Declan Byrne knows Louth will have to be at their best to avoid a slip-up against Westmeath.

The Reds and the Lake men go head-to-head in the first round of the 2012 Leinster SFC at Navan on Sunday afternoon and versatile defender Byrne knows how vital victory is as it would guarantee a big-day out against All-Ireland champions Dublin:

"That's what every team aspires to - playing Dublin in Croke Park, in front of 50,000 or more," he says in The Irish Times. "But we can't look past Westmeath, knowing how close they are to us.

"We'd see it as an even enough game. There's never much more than a point or two between us when we play them. We were fourth in the league, they were fifth, and I think that's a fair reflection of where we are, how close we are."

The Wee County closed their Division Two league campaign with a comprehensive victory over neighbours and arch-rivals Meath in what was effectively a relegation decider at Navan and St Mochtas clubman Byrne hopes that performance sets the tone for the summer:

"It was a very enjoyable day, finishing up fourth in Division Two, which is about where you want to be. There was a real championship intensity too, a winner-takes-all, and hopefully that's left us in good stead going into the Westmeath game on Sunday too.

"We're always considered one of the lower, weaker counties in Leinster. I think we have stepped it up the last few years. There's a lot of work being done within the county.

"Our first ambition this year was to retain Division Two status. We've done that, well enough, even if it did come down to the final game. But there is a bit of buzz about the team, a bit like 2010." Tweet

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