Westmeath team named for battle to top group
Westmeath have named their senior football team to play Limerick in the last round of Tailteann Cup group games in Portlaoise tomorrow (Saturday), throw-in 2pm.
There are two changes to the Westmeath side which defeated London in Ruislip, with team captain Ronan Wallace and midfielder Ray Connellan returning to the starting XV. But the inclusion of Connellan's Athlone clubmate Shane Allen among the substitutes is possibly the main talking point.
Allen had an impressive championship campaign for Athlone last year and, with some key players absent for various reasons, it was felt he could push hard for a place in the Westmeath team this year. Allen didn't join the Westmeath panel for the league campaign, but he will be viewed as a valuable addition at this stage of the season.
Another notable feature of the match-day panel is the inclusion of Joe Hyland (Tyrrellspass) as the sub goalie. This has a role which has been filled for most of the year by Maryland stalwart Kieran Martin. Conor McCormack, who plays outfield for his club Caulry, continues as the first choice keeper.
The selection of the aforementioned Wallace (who has been trying to shake off a hamstring injury) and Connellan sees Robbie Forde and Danny McCartan dropping to the bench (see both team lists below).
With both teams already guaranteed a place in the knockout stages, the prize on offer is to top the group and earn direct passage into the Tailteann Cup quarter-finals. This would also provide a break for the weekend of June 7/8, when the preliminary quarter-finals are due to take place.
Westmeath and Limerick have both won their two Tailteann Cup matches thus far and if Saturday's contest ends in a draw, Dermot McCabe's side will top the group on scoring difference.
Westmeath (vs Limerick): 1 Conor McCormack; 2 David Giles, 3 Sam Smyth, 4 Jamie Gonoud; 5 Joseph Moran, 6 Ronan Wallace, 7 Sam McCartan; 8 Ray Connellan, 9 Eoghan McCabe; 10 Matthew Whittaker, 11 Kevin O'Sullivan, 12 Nigel Harte; 13 Luke Loughlin, 14 Stephen Smith, 15 Brandon Kelly.
Subs: Joe Hyland, Daniel Scahill, Tadhg Baker, Robbie Forde, Danny McCartan, Lorcan Dolan, Shane Allen, Shane Ormsby, Jack Geoghegan, Brian Guerin, Brían Cooney.
Limerick (vs Westmeath): 1 Josh Ryan; 2 Jason Hassett, 3 Darren O'Doherty, 4 Mark McCarthy; 5 Paul Maher, 6 Iain Corbett, 7 Tony McCarthy; 8 Tommy Childs, 9 Darragh O'Hagan; 10 James Naughton, 11 Emmet Rigter, 12 Cillian Fahy; 13 Peter Nash, 14 Danny Neville, 15 Killian Ryan.
Subs: Jeffrey Alfred, Fiachra Cotter, Conall Ó Duinn, Jack McCarthy, Diarmuid Buckley, Sean Clancy, Darragh Murray, Rory O'Brien, Andrew Meade, David O'Shaughnessy, Rob Childs.