Westmeath minors set for Leinster opener as team is named
Westmeath minor football manager Eoghan Kevlihan has named his team for the Leinster championship opening round clash against Louth tonight (Wednesday). The game will be played in Hunstertown, close to Ardee, throw-in 7.30pm.
There are three players from reigning Westmeath U-17 club champions Mullingar Shamrocks in the starting team (Paul Keating, Ben Sheerin and Ben McNamee) and two among the substitutes. The team includes Maryland/Tang's Adam Smyth and Garrycastle duo Andrew Henson (also known for his rugby prowess) and James McHugh.
McHugh is part of an exciting full forward line alongside Shandonagh's Will Scahill and Athlone's Darragh Lough. Scahill was among those who helped Coláiste Mhuire to win the Leinster Schools junior football title last week. See Westmeath panel list and Leinster MFC fixtures below.
Following the very disappointing 1-15 to 0-6 defeat for the Westmeath U-20 team against Dublin last night (Tuesday), Lake County fans will be looking for a boost in the minor game.
Westmeath and Louth are in Group 2 of this year's Leinster MFC alongside Kildare and Meath. Kevlihan's side will have home games against Kildare (Wednesday, April 3) and Meath (April 13) in the next two rounds.
If Westmeath manage to finish top of their group, they will go straight through to the semi-finals; a second place finish will secure passage to one of the two quarter-finals; and third place will be sufficient to earn a place in the preliminary quarter-finals.
Kevlihan is in his second year as manager and his backroom team includes former Westmeath football star Joe Fallon (Athlone) and Ryan Jones (St Loman’s, Mullingar).
Westmeath team (vs Dublin):
1. Paul Keating (Mullingar Shamrocks)
2. Ben Sheerin (Mullingar Shamrocks)
3. Cian Whitney (Moate All Whites)
4. Ben McNamee (Mullingar Shamrocks)
5. Jack Carroll (St Mary's, Rochfortbridge)
6. Adam Smyth (Maryland/Tang)
7. Cormac McKeogh (Killucan)
8. Mikey Weir (St Loman's, Mullingar)
9. Daire O'Brien (Tyrrellspass)
10. Andrew Henson (Garrycastle)
11. Ryan Flynn (St Paul's)
12. Michael Moloney (The Downs)
13. James McHugh (Garrycastle)
14. Darragh Lough (Athlone)
15. William Scahill (Shandonagh).
Subs:
Kailin Blessing (Tubberclair)
Daire Burke (Tubberclair)
Ty Masterson (Mullingar Shamrocks)
Darragh Madden (Moate All Whites)
Oisin Mulvihill (Garrycastle)
Nathan Hall (St Mary's, Rochfortbridge)
Peadar Glennon (Shandonagh)
Criostoir Ormsby (Mullingar Shamrocks)
Aaron Keegan (Garrycastle).
Electric Ireland Leinster MFC Round 1 fixtures (March 27)
Group 1
Faithful Fields (7.30pm) Offaly v Longford, Enda Kenny (Westmeath).
LOETB Laois Centre of Excellence (7.30pm) Laois v Dublin, Lar Murphy (Carlow).
Group 2
Hunterstown (7.30pm) Louth v Westmeath, Kieran Olwell (Meath).
Stamullen (7.30pm) Meath v Kildare, Niall Ward (Westmeath).
Group 3
SETU Carlow (7.30pm) Carlow v Wexford, Paul Dunne (Laois).