Westmeath's Shane Cully and Louth's Shane Lennon in action during their recent Leinster MFC game. Photo: Paul Connor.

Westmeath minor team named for trip to Dublin

Kieran Galvin

Published: Wed 26 Apr 2023, 12:50 PM

Last updated: Fri 28 Apr 2023, 11:19 AM

The Westmeath team to play Dublin in the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Championship tonight (Wednesday) has been named.

But even if Westmeath manage to pull off a victory at Parnell Park - a graveyard venue for Lake County teams at the best of times - they cannot qualify for the knockout stages.

Eoghan Kevlihan's side have lost to both Meath and Louth who play each other at Páirc Mhuire, Ardee tonight. The loser of the Louth v Meath game would have a head-to-head advantage even in the event of a Westmeath win over Dublin.

Such a result seems highly unlikely in any case, as the Dubs have already defeated Louth and Meath.

The winner of the group will qualify for the semi-finals, the second placed team will go into the quarter-finals, while the third placed team will qualify for a preliminary quarter-final.

The Westmeath team for the Dublin clash (throw-in 7.30pm) shows five changes from the defeat to Louth, with John Casey, Eoin Conlon, Cillian Geary, Paul Keegan and Matthew Thornton all drafted into the starting line-up.

Leinster MFC Group 2 - results so far

Round 1: Dublin 1-15 Louth 1-10; Westmeath 0-10 Meath 2-10.

Round 2: Meath 0-11 Dublin 2-9; Louth 2-13 Westmeath 0-7

Westmeath team (v Dublin)

1. Luke Nicholson (Athlone)

2. Jack Murtagh (The Downs)

3. Cian Whitney (Moate All Whites)

4. Aidan Maguire (Millmore Gaels)

5. Aodhan Curran (Moate All Whites)

6. John Casey (St Loman's, Mullingar)

7. Neale Pierson (Tyrrellspass)

8. Eoin Conlon (Shandonagh)

9. James Mitchell (Moate All Whites)

10. Cillian Geary (Athlone)

11. Ryan Kelly (Mullingar Shamrocks)

12. Paul Keegan (Tubberclair)

13. Matthew Thornton (Multyfarnham)

14. Kealan Connell (Tubberclair)

15. Shane Cully (St Mary's, Rochfortbridge).

Subs: Peter McDonald (Moate All Whites), Callum Rigney (Mullingar Shamrocks), Daire O'Connor (Tubberclair), Gavin Pierce (Mullingar Shamrocks), Cormac Murphy (Caulry), Conor Leech (Killucan), Ruairi Doonan (St Loman's, Mullingar), Aaron Murphy (Caulry), Cathal Hardiman (Athlone).