Sunday's Leinster SHC quarter-final between Offaly and Kilkenny will be a special occasion for Shane Dooley who is looking forward to welcoming the All-Ireland champions to his home pitch of O'Connor Park.

While the counties have had many championship battles down the years - between 1980 and 2000 they met an incredible 18 times - it will be the first time in living memory for O'Connor Park to stage such an encounter. And as the only Tullamore clubman currently on the Offaly panel, Dooley admits it's a big day for him.

"For Offaly to be playing a Leinster championship match against Kilkenny in Tullamore is a bit of novelty," he says.

"As a Tullamore man, it's great for me personally. O'Connor Park is a super county ground now, one of the best of the country. The groundsmen have the pitch in great nick all year round. All the money that was spent on redeveloping it was for occasions like this.

"This game should draw a huge crowd. I know a lot of people are coming just to see Kilkenny, but hopefully we'll be able to show them that we can hurl a bit too."

The Faithful haven't beaten Kilkenny in the championship since the 1998 All-Ireland final when Shane's father, Joe, became the first and only Offaly hurler to win three Celtic Crosses. That was Offaly's last great day against the Cats whose emphatic All-Ireland final victory of 2000 was the first of eight successive championship losses the midlanders have suffered at the hands of Brian Cody's all-conquering charges since then.

Offaly haven't appeared in a Leinster final since 2004 when they were beaten by Wexford. Their last championship meeting with the Noresiders was five years ago when they were on the wrong end of a 0-12 to 2-24 Leinster semi-final reversal, and the bookies are convinced another defeat to the black and ambers awaits them this weekend, with odds of 10/1 available on a home win.

"We're under no illusions," explains Dooley, who has been one of hurling's leading marksmen since making his championship debut against Laois in 2007.

"We're going to be coming up against the best team of all-time. I know Henry Shefflin is injured, but he's going to be there on the sideline and he's the best hurler of all-time. You couldn't but admire them - they are a super team with super players. They were without Henry, Richie Power and TJ Reid for the league final against Tipperary, but still won.

"As daunting a task it is, we never fear anyone regardless of how good they are. We've been looking forward to this game since the draw was made last October and we know what we have to do.

"We're playing the All-Ireland champions in our own backyard. If you can't get yourself up for a game like this, then there's something seriously wrong with you. I'd like to think that our lads will be well up for it."

The 26-year-old Clondalkin-based primary schoolteacher admits Offaly haven't enjoyed the best of starts to 2013. They had targeted promotion from Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League, but were out of the running going into the final round of games following defeats to Dublin and Limerick.

Their failure to secure promotion means they face another season in the second tier, and Shane accepts this is a far from ideal situation for a county with designs on progressing up the hurling ladder.

"Our first target was to win Division 1B, but it didn't work out for us," he ruefully reflects.

"At the same time, we've had one eye on Kilkenny in the championship, but it's disappointing to think we're going to be in Division 1B again next year. You don't learn much from playing at that level. Wexford and Limerick would tell you the same thing.

"You need to be hurling the top teams to know where you stand. That's the only way you will improve. The current league structure is doing nothing for hurling. Counties like Offaly are going to suffer long-term if the status quo remains."

While Offaly's recent lack of success at underage level - the minor team's crushing defeat to Laois last month was a real eye-opener - is a major source of concern for supporters, Dooley argues that the club scene is as vibrant as ever.

"I wouldn't be too worried about our minor record. If we can get two or three minors through to the seniors every year, we're doing well. Realistically, that's all you can expect to get through.

"The standard of club hurling is actually very high in Offaly. All you have to do is look at Kilcormac/Killoughey and Coolderry, who have contested the last two All-Ireland club finals. Apart from the All-Ireland final, which they were unfortunate to lose, Kilcormac got their toughest games in Offaly.

"In order for us to be successful, we need everyone to be available to us for every game. We don't have the strength in depth of the bigger counties and can't absorb losses like they can. But when we have everyone and are playing to a system that suits us, we can be a match for most."

So how far can Ollie Baker's men go in this year's championship? Shane replies: "I think we can reach an All-Ireland quarter-final or semi-final. If Kilkenny beat us and we end up in the qualifiers, a lot will depend on the draw. If we can avoid the likes of Tipperary and Galway, we could go a long way.

"We were unlucky with the (qualifier) draw the past two years when we were drawn away to Cork both times. We're the sort of team that could get on a run if the draw is anyway kind to us."

Offaly fans will be delighted to hear that their prolific forward is back to full fitness after being troubled by a hamstring injury during the Allianz League. Joe Bergin has also recovered from the fractured cheekbone he suffered after he was struck by a sliothar in the warm-up before the Faithful County's league defeat to Limerick in March, while Daniel Currams is also back after breaking his arm on the eve of Kilcormac/Killoughey's All-Ireland club final against St. Thomas'.

"I never had hamstring problems until this year," Shane reveals.

"It was at me during the league and flared up again a few weeks ago. But I'm over it now, thank God. Daniel is also back doing a bit of hurling, as is Joe Bergin who scored 1-10 playing for Clareen (Seir Kieran) against Brosna Gaels in a recent club championship game.

"Apart from Derek Morkhan, who has an ankle injury, everyone is fighting fit."

Born into a famous hurling family - his father Joe and uncles Johnny and Billy backboned the hugely talented Offaly side of the 1990s - Shane is still awaiting success at inter-county level, but won Offaly SFC and SHC medals with Tullamore in 2007 and 2009 respectively. Last year, he savoured Inter-provincial and Hurling/Shinty International Series glory with Leinster and Ireland respectively.

He also had the honour of captaining Offaly in 2011, which was the last of his father's four years as manager.

Footnote: A unique charity event, featuring a host of Offaly and Kilkenny hurling legends, is set to provide GAA fans with an entertaining pre-championship game treat in Tullamore on Sunday.

A world record breaking attempt - to make as many Carroll's ham sandwiches in one hour - will take place in the main hall of the Tullamore GAA Centre from midday and will provide some interesting pre-game entertainment ahead of the 2pm throw-in to the Leinster SHC quarter-final at O'Connor Park, which is situated directly across the road from the GAA Centre.

The current world record, for the number of sandwiches made in one hour, stands at 2,706 sandwiches and Carroll's - Offaly GAA's main sponsors - are hoping to make 2,800.

The world record attempt will also provide a backdrop to The Sunday Game's Michael Duignan hosting a Q&A session with other former players, including Eddie Brennan, DJ Carey, Brian Whelahan and Joe Dooley, who will be giving their insight into one of the great Leinster hurling rivalries ahead of the clash, but will also be on hand to make some sandwiches for the world record attempt.

The record breaking sandwiches will then be donated to the match-goers by volunteers from Irish Autism Action to help them raise some much-needed funds. Tweet

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