The Offaly manager, Tommy Lyons (left), echoes Boylan's view that a very close match is in prospect. "We have been planning for this match since last January. We haven't really done anything special but we are as ready as we can be. We will not have David Foley or Barry Mooney but Peter Brady has a chance of making the substitutes' bench and we are confident that we have the strongest available team.

"The match has caught the imagination of the public in Offaly after our victory in the National League and, with the hurlers also involved, I believe that there will be 50,000 plus at the game. I believe that there is huge interest in Meath as well.

"There is every reason to believe that, if the weather is fine, we can have a free-flowing match. Both sides like to play good football and we have proved that in the past. Although we are neighbouring counties and have met many times there is no really tribal antagonism between us.

"Both are strong physical teams but there is a healthy rivalry which doesn't go beyond the boundaries of sportsman- ship; there is no hidden agenda when we meet.

"I believe that the match may swing on how the two full forward lines fare against the two fullback lines and what kind of possession the forwards can get. Midfield is no longer such a crucial factor in the game although I would like to see the Australian style `mark' introduced as in the experimental rules which were tried in some competitions during the last two months.

"The fact of the matter is that the teams are so evenly matched that a draw cannot be ruled out. In any event, it is going to be very close and will go down to the wire."