Westmeath eager to set meath record straight cribbin

 

WESTMEATH manager Tom Cribbin has said his players are champing at the bit ahead of Sunday’s O’Byrne Cup opener against old rivals Meath (Cusack Park, Mullingar, 2pm) - while also confirming that veteran goalkeeper and selector Gary Connaughton has come out of retirement to make himself available for selection in 2015.

After a year of turmoil in 2014 - which ultimately led to relegation from Division 1 of the Allianz FL and the departure of Paul Bealin as manager - the Lake County hope to kick-start the competitive season with a win. Westmeath recently registered a tally of 21 points in a good challenge match victory against Monaghan.

The news that Connaughton - recently appointed as a selector with the team - is to return to playing action will increase the level of competition in the goalkeeping department. Tubberclair stalwart Connaughton will now compete for the goalkeeper jersey with Darren Quinn of Tyrrellspass and young goalie Kevin McGuire (The Downs), with Stephen Gallagher (St Loman’s) currently nursing a cruciate knee ligament injury.

“Gary has fantastic experience and feels he might have retired a bit early. It’s great to have him available again,” said Cribbin.

The Westmeath bainisteoir also confirmed that Garrycastle defender Mark McCallon has rejoined the panel, which currently boasts in the region of 36 players.

“We are taking every match very seriously, and the Meath game is an opportunity to turn in a good performance early on and to get a bit of confidence and momentum into the side,” Cribbin said.

Westmeath are due to play their second O’Byrne Cup match next Wednesday, January 7, with a 7.30pm throw-in pencilled in for the meeting with DCU at Kinnegad.

Cribbin does not expect to have any major injury concerns for either game but said that Kieran Gavin will not be rushed back into action after his recovery from an Achilles problem. “We can’t wait to get started, to be honest with you, and the players are looking fit and ready to go. Obviously, a lot of counties are without in the region of nine or ten players at this stage in the year, but we’re not too badly off, and the players from Athlone IT will be included because they didn’t come through the O’Byrne Cup qualifiers.

“I won’t introduce any of the U21s to the senior side until after the Hastings Cup because I want the U21s to have a good crack at that competition. Meath is obviously a hard game to start off with on Sunday but we’re looking forward to hopefully putting in a good performance,” said the former Offaly manager.

In the weekend’s other group fixture, Longford have home advantage against DCU on Saturday (2.30pm).