Can Longford recover from the heavy beating they suffered at the hands of Dublin in the Leinster SFC quarter-final? 

Three weeks have elapsed since the Midlanders' 0-10 to 4-25 hammering at GAA headquarters.

"If we perform to the level that we are capable of, then we can win the game," said manager Jack Sheedy.

"If we don't, then Carlow could beat us. Therefore, we have to be right mentally and performance-wise."

Former Dublin star Sheedy has made two changes to the team that was heavily beaten by Dublin with Dessie Reynolds set to make his first championship start in place of Barry McKeon at left corner-forward and Fergal Battrim taking over from Cian Farrelly in the full back line.

The two sides met in Division 4 action last April and Longford scored a six point win over the Barrowsiders in Netwatch Cullen Park.

Carlow manager Turlough O'Brien is approaching the clash in a positive frame of mind despite the 0-8 to 3-16 defeat they shipped against neighbours Laois.

"We played better on the road in the League," he said. "No question of that. It doesn't matter where the match is played. We have to go out and perform. We are confident that if we get the best out of ourselves, we will be in contention to win.

"We have to perform a lot better than we did against Laois."

Verdict - Longford.

Longford team: Paddy Collum; Dermot Brady, Barry O'Farrell, Fergal Battrim; Colm P Smyth, Barry Gilleran, Diarmuid Masterson; Michael Quinn, Kevin Diffley; Peter Foy, Ronan McEntire, Rory Connor; Ross McNerney, Brian Kavanagh, Dessie Reynolds.

Carlow team: tbc.

Match details: Saturday; Glennon Bros Pearse Park; 7pm; extra-time playable.

Referee: David Gough.

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