Dolan an absentee for Westmeath

Former All-Star Dessie Dolan is set to miss Westmeath's NFL Division 2 derby clash with Meath at Cusack Park on Sunday.

The 28-year-old injured his hamstring and had to forced off 28 minutes into his side's recent league win over Armagh.

The recovery process has been slow for Dolan and team manager Tomas O Flatharta is resigned to being without his captain and biggest attacking threat this weekend.

Dolan has had a poor run of luck with injuries already this season.

A week prior to the Armagh encounter, he burst a blood vessel in his leg in a challenge match against a Leitrim side managed by his father Dessie snr.

But he made a quicker-than-expected recovery to start at full-forward against Armagh, kicking two points from frees and almost setting up a goal for his brother Gary before his hamstring gave way.

Denis Glennon, used as a second-half substitute last time out, is expected to be promoted to the Midlanders' starting line-up in place of Dolan.