Kildare begin their Championship this Sunday in Portlaoise. However, their opposition have already featured in the competition. Last Sunday, Offaly overcame Carlow to make it to this Leinster Championship quarter-final.
CLICK HERE FOR LIVE COMMENTARY FROM KILDARE v OFFALY
The saying of ‘goals win games’ rang true for Offaly in Tullamore on Sunday. Their three majors went a long way in seeing off a dogged Carlow team. Firstly, Niall McNamee and Jordan Hayes found the net in the first half when Offaly were finding points hard to come by. Carlow were never out of touch though as Offaly took a three-point lead into half-time.
Then, Bernard Allen made the lead six just before the second-half water break with a third well taken goal. Carlow had chances of their own but failed to gain any significant foothold to launch a comeback.
Kildare will be hoping to make it to a Leinster final and challenge Dublin. Hence, Offaly may need to show such efficiency in front of goal again to advance.
Kildare manager Jack O’Connor will be grateful for avoiding the preliminary round in Leinster. Since football resumed, Kildare have beaten Cavan and Westmeath. Unfortunately for O’Connor’s team, poor results in the spring meant they came up short of promotion. However, the former Kerry manager will know that form is a crucial asset entering the Championship.
Losses to Dublin and Tyrone eliminated Kildare from the competition last year. Now, they are on the opposite side of the Leinster draw to the All-Ireland Champions. Two good performances will see them in a Leinster final. However, form is temporary and there is no doubt that the Lilywhites will have to battle to get there.
Offaly are 7/2 underdogs with Paddy Power despite their win last week. Kildare are 1/4 and a draw is 10/1.
The game is live on GAAGo.
Prediction: Kildare.
Team News
Offaly : Paddy Dunican; Declan Hogan, Eoin Rigney, Niall Darby; Eoin Carroll, Johnny Moloney, Joseph O’Connor; Aaron Leavy, Jordan Hayes; Peter Cunningham, Ruairi McNamee, Anton Sullivan; Bernard Allen, Niall McNamee, Cian Farrell.
Kildare : Mark Donnellan, Mark Dempsey, Shea Ryan, Darragh Malone; David Hyland, Con Kavanagh, Kevin Flynn; Kevin Feely, Aaron Masterson; Fergal Conway, Ben McCormack, Paddy Brophy; Daniel Flynn, Darragh Kirwan, Jimmy Hyland.
Leinster Football Championship Quarter-Final: Kildare vs Offaly, Saturday, November 8th, 17:30 (O’Moore Park, Portlaoise).
And with that our Leinster GAA Senior Football Championship Quarter Final line up is set
All games taking place next weekend?#WhereBelongingBegins pic.twitter.com/xcyIL4hUw5
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