LAST UPDATE | 12 Jun 2018

GALWAY TAKE THEIR first step into the Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21 hurling championship tomorrow night when they face Offaly and have named five players with senior experience in their starting side.

Galway's Brian Concannon and Offaly's Eoghan Cahill will be in opposition tomorrow night. INPHO INPHO

Wing-back Sean Loftus started for the Galway senior side last Saturday against Dublin while centre-forward Brian Concannon has also featured for the All-Ireland senior champions in recent weeks.

Midfielders Thomas Monaghan and Jack Grealish were both part of the match day senior squad in last summer’s championship while corner-forward Evan Niland has had previous senior experience for Galway as well.

Offaly have five senior players in their ranks with goalkeeper Eoghan Cahill, who captains the side, and full-back Ben Conneely both having started for the senior side in their loss to Dublin in the final game of the Leinster round-robin.

Ben Conneely in action for Offaly against Wexford. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Centre-back Paddy Delaney, centre-forward Liam Langton and full-forward Oisin Kelly were all part of Kevin Martin’s senior squad as well this year.

Oisin Kelly in action against Wexford's Lee Chin. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Galway have had to plan without a trio of 2015 All-Ireland minor winners – Jack Coyne, Jack Fitzpatrick and Cian Salmon – due to injury, while last year’s minor star Jack Canning is also out injured. Leaving Cert students were not considered.

Jack and Joe Canning celebrating Galway's All-Ireland final wins last September. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

In total, Galway have nine players that started in the corresponding All-Ireland minor success three years ago in Fintan Burke, Shane Bannon, Caelom Mulry, Loftus, Monaghan, Grealish, Concannon, Cianan Fahy and Niland.

Captain Sean Loftus and his Galway team-mates celebrating their 2015 All-Ireland minor final victory. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Wing-forward Sean Bleahane won an All-Ireland minor medal last year, shooting 0-5 from play in the victory over Cork. Centre-back Mark Hughes won a county senior hurling medal with Liam Mellows in Galway last December.

Galway bowed out of the U21 hurling championship at the All-Ireland semi-final stage in a thrilling contest with Limerick last August. Grealish, Loftus, Concannon and Monaghan all started that game while Niland and Burke came on as substitutes.

Throw-in tomorrow night in O’Connor Park is 7.30pm with live coverage on TG4.

Galway

1. Eanna Murphy (Tommy Larkins)

2. Ian O’Shea (Athenry)
3. Fintan Burke (St Thomas – captain)
4. Shane Bannon (Clarinbridge)

5. Caelom Mulry (Abbeyknockmoy)
6. Mark Hughes (Liam Mellows)
7. Sean Loftus (Turloughmore)

8. Thomas Monaghan (Craughwell)
9. Jack Grealish (Gort)

10. Sean Bleahane (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
11. Brian Concannon (Killimordaly)
12. Cianan Fahy (Ardrahan)

13. Evan Niland (Clarinbridge)
14. Ronan Murphy (Tommy Larkins)
15. Kevin Cooney (Sarsfields)

Offaly

1. Eoghan Cahill (Birr – captain)

2. Michael Gilligan (Seir Kieran)
3. Ben Conneely (St Rynagh’s)
4. Cathal O’Meara (Clara)

5. Ross Connaughton (Carrig & Riverstown)
6. Paddy Delaney (Kinnitty)
7. Dylan Watkins (Birr)

8. Cathal O’Brien (Shamrocks)
9. David Buckley (Clodiagh Gaels)

10. Brian Duignan (Ballinamere)
11. Liam Langton (Clodiagh Gaels)
12. Joe Keenaghan (Clodiagh Gaels)

13. Conor Langton (Clodiagh Gaels)
14. Oisin Kelly (Belmont)
15. Wayne Mooney (Shamrocks)

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