Westmeath senior football team named ahead of opening Tailteann Cup fixture

Westmeath senior football manager Dermot McCabe has named his starting team for the Lake County's opening Tailteann Cup fixture with Antrim in TEG Cusack Park Mullingar on Sunday afternoon (throw-in, 2pm).

Three years on from their triumph in the inaugural Tailteann Cup competition, Westmeath are back in the second-tier championship and are considered one of the favourites to secure the silverware in July.

Westmeath will be expected to progress from their group (which also features London and Limerick), so it is vital that a home win is secured on Sunday prior to a trip to Ruislip for next weekend's London fixture.

The Lake County are still seeking their first competitive win under McCabe and the return of Ray Connellan to the starting team, following his injury enforced and game changing substitution against Kildare, is certain to boost victory aspirations.

Interestingly, Tadhg Baker and Shane Ormsby, two key figures in the Westmeath U20 team's Andrew Corden Cup success, have been listed amongst the substitutes, due reward for recent impressive displays at this underage grade.

Westmeath were edged out by Kildare in their Leinster quarter-final while Antrim were defeated in the Ulster SFC by reigning All-Ireland champions Armagh.

The Tailteann Cup offers a direct route into next year’s Sam Maguire Cup, which ensures that the competition will be a hotly contested championship in the months to come.

Westmeath senior football team to play Antrim