Offaly and Kildare face each other for second time tomorrow in the replay of the Leinster football semi-final at Croke Park. In the drawn match three weeks ago only a late goal kept them in the competition as Kildare had their usual lack of accuracy up front trouble their passage through despite much possession. Kildare will still be without manager Mick O'Dwyer's son Karl, who has failed to return to fitness after suffering a broken finger and his loss will again be felt. O'Dwyer has however included Pádraig Brennan and Ronan Sweeney in an effort to make more impact on the scoreboard. Full-forward Dale Hynan reverts to the bench.
Offaly are backed by the return of Compromise Rules star Ciarán McManus and are hoping to put up a much better performance this time round. They are still waiting on Vinny Claffey to take up his corner forward slot which has been left vacant while the veteran star tries to prove his fitness.
