Loughlin's absence a major blow for Lake County minors
WESTMEATH are welcoming back some potentially key players for their Leinster MFC quarter-final against Wicklow at Cusack Park on Saturday (3pm).
Coming back into the panel (after missing the opening round win over Wexford) are Andrew McCormack and Israel Ilunga, while Tang’s Conor Marlowe could also feature at some stage after recently returning to action for his club.
On the down side, Liam Varley (eye) and key attacker Luke Loughlin (shoulder) are unlikely to play any part on Saturday - but manager Tommy Carr believes his side have enough strength in depth to keep their Leinster run going.
“We would obviously prefer to have everyone available to us but that only happens on rare occasions. I feel we have a strong panel and that the lads are really gelling as a team.
"I have seen tremendous commitment and work-rate from this group this year, and I couldn’t fault any of them on their application to the cause. The absence of one or two guys always gives an opportunity to others and hopefully we will have enough about us to see us through on Saturday,” said Carr.
However, the former Dublin star expects nothing easy against Wicklow, who Westmeath narrowly defeated in Aughrim at this same stage of last year’s Leinster championship.
“We most certainly struggled to beat them last year and there’s nothing that gives us the right to believe that we’re better than Wicklow or are favourites to win.
"I believe it’s a 50-50 game, though people will see that’s an old cliche, and while I think this is a good opportunity for us, particularly at home, it’s going to be a very difficult test.
“Going to Aughrim has always been difficult, as it proved last year, so we’re very pleased to have the opportunity to play the fixture in Mullingar. I think that does make a difference and I hope that the people of Westmeath will come out in large numbers to show support for their young team.
"There is a bit of confidence developing in the panel and all we’re focused on at the moment is ensuring that we’re on the winning side come half four on Saturday,” said Carr.
A well-taken goal in the 60th minute from substitute Ciaran Shanley was enough to propel Westmeath to the last eight of the Leinster MFC after a gutsy victory over Wexford. Wind and rain had made for difficult conditions on the day and a physically bigger Wexford side actually led from the third to the 57th minute - before Luke Loughlin’s classy equalising point and the aforementioned opportunist goal from Shanley secured what looked a very unlikely victory for long periods.
Carr is looking for a more sustained performance this weekend.
“I was very happy with the first ten minutes and then the last 20 minutes against Wexford. Unfortunately, we didn’t take enough scores during that good opening ten minute spell.
"On the other hand, we did better in that respect in the closing 20 minutes, so what we’re looking for now is to be more consistent over the course of the whole game. I am very hopeful we will see improvement on that score this weekend,” he said.
The reward for the winners of Saturday’s game will be a semi-final clash against either Laois or Meath on July 6. The other two quarter-finals involve Kildare v Offaly and Dublin v Wexford.
Westmeath team to face Wicklow: Joe Hyland (Tyrrellspass); Sean Doyle (Caulry), Israel Ilunga (Inny Shamrocks), Matthew Darling (Athlone); Darren Giles (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Ryan Caffrey (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Boidu Sayeh (Rosemount); Theo Watts (Rosemount), Sam Omokoro (Athlone); Jeremiah Scully (Shandonagh), Alan Hughes (Shandonagh), Ruairi Cunningham (Moate All-Whites); John Corbally (Moate All-Whites), Rob Hickey (Caulry), Liam Cassidy (St Malachy's/Ballinagore).