Four changes to Westmeath hurling team for crunch clash
Westmeath hurling manager Joe Fortune has made four changes in personnel for the vital Joe McDonagh Cup clash with Offaly in Tullamore tomorrow (Saturday), throw-in 3pm.
David O'Reilly from Rosemount, the U20 star who plays his club hurling with Castletown Geoghegan, is among the quartet drafted into the starting line-up, along with Raharney trio Cormac Boyle, Eoin Keyes and Ciaran Doyle.
O’Reilly was introduced as a first half substitute in the disappointing defeat to Kerry (1-20 to 1-14) last Sunday, while Keyes and Doyle also saw action off the bench.
The players who drop to the bench for the Offaly game are Shane McGovern (Crookedwood), Owen McCabe (Fr Dalton's), Darragh Clinton (Delvin) and Jack Gillen (Cullion).
Meanwhile, the Offaly team for the clash against Westmeath shows two changes in personnel from the side which lost out to Laois last Sunday (2-21 to 0-24).
It comes as little surprise that talented attacker Adam Screeney has been handed a starting place, the Kilcormac/Killoughey star having scored 0-8 (four from play) after being introduced as a substitute for the injured Eoghan Cahill against Laois.
Offaly manager Johnny Kelly and his selectors have also handed David King a place in starting XV, the Coolderry man having come on as sub last Sunday.
In addition to the aforementioned Cahill, Dan Ravenhill was also forced off through injury against Laois and neither player is listed in the match-day 26 for the clash with Westmeath.
Westmeath (vs Offaly): Noel Conaty; Johnny Bermingham, Tommy Doyle, Kevin Regan; Darragh Egerton, Aonghus Clarke, Robbie Greville; Cormac Boyle, Charlie McCormack; Joey Boyle, Killian Doyle, David O'Reilly; Niall Mitchell, Eoin Keyes, Ciaran Doyle.
Subs: Jamie Mulkearns, Aaron Craig, Peter Clarke, Shane McGovern, David Williams, Jordy Smyth, Owen McCabe, Conor Gaffney, Jack Gillen, Darragh Clinton, Davy Glennon.
Offaly (vs Westmeath): Mark Troy; Cathal King; Ciaran Burke; Ben Conneely; Killian Sampson, Cillian Kiely, Sam Bourke; Jason Sampson (captain), David King; Dan Bourke, Brian Duignan, David Nally; Adam Screeney, Charlie Mitchell, Eimhin Kelly.
Subs: Stephen Corcoran, Donal Shirley, Padraig Cantwell, Ross Ravenhill, Jack Clancy, Leon Fox, Dara Maher, Luke Watkins, Oisin Kelly, Paul Cleary, Jack Screeney.