManus.

This will be Antrim's second foray into the Leinster Championship. Hampered by injuries, they lost to Dublin - 2-16 to 0-12 - at the quarter-final stage twelve months ago.

The Saffrons are also missing a number of players for this weekend's opener, including talented forward Liam Watson who has been playing soccer for Donegal Celtic in recent seasons.

Waston withdrew from the Antrim panel last week, citing personal reasons, but skipper Shiels remains optimistic about his side's chances of overcoming Offaly.

"It's going to be a big ask. We don't think it's going to be easy to go down to Leinster and beat Offaly," said the Dunloy clubman.

"We'll work hard, get our preparation right, but on the day we have as good a chance as any.

"We played them a few times over the past number of years and we have a good enough record against them."

Asked about Antrim's ability to make a mark on this summer's Leinster Championship, Shiels added: "We didn't really perform against Dublin last year. I think there was a lot of media attention around the Antrim-Dublin game and maybe we got a wee bit distracted.

"But this year we will be more focused and more relaxed going into the game and hopefully we can perform a lot better."

ANTRIM (SHC v Offaly): G McGhee; K McGourty, C Donnelly, A Graffin; N McAuley, J Campbell, C Herron; P Shiels (capt), K Stewart; E McCloskey, T McCann, J Scullion; S McNaughton, N McManus, K McKeegan.