Graham Reilly says Westmeath will start as favourites to beat Meath in the Leinster SFC semi-final at Croke Park.

The neighbouring counties will clash at HQ on June 28th and Royal talisman Reilly reckons the Lake County have been more impressive than his team so far this summer.

"I think Westmeath will go in as favourites," Reilly states. "They're after beating Wexford fairly comprehensively so they're moving well. They beat Louth well as well. It's going to be a big challenge for us going in against Westmeath.

"I know we beat them well in the O'Byrne Cup and the league here. But Westmeath are going to be mad to beat Meath in Croke Park, no better day for them.

"We've lads to come back, it's going to be hugely competitive for places and that can only make us better. I suppose Kevin [Reilly] and Conor [Gillespie], Mickey Newman, Bryan Menton probably and a few other lads will be back for Westmeath. They'll push the team on, of course they will."

Regarding the prospect of a potential Leinster final meeting with Dublin, the St Colmcille's clubman admits Meath would have to improve dramatically upon their display against Wicklow on Sunday:

"Based on that performance, we're miles off Dublin. Our passing wasn't crisp enough, our work rate wasn't good enough. I thought our tempo was okay and we were trying to do the right things but we've got to get ball to hand more often.

"Defensively, we've got to set up better. Wicklow were running through the middle of us at times. If Dublin run through the middle of us - if we do manage to get to a Leinster final - we're going to get kicked out of Croke Park again."

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