Westmeath team named for crucial basement battle

The Westmeath ladies team has been named for the Lidl National Football League clash against Tipperary at Fethard Town Park on Sunday (throw-in 2pm).

It's an unchanged Westmeath team from the side which lost to Galway last weekend - see team list below.

Westmeath are currently bottom of the Division 2 table on one point, earned in the draw against Donegal played in Athlone. However, a win over second from bottom Tipperary would see Westmeath leapfrog the Premier ladies, which shows the importance of Sunday's game.

Westmeath produced an encouraging display in that aforementioned draw with Donegal, but Frank Browne's charges have suffered heavy defeats to Clare and Galway since then. All-Ireland senior finalists last year, Galway were always likely to be hugely formidable opponents - see report here.

But the Westmeath camp will feel that they have a decent chance against Tipperary if they can perform to their full potential.

A fourth defeat from five outings would leave Westmeath in major relegation trouble with two games remaining against Roscommon (who have been performing creditably with a win and a draw to their credit) and Monaghan.

Having claimed a valuable win against Clare in their last outing, Tipperary will be looking to make it back to back victories against Westmeath.

Westmeath team (vs Tipperary): Amy Donlon; Lara McCartan, Sarah Murphy, Megan Ennis; Chloe Kelly, Lucy Power, Fiona Coyle (captain); Tracey Dillon, Vicky Carr; Ashley Ruane, Anna Jones, Ayesha Roche; Gráinne Byrne, Caoimhe Kilmurray, Catriona Dunne.

Tipperary team (vs Westmeath): L Fitzpatrick (captain); N Martin, L Spillane, E Cronin; S English, M Curley, B Condon; A.R. Kennedy, S O’Carroll; H Brennan, N Towey, A O’Shea; C English, E Morrissey, A Fennessy.