Former Westmeath corner-forward Alan Mangan says it’s vital the Leinster championship does not revert to being battle between just two or three counties.

Having soldiered in a maroon jersey for 15 years, Westmeath’s Martin Flanagan hadn’t long hung up his boots before donning a bainisteoir’s bib.

IT didn’t happen on a Gaelic field but Denis Glennon tells an anecdote that convinces him Westmeath football will be in fine fettle in the medium term.

DERRY provided the most compelling evidence for coach Damien Cassidy’s claim that the squad is singing off the same hymn sheet as they clung on with 14 men to survive this stern All-Ireland SFC qualifier (Round 2) test from Westmeath on Saturday.

Westmeath 1-7 Derry 0-13

Louth manager Peter Fitzpatrick praised his side's character as they withstood Westmeath's late rally to claim a place in their first Leinster Senior Football Championship final since 1960.

THAT only two points separated them in the end was a testament to Westmeath’s spirit, but Louth were full value for a win that puts them into the Leinster final for the first time since 1960.

GUTTED Westmeath boss Pat Flanagan felt his side only played to their potential in the final quarter of yesterday’s Leinster SFC semi-final defeat to Louth.

Louth 1-15 Westmeath 2-10

THE All-Ireland SFC qualifier between Kildare and Antrim will go ahead as scheduled tomorrow night in Newbridge, and Dermot Earley jnr will be available to line out for the Lilywhites.

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).

DENIS GLENNON marked his latest return to the Westmeath fold by augmenting a selfless performance with an injury-time point to snatch victory for the 13-man Lakesiders.

Westmeath 0-15 Wicklow 1-11

FOOTBALLER of the year Paul Galvin has missed out on a place in the Kerry starting 15 for Sunday’s Munster SFC semi-final against Cork in Fitzgerald Stadium due to an ankle injury.

Westmeath 0-8 Down 2-15

KILDARE boss Kieran McGeeney has slammed the inconsistent refereeing of Gaelic games and bemoaned the growing trend of coaching footballers to act and dive to win frees.

NFL DIVISION 2:

Westmeath 3-8 Laois 0-24

Westmeath 1-5 Meath 1-15

SO much for early season form not counting for much in the championship. Well, it certainly held true in Croke Park yesterday when Dublin’s near-perfect display in the Leinster SFC semi-final saw them beat Westmeath by the same margin of 27 points they had inflicted on them in the last round of the League.

VERY few Gaelic football players or teams escape a tongue lashing from Joe Brolly, and Dublin were no exception three weeks ago even if they managed to slay the Meath dragon and advance towards a Leinster semi-final.

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.

ONE can only surmise how either Westmeath or Wicklow would have fared in the Leinster SFC semi-final, but on the basis of the regulation 70 minutes yesterday, not very well.

AT FIRST glance, you could conclude that the odds are stacked against Westmeath footballers in O’Connor Park tomorrow afternoon.

WESTMEATH footballers haven’t gone away.

WESTMEATH secretary Pat Lynagh has revealed Denis Glennon’s return to inter-county training on Tuesday night came as a result of a couple of meetings between the player, manager, Tomás O Flatharta, and county board officials.

Westmeath 2-10 Tyrone1-15

KERRY captain Paul Galvin last night returned to his first county training since being controversially dismissed against Clare on June 15.

Tyrone and Westmeath have revealed their starting fifteens for tomorrow afternoon's GAA Football All-Ireland qualifier showdown between the sides in Omagh (throw-in 3pm).

WATERFORD coach Davy Fitzgerald has made two changes from the side that defeated Offaly last Saturday for Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Wexford in Semple Stadium.

Mullingar Shamrocks clubman Simon Quinn will make his senior championship bow for Westmeath in tomorrow afternoon's GAA All-Ireland football championship qualifier against Tipperary at Ardfinnan, throw-in at 3pm.

Westmeath have made two changes to their team for the Leinster SFC semi-final against Dublin on Sunday.

Westmeath midfielder Martin Flanagan has been given the all clear to line out against Dublin in the Leinster SFC semi-final on June 29.

Westmeath 2-11 Offaly 1-8, O'Connor Park, Tullamore

Westmeath manager Tomas O'Flatharta has kept faith with the 15 players who started last month's first round win over Longford in his selection for tomorrow's Leinster SFC quarter-final clash with Offaly in Tullamore (throw-in 6.30pm).

Revenge was particularly sweet for Westmeath last night as they added the NFL Division 2 title to their promotion by beating Dublin at the third attempt this season.

Dublin 0-10 Westmeath 0-15

Westmeath manager Tomas O'Flatharta has been forced to plan without the influential Dessie Dolan and David Duffy for tomorrow's NFL Division 2 decider against Dublin in Navan.

PAT O’SHEA will decide tonight what roles the experienced trio of Colm Cooper, Paul Galvin and Declan O’Sullivan play in Sunday’s NFL Division One final against Derry at Parnell Park.

Monaghan 0-11 Westmeath 1-10, Clones

Westmeath 1-11 Armagh 1-06

DUBLIN 1-7 WESTMEATH 1-5