Westmeath hit the championship trail unchanged

NEWLY crowned Division Two league champions Westmeath have given a vote of confidence to the team which defeated Limerick in last Sunday’s final, for Sunday’s Leinster SFC first round clash with Louth. The game forms part of a triple header at Croke Park.

Wexford who play Laois as part of the triple header, will be without their captain John Hudson and Thomas Howlin. Hudson is carrying a calf injury which hasn’t responded to treatment while Howlin under went an operation last week to repair a cruciate knee ligament injury he sustained in the league game against Derry.

Carlow have no injury worries ahead of their Leinster SFC clash with Laois after corner back Cormac McCarthy declared himself fit despite having a couple of stitches inserted in a facial wound following a clash of heads in training last week.