Ciaran McManus won't be coming out of retirement to assist Offaly in their Leinster SFC quarter-final against Kildare, interim manager Tom Coffey has confirmed.

Coffey extended an invitation to McManus to re-join the Faithful panel after taking over reins from Gerry Cooney a month ago, but the Tubber clubman has decided not to return.

"He was unable to commit," Coffey told The Tullamore Tribune.

"It would be very unfair to give a 36-year-old three weeks training ahead of the Kildare game. He needs to be protected as well, after all the great games he has played for Offaly."

Clara forward Thomas Deehan won't be returning either, despite initially agreeing to, but Coffey has succeeded in bringing Niall Smith, Ross Brady and Richie Dalton - who is expected to man the full back position against the Lilywhites - back into the fold.

Former Laois player Mark Dunne, who now plays his club football with Rhode, has also been added to the panel - he scored 0-4 against his native county in last Friday night's challenge in Mountmellick - but star forward Niall McNamee isn't currently involved as he battles a long-standing groin problem. Tweet

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