O'Brien's men to face Offaly in Leinster SFC opener

With the solid platform of a second All-Ireland SFC semi-final in three years to build on Meath will open their bid for a Leinster SFC title when they face Offaly in the first round of the provincial championship in May 2010. Meath will consider themselves to be on the more difficult side of the draw with a possible quarter-final meeting with Laois and a semi-final clash with five-in-a-row champions Dublin. It will be a difficult proposition for Eamonn O'Brien's side to add to the county's 20 provincial crowns, the last of whioch was won in 2001, but with the possibility of two decent games before any likely tussle with Dublin might leave the Royals in a better position to seriously challenge for honours. As was his form for 2009 O'Brien focussed his year on the opening game of the Leinster SFC and next year will be no diffecernt. Offaly will provide a stiff test and O'BNrien will be aware that the Faithful county made Kildare work hard for their 1-16 to 1-10 Leinster SFC win last year. Following that defeat Offaly were then dumped out of the qualifiers by Wexford. That type of form will hardly overly worry O'Brien, but as is his way he will take one game at a time. Meath hurling manager T J Reilly will open his Christy Ring Cup campaign with a difficult home game against Kildare. The Lilywhites were Meath's tormentors a few years ago in the semi-final of this competition, but after winning the Nicky Rackard Cup this year, Reilly will have every confidence in his troops ahead of the campaign. 2010 Leinster SFC draw: Round one - Louth v Longford; Wicklow v Carlow; Meath v Offaly; quarter-finals - Louth or Longford v Kildare; Wicklow or Carlow v Westmeath; Meath or Offaly v Laois; Wexford v Dublin. 2010 Christy Ring Cup draw: Round one - Westmeath v Derry; Wicklow v Mayo; Down v Kerry; Meath v Kildare.