Offaly plans hit badly ahead of Christy Ring Cup opener

Offaly manager Michael Fennelly. ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon.

Saturday’s Christy Ring Cup opener between Offaly and Kildare is in jeopardy after the former became the latest inter-county set-up to be hit by Covid-19.

Three Offaly players were forced to withdraw from the squad for last night’s Leinster U20 hurling championship quarter-final win over Westmeath due to Covid-19 protocols.

There are fears that several members of Michael Fennelly’s squad could be deemed as close contacts to a Covid-19 case.

RTE Sport reports that the Offaly county board are understood to be in contact with HSE officials and should they be deemed close contacts than those involved would have to self-isolate.

That would rule them out of Saturday’s clash in Tullamore and could potentially force the hosts to give a walkover over to the Lilywhites.