Dessie Dolan has been handed a starting role by Westmeath manager Pat Flanagan for their Leinster SFC semi-final clash against Louth on Sunday at Croke Park (throw-in 5.50pm).

EIGHT weeks ago they had no manager and a number of their best players weren’t even on the panel but now Westmeath’s footballers stand just 70 minutes away from a first Leinster final appearance since 2004.

EXILED Westmeath star Denis Glennon is expected to rejoin the county football squad next week.

Westmeath 1-5 Meath 1-15

WHATEVER about the message it sends out to Dublin, their opponents in the Leinster SFC semi-final on June 28 for the second successive year, Westmeath, accept the reality of their situation, facing up to the champions on the back of a disastrous League campaign and a display against Wicklow in Tullamore at the week-end that was anything but convincing.

WESTMEATH boss Tomas O Flatharta wasn’t sugarcoating the task facing his side in a Leinster semi-final against Dublin.

Dublin 5-22 Westmeath 0-10

DERRY 1-18 WESTMEATH 0-7

DIFFERENT sport, different day, but this was depressingly reminiscent of Ireland’s facile defeat of Canada in Thomond Park on Saturday with one side doing what they wanted, when they wanted against an inferior opponent.

Westmeath maintained their 100% record in Division 1B as they held off 14-man Down at Cusack Park by 0-09 to 0-07.

Athlone teenager John Connellan could have a vital role to play for Westmeath when they take on Sligo in the third round of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers tonight (Markievicz Park, throw-in 7pm).

MAYO have named an unchanged side from that which defeated Leitrim in the semi-final for Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Connacht SFC final with Galway at Castlebar.

2004 All-Star Dessie Dolan has earned a quicker than expected recall to the Westmeath side for tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Limerick (Cusack Park, throw-in 5pm).

All-Ireland SFC first round qualifier:

BRIAN SHEEHAN and Colm Cooper will start for Kerry against Laois in the Allianz NFL semi-final at Killarney on Sunday.

Donal O'Donoghue is back in the Westmeath side, after a spell out through injury, for Sunday's NFL Division 2B clash with Antrim (Cusack Park, throw-in 2.30pm).

JOE KERNAN has made three changes in the Armagh line-out to face Meath in Sunday’s Allianz League clash in Navan.

Westmeath manager Tomás Ó Flatharta has handed six players their senior inter-county debuts for Sunday's O'Byrne Cup clash with Carlow.

Tipperary 1-8 Westmeath 0-12

WITH Dave Bennett ruled out through injury, Brian Phelan retains his place at midfield on the Waterford hurling team to meet Offaly in tomorrow’s All-Ireland qualifier at Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow.

JACK O’CONNOR had many reasons to be cheerful on Saturday night.

Tyrone remain unbeaten in 2005 and have already picked up their first piece of silverware this year, but high-flying Offaly will provide a stern test for Mickey Harte's men in Division 1A of the National Football League.

FOOTBALLER of the year Tomás Ó Sé has been presented with a fresh challenge ahead of Kerry's televised Allianz NFL clash with Dublin in Tralee tomorrow night.

THERE has been little support to calls to alleviate player burn-out by abolishing the U21 grades in hurling and football.

PÀIDI Ò SÈ has pleaded that whoever broke into Derek Heavin’s house and stole his medal collection should return them to the Westmeath defender as quickly as possible.

Westmeath defender Derek Heavin has been ruled out of the Leinster champions' side to face Cork in the National Football League on Sunday.

Michael Ellard and Brendan Larkin

Laois and Westmeath meet today in the O’Byrne Cup final, a repeat of last year’s Leinster final, which Páidí Ó Sé’s side won for the first time.

Laois and Westmeath meet again today to decide this year's Leinster final at Croke Park, after a stalemate last week ensured a replay.

Westmeath All Star midfielder Rory O’Connell has been handed a starting role for tomorrow's Leinster SFC final replay against Laois at Croke Park.

FORGET the notion that Westmeath have missed the boat.

Westmeath 2-15 Wexford 1-14

Wexford 1-14 Westmeath 2-15

Westmeath 0-14 Dublin 0-12

Cork 1-8 Westmeath 2-5

Meath 2-13, Westmeath 2-13

Anthony Rainbow has emerged as a doubt for Sunday's crucial Div 1B clash between Kildare and Laois in Portlaoise.

Damien Healy is the only change in the Westmeath team to face Mayo in