Position: Right corner forward.
Club: St Rynagh's.
Age: 32.
Height/weight: 6 ft 1 in, 12 st 7 lb. Championship debut: 1988, v Dublin. Major honours: All-Ireland senior medals 1994, 1998; Leinster senior hurling medals 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995; National Hurling League medal 1990/91; All Star 1998; All-Ireland minor hurling medal 1986, Leinster under-21 hurling medal 1989.
Player's view
"It was difficult enough to get our heads together again after the Leinster final. It was something of a wake-up call but we definitely went into that game fully determined to win. We were very disappointed with the way we played in the second half, and especially the way we faded. We had to question our commitment after that and that was pressed home in the training since then.
"It does take a while, though, for some of the older players to get going. As the summer went on there seemed to be more intensity in the training, especially over the last six or seven weeks.
"Against Cork, we knew it was just 70 minutes of 15 players against 15. We just brought it back to basics but we knew we had come close to Cork last year and were determined to put it up to them again. Like all our good performances, we were very economical with the ball and that was a big difference. Cork had a lot more wides at the end and probably paid for that.
"Hurling is a very spontaneous game and you can't really plan for what is going to happen on the day. But if our heads are right, our hurling usually follows. We've had a number of the younger players establish themselves, like Gary Hanniffy and Brendan Murphy. They've become leaders now themselves and really bonded into this team.
"I feel that this is a very balanced line-up now. With Hubert Rigney gone, we definitely had one problem at centre back but Joe Errity has plenty of experience there, even if it was a lot to ask of him to go back. The forwards are flexible enough and the big plus is to have the younger players in there. John Troy was having his injury problems but Murphy and John Ryan have certainly stepped up. It's just a question of staying relaxed now and enjoying the game. You can talk all you want about winning or losing a Leinster final but this is a fresh 70 minutes for both teams."
Eamonn Cregan's analysis
"With Offaly's forwards, you can only really go on the second half against Cork as the performance against Kilkenny was so poor. Joe Dooley played for a while and so did Brendan Murphy but Michael Duignan wasn't going well at all. Even against Cork it was the younger players who showed leadership and the older ones who had to respond.
"Brian Corcoran wasn't able to compete with Gary Hanniffy in the air or catch him when he turned. This is a different tactic at centre forward than would be the case if John Troy was playing in the position but if Hanniffy wins ball against Kennedy, Kilkenny are in trouble.
"On the wing Johnny Pilkington has been a dream come true for Offaly. They moved him probably because of doubts about his stamina for centrefield. Now if he gets inside the half backs, he takes them on and if he's in space he goes for his scores. This is something he used do at centrefield but now he's able to do it from closer in."
Colm Kehoe's analysis
(Wexford corner back)
"Their strength is the way they put it around to each other. They just hit the ball into space and expect other players to be there - which they generally are. There's a good few new lads in the attack, Brendan Murphy and Gary Hanniffy, but they still seem to be doing the same things as the older fellas. Floating around and moving into space.
"Against us, they switched and switched which is hard for defenders. You find yourself drifting out the field into the half backs or centrefield instead of being in front of your own goal. They need to be marked tight and closed down from the forwards back. Johnny Dooley will find a man up front from 80 yards if he gets a second on the ball. I don't think they pin it down to anybody in particular or depend on anyone. It's a team effort and they move together as a unit."
