Offaly will begin their championship campaign with three championship debutants in their starting line-up.

Eoin Carroll, Daithi Brady and Johnny Brickland will make their championship bow tomorrow, when they face Kildare in Croke Park. Edenderry’s David Hanlon makes his first championship start, having made his first championship appearance in the same fixture last year, as Offaly fell to a 13 point loss to Kildare in Portlaoise.

The experienced Alan Mc Namee is in midfield while Captain Niall Mc Namee is at full forward where he's flanked by Anton Sullivan and Ken Casey.

The sides have met once previously this year, with a January O’Byrne Cup meeting in O’Connor Park, Tullamore, ending up in a 3 point win for Kildare.

Offaly starting team to face Kildare

1 Alan Mulhall (Walsh Island)
2 Brian Darby (Rhode)
3 Paul McConway (Tullamore)
4 Daithi Brady (Ballyfore)
5 Eoin Carroll (Cappincur)
6 Shane Sullivan (Rhode)
7 Michael Brazil (Tullamore)
8 Alan McNamee (Rhode)
9 Brian Connor (Walsh Island)
10 Graham Guilfoyle (Clara)
11 Johnny Brickland (St Brigid’s)
12 David Hanlon (Edenderry)
13 Anton Sullivan (Rhode)
14 Niall McNamee (captain) (Rhode)
15 Ken Casey (St Brigid’s)