Westmeath and AIT both back in action tonight

By Kieran Galvin Westmeath and Athlone IT are both back in action in the Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup tonight (Wednesday). Having emphatically defeated Athlone IT at Moate last Sunday, Westmeath face Laois in Portlaoise tonight (throw-in: 7.30pm), while AIT take on Offaly at Gracefield (also 7.30). Paul Sharry and Doron Harte were listed to start for Westmeath last Sunday but were replaced before the throw-in. With Sharry still recovering from an injury, Flanagan said he wasn't sure if he'll be involved in the game against Laois. "Obviously we're looking after him (Sharry) to give him every opportunity for the league. Doron has a bad flu, we'll see how he is. I'm not sure what way it will go for those lads for Wednesday night," Flanagan said on Sunday last. Lorcan Smyth, a key figure in Mullingar Shamrocks' county title success last year, also did not feature last Sunday due to injury. "Lorcan is finding it difficult to shake off an ankle injury, he is on the panel ... obviously we're going to give him every opportunity," said Flanagan. Westmeath will host Offaly in their final group game at Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday (2pm). Athlone IT manager Martin McCabe took some positives from last Sunday's outing, despite his side's 0-13 to 1-22 defeat. "One plus for us is that we kept going. We used 20 players and we wanted to use as many players as we could," he said. "That's what we'll be doing in the game on Wednesday and next Sunday, to give players experience of playing against county teams at this level." Emmet McDonnell's Offaly side defeated Laois last Sunday (1-11 to 1-8) and will surely provide AIT with another difficult assignment. AIT will face Laois at Portarlington in their final group game on Sunday (2pm). *See this week's Westmeath Independent for a report on last Sunday's game between Westmeath and Athlone IT and more reaction.