Westmeath team named for Clare clash

Westmeath have selected an unchanged starting team for this Sunday's Allianz Football League Division 3 encounter against Clare in Mullingar (throw-in 2pm).

Having defeated Offaly by 1-11 to 0-10 in their opening round game last Sunday, Westmeath have been boosted by the return of key defenders Kevin Maguire and Jack Smith to the match-day panel.

Caulry's Maguire and Smith (Skerries Harps) were not involved against Offaly but both players have been named among the substitutes for the visit of Clare to TEG Cusack Park.

However, John Heslin is not named among the 26-man panel for the Clare game, with Westmeath manager Dessie Dolan confirming last weekend that the St Loman's star is recovering from an injury.

Last Sunday, Clare edged out Sligo by 0-9 to 1-5 in Ennis. The Banner men, now managed by Mark Fitzgerald, lined out against Sligo with only five starters from last year's Munster final defeat to Kerry.

Clare have won three of their four NFL fixtures against Westmeath, but the Lake County men came out on top in the last meeting.

Westmeath team (vs Clare): Jason Daly; James Dolan, Charlie Drumm, Jamie Gonoud; Sam McCartan, Ronan Wallace, Conor Dillon; Ray Connellan, Andy McCormack; David Lynch, Ronan O'Toole, Jonathan Lynam; Luke Loughlin, Senan Baker, Lorcan Dolan. Subs: Trevor Martin, David Giles, Kieran Martin, Matthew Whittaker, Eoin Mulvihill, Nigel Harte, Robbie Forde, Shane Allen, Jack Smith, Daniel Scahill, Kevin Maguire.