Four championship debutants for Westmeath
Gary Glennon, PJ Ward, Gordon Duffy and John Smyth will all make their championship debuts for Westmeath when they take on Offaly in the Leinster SFC first round on Sunday (Croke Park, throw-in 4.00pm).
Kilbeggan Shamrocks clubman Ward, a member of the Lake county's Leinster minor-winning side of 2000, is likely to come under the most scrutiny as he lines out in a full-forward line minus talismanic captain Dessie Dolan, who has just had an operation on his groin.
Smyth and Gordon Duffy will forage in an inexperience half-forward unit, while Glennon of the St. Loman's club in Mullingar is named at left half-back. Key attacker Alan Mangan, who has been battling with a knee injury, has been included by Tomas O Flatharta at left corner forward.
In Dolan's absence, right half-back Damien Healy has been nominated as captain.
Sunday marks the 18th championship meeting between the sides with Offaly currently leading with nine wins to Westmeath's six. The winners will meet Wexford in the quarter-finals.
WESTMEATH (SFC v Offaly) - G Connaughton; J Davitt, M Ennis, J Keane; D Healy (capt), D O'Donoghue, G Glennon; D Duffy, D O'Shaughnessy; G Duffy, G Dolan, J Smyth; PJ Ward, D Glennon, A Mangan.
