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.

Limerick who failed to Westmeath in the league final, have no injury worries ahead of the Munster SFC first round clash with Cork at Pairc Uí Chaoimh, and will name their team tonight after training.

Team coach Liam Kearns said it’s going to be very difficult to pick ourselves up for the Cork game, “but it has to be done and we’ll travel looking for the win.”

All-Ireland champions Armagh who open the defence of their Ulster title against Monaghan in Clones on Sunday, will be without Enda McNulty who dislocated his shoulder recently and he’ll be out of action for at least three months.

Oisin McConville is also causing concern. He missed the last three league games because of a leg injury which is slow to heal. On the credit side Ronan Clarke who missed the entire league programme, is expected to be on the subs bench.

WESTMEATH (SFC v Laois): A. Lennon; D. Heavin, D. Gavin, K. Henson; R. Morley, D. Healy, D. Kilmartin; R. O’Connell, M. Flanagan; F. Wilson, S. Colleary, J. Conroy; JP Casey, G. Dolan, D. Dolan.