Westmeath players stand for the national anthem before their Leinster SFC first round game against Carlow. Now they face the Dubs at Croke Park. Photo: Ann Hennessy.

Westmeath v Dublin - live match blog

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By Kieran Galvin

With excitement building ahead of the Westmeath v Dublin showdown, we start our live match blog with the news that Paul Mannion has been handed his first championship start for the sky blues.

Mannion – who has Westmeath connections, his father Tommy is from Athlone – was hugely impressive during Dublin’s march to the Division 1 league title.

In total, 12 of the Dublin team which started the league final against Tyrone have been selected to start against Westmeath.

Richly talented attacker Ciaran Kilkenny has been named at centre-forward, having recovered from an injury which saw him miss the end of the league campaign.

If Kilkenny does line out as selected, he is likely to provide a tough battle for Westmeath centre-back Paul Sharry. The St Loman’s player is known for his abilities going forward but this game will be a real test of his defensive credentials.

Saturday's Westmeath v Dublin clash throws in at 7pm - and it will be preceded by the meeting of Offaly and Kildare (5pm).

 

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton (captain); Darren Daly, Rory O'Carroll, Jonny Cooper; James McCarthy, Ger Brennan, Jack McCaffrey; Michael Darragh MacAuley, Cian O'Sullivan; Paul Flynn, Ciaran Kilkenny, Diarmuid Connolly; Paul Mannion, Paddy Andrews, Bernard Brogan.

 

Westmeath: Gary Connaughton, Mark McCallon, Kieran Gavin (captain), Kevin Maguire, Doron Harte, Paul Sharry, John Gaffey, David Duffy, John Heslin, Kieran Martin, Callum McCormack, James Dolan, Ger Egan, Denis Glennon, Dessie Dolan.

 

Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois).

 

*Please check the comments field below and refresh regularly to see updates and comments once the action gets underway.

 

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