Westmeath team named for daunting Dublin test
The Westmeath football team for the truly daunting clash with All-Ireland champions Dublin has been revealed.
Westmeath face the all-conquering Dubs – Sam Maguire Cup winners for the past five years - in their Leinster SFC quarter-final at MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise tomorrow evening (Saturday), throw-in 6.15pm.
Ger Egan – a key Westmeath performer for several years – is a notable absentee from Jack Cooney’s starting team. The Tyrrellspass man’s season has been significantly hampered by injury and he made his only appearance of this year’s Allianz Football League in the recent match against Kildare.
The Westmeath starting XV appears to have a defensive slant, with regular defender Killian Daly selected at wing-forward.
Dublin haven’t lost a championship game of any kind since 2014 and they have won the last nine Leinster titles in a row.
The Westmeath v Dublin clash – with no spectators allowed to attend due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions - will be shown live on Sky Sports Mix.
It will be Westmeath’s first straight knockout Leinster SFC game since 2000 when they lost a Leinster semi-final against Dublin. The All-Ireland qualifiers were introduced for the following year’s championship, with Westmeath memorably making the last eight through the back door in 2001.
But there will be no safety net tomorrow evening, with the losing team's championship season coming to an end.
It will also be Dublin manager Dessie Farrell’s first championship assignment.
Westmeath team (Leinster SFC v Dublin)
1. Jason Daly (St Loman’s Mullingar)
2. Jack Smith (Skerries Harps)
3. Kevin Maguire (Caulry)
4. Boidu Sayeh (Rosemount)
5. Jamie Gonoud (Tyrrellspass)
6. Ronan Wallace (Multyfarnham)
7. James Dolan (Garrycastle)
8. Ray Connellan (Athlone)
9. Sam Duncan (Milltownpass)
10. David Lynch (St Malachy’s)
11. Ronan O'Toole (St Loman’s Mullingar)
12. Killian Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks)
13. Luke Loughlin (The Downs)
14. John Heslin (St Loman’s Mullingar)
15. Kieran Martin (Maryland, captain)