Westmeath manager Pat Flanagan will be hoping his men get their season off to a good start against AIT on January 6.

Footballers to face AIT in O'Byrne Cup curtain raiser

Published: Fri 9 Nov 2012, 4:00 PM

Athlone Institute of Technology will be the Westmeath senior footballers first opponent in the revamped O'Byrne Cup in January.The opening fixtures in the 2013 instalment of the much maligned competition will be played in a league format with Westmeath up against AIT, Offaly and Laois.The winners of the competition's four preliminary groups will qualify for the semi-finals - where two teams are tied on the same points the result of their head to head fixture will determine the side to come out on top. The first round of matches are set to be played on January 6.Meanwhile, in the first round of the Walsh Cup Westmeath hurlers face NUI Galway. If Brian Hanley's charges overcome the Tribesmen on January 20, they will face all Ireland champions Kilkenny in the next round on January 27.