O'Brien and Hickey drafted into Westmeath minor team for Mayo test
By Kieran Galvin
There in are two changes in the Westmeath minor football team for the All-Ireland quarter-final against Mayo later today (Monday).
Conor O'Brien (Mullingar Shamrocks) and Caulry's Robbie Hickey have been drafted into the Westmeath team for the clash against the Connacht champions. The eagerly awaited showdown takes place in O'Connor Park, Tullamore, throw-in 2.15pm, and it will be followed by the quarter-final betwen Roscommon and Kildare (4pm).
Having been unavailable to Tommy Carr earlier in the championship due to rugby commitments, O'Brien comes in at midfield. Westmeath struggled at midfield in the Leinster final as Kildare proved very dominant in that area of the field.
O'Brien's inclusion means team captain Ryan Caffrey is moved to centre half-forward with Alan Hughes dropping to the substitutes' bench.
Hickey impressed after being introduced as a substitute against Kildare and earned a penalty from which Luke Loughlin scored Westmeath's first goal. However, Kildare held a substantial lead at that stage and went on to win by 2-15 to 2-7.
Liam Varley - who wore the No. 15 jersey against Kildare but operated in a deep role - has been selected at centre-back on this occasion.
Bryan O'Donohoe (Maryland/Tang) moves to corner-back in place of Boidu Sayeh, who sustained an injury while playing for Rosemount against Caulry in an intermediate championship game last Sunday week. Sayeh's absence is a big blow to Westmeath, who are also without his Rosemount club-mate Theo Watts due to injury.
Meanwhile, Mayo manager Enda Gilvarry has opted to make one change to the starting fifteen that took the field against Roscommon in the Connacht final at MacHale Park.
Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber) has been chosen at centre-forward in place of Stephen Burke (Ballinrobe).
Mayo scored three goals in their Connacht final win over Roscommon, and they raised five green flags in their extra-time victory over Galway in the provincial semi-final. In that light, the Westmeath defence will have to be extremely vigilant to curb their goalscoring threat.
After the Mayo senior team's sensational exploits in Croke Park yesterday, Westmeath fans will be hoping the goals dry up for the green and red side in this encounter.
Westmeath (MFC v Mayo): Joe Hyland; Matthew Darling, Isreal Ilunga, Bryan O'Donohoe; Andy McCormack, Liam Varley, Darren Giles; Conor O'Brien, Sam Omukoro; Ruairi Cunningham, Ryan Caffrey (captain), Kieran Shanley; Luke Loughlin, Robbie Hickey, John Corbally.
Mayo (MFC V Westmeath): Mark Mulligan; Eddie Doran, David Kenny, Michael Hall; Ronan Finn, Stephen Coen, Sean Conlon; Val Roughneen, Diarmuid O'Connor; Conor Loftus, Michael Plunkett, Cian Hanley; Darragh Doherty, Liam Irwin, Tommy Conroy.