Offaly boosted by returning players

Offaly's interim football manager Tom Coffey is piecing together his panel ahead of their crunch Leinster SFC clash with Kildare on June 17.

Clara's Ross Brady, Thomas Deehan and John Reynolds have accepted invitations to return to the squad, along with Gracefield's Niall Smith and Richie Dalton from Edenderry, and Birr's Donie Ryan has also received a call-up.

Brady, Smith and Dalton decided to withdraw during a forgettable Allianz League campaign which ended with relegation to Division 4 and Gerry Cooney stepping down as manager.

Cooney decided to drop both Deehan and Reynolds but the pair are now back on board under a Coffey-led management that includes newly-appointed selectors Phil O'Reilly (Tullamore) and Pat Lowry (Clara).

There have been unsuccessful approaches made to both Karol Slaterry and Scott Brady, while in addition Coffey is attempting to coax Ciaran McManus out of retirement.

The strong-running former Leinster SFC title winner retired from the inter-county scene last November and has yet to give the new Offaly boss an answer, as he is currently sitting exams.

The return of a number of battle-hardened players will give the Faithfuls a timely boost, especially as their promising midfielder Brian Connor recently decided to spend the summer in Chicago.