Preview: Leinster SFC - Westmeath v Carlow
May 18, 2013
Westmeath's Callum McCormack gets in his shot as Carlow's Jamie Byrne closes in during the Leinster U21 quarter final.
The reward could be considered something of a booby prize but, for Westmeath, a defeat at the hands of Anthony Rainbow's Carlow side would represent a major backwards step.
They have made huge progress already this year in securing promotion to Division 1 football for 2014 and are expected to easily account for the Barrowsiders.
At the very least, their supporters will demand a lengthy run in the qualifiers should they bow out against the Dubs.
Are we being foolish in writing off Carlow's chances?
The league tables would suggest not. Westmeath finished 21 places ahead of Carlow in the final league standings.
The men from the sunny south east finished second from bottom in Division 4, just two points ahead of London.
The official line emanating from the Westmeath camp all week is that they won't be taking their opponents for granted and Pat Flanagan's starting 15 certainly backs that up.
Captain Kieran Gavin has been restored to the line-up after making his comeback from a work-related injury as a substitute in the league final defeat to Derry.
Experienced Dessie Dolan also came off the bench in the Division 2 decider, sent over three points and is rewarded with a starting berth.
Carlow proved against Meath last year that they are not a team that can be treated lightly but it is difficult to envisage anything other than a comfortable success for the Lake County.
Verdict: Westmeath
Westmeath: G Connaughton; M McCallon, K Gavin, K Maguire; D Harte, P Sharry, J Gaffey; D Duffy, J Heslin; K Martin, C McCormack, J Dolan; G Egan, D Glennon, D Dolan.
Carlow: Trevor O'Reilly; Conor Lawler, Shane Mernagh, Barry John Molloy; Kieran Nolan, Shane Redmond, Benny Kavanagh; Darragh Foley, John Murphy; Brian Murphy, Brendan Murphy, Eoghan Ruth; Sean Gannon, Paul Reid, Derek Hayden.
Referee: C Branagan (Down)
Odds: Westmeath 1/7, Draw 12/1, Carlow 11/2
Match Details:Cusack Park, Mullingar, 3.30pm, Sunday, May 19th Tweet
