Westmeath sure to be well tested by Carlow

WHEN the Christy Ring championship was first introduced a few years ago, along with the Nicky Rackard Cup, the idea was to give the teams in the lower divisions a real target, a prestigious title at which to aim, with the further aim of raising the standards in all those divisions.

The disdainful treatment of the Christy Ring final fixture by the GAA authorities has tarnished the first ambition, and Johnny Dooley and Jim Greene, managers of Westmeath and Carlow respectively, have both made their feelings known on that.

On the raising of standards, however, both are agreed that these two competitions are achieving their aim.