O’Connell kept in reserve as Westmeath rely on Wilson

WESTMEATH manager Páidí Ó Sé has resisted the temptation to start Rory O’Connell in Sunday’s Leinster SFC final against reigning champions Laois at Croke Park.

This was even though the All Star midfielder was given the go-ahead to play following a High Court ruling.

Instead O’Connell, who was suspended for 12 weeks for an alleged stamping offence, is being held in reserve, and manager Ó Sé has made just one change from the side that defeated Wexford in the semi-final, with Fergus Wilson taking over the left half-forward position from Denis Mitchell.