"We'll be hugely disappointed if we don't win, we're there to win, simple as that. We don't go into any final just to compete."

Westmeath captain Ger Egan doesn't subscribe to the theory that they are no-hopers ahead of tomorrow's Leinster SFC final against Dublin - but he's very much in the minority on that score.

Lake County supporters will travel in big numbers for the county's first Delaney Cup final appearance since 2004 but, all things considered, a single digit defeat would appear to be the best outcome that they can hope for.

A first ever championship victory over neighbours Meath, and particularly the manner of their second-half comeback, will live long in the memory of Westmeath football supporters but for much of the first-half against the Royals they looked out of their depth and Dublin won't think twice about going for the jugular.

As far as neutrals are concerned, tomorrow is just a matter of Jim Gavin and his players showing up to pick up their 10th provincial title in 11 years. Dublin's odds of 1/100, not to mention their 5-18 to 0-14 last four demolition of Kildare, illustrate the size of the task that awaits Westmeath.

Westmeath team news sees John Connellan rewarded for his impressive showings off the bench against both Wexford and Meath with a place in the starting 15.

That's the only change that Tom Cribbin and his selectors have made and they will look to the likes of Egan, Kieran Martin and John Heslin to take the game to the Dubs.

"Hopefully, we can get our defensive system a little bit better again, as in holding them a bit more, but we're definitely going to go out and attack them the way we can," Egan added. "Because that's the best style we're capable of playing.

"That's why we're going to have to start an awful lot better, get the intensity up straight away. And I think the lads will.

"We'll relish the occasion. We're in bonus territory, we've nothing to lose. If they beat us by 30 points on the day, well, then they're after proving everyone in the country right, but if we go out and cause a shock, like we did the last day, so be it."

Verdict - Dublin.

Dublin team: Stephen Cluxton; Jonny Cooper, Rory O'Carroll, Philly McMahon; James McCarthy, Cian O'Sullivan, Jack McCaffrey; Brian Fenton, MD MacAuley; Paul Flynn, Ciaran Kilkenny, Diarmuid Connolly; Dean Rock, Kevin McManamon, Bernard Brogan.

Westmeath team: Darren Quinn; Killian Daly, Kevin Maguire, John Gilligan; Paddy Holloway, Kieran Martin, James Dolan; Denis Corroon, Darragh Daly; Ger Egan, Paul Sharry, Ray Connellan; John Connellan, John Heslin, Shane Dempsey.

Match details: Sunday; Croke Park; 2pm.

Referee: Joe McQuillan.

Odds: Dublin 1/100; Draw 33/1; Westmeath 20/1.

Tweet

Most Read Stories