Westmeath ladies missing star players as Donegal await

This year's Westmeath ladies football panel is shorn of some big names and the newcomers to the inter-county scene endured a baptism of fire in last Saturday's comprehensive defeat to Mayo.

Westmeath manager Michael Finneran recently named a 36-player squad for the Lidl National Football League. The campaign began with a 7-22 to 1-12 hammering at the hands of Mayo at the Connacht GAA Air Dome in Bekan.

Fiona Claffey, the captain of the team which won last year's All-Ireland intermediate title, is among the notable absentees, along with Lorraine Duncan, Johanna Maher, Leona Archibold, Jennifer Rogers and Aoife Brady.

In total, six of the starting team which defeated Wexford in last year's All-Ireland final are absent from the panel: Lauren McCormack, Niamh Spellman, Claffey, Duncan, Brady and Archibold.

Whether any of those players return later in the year remains to be seen, but it's believed at least some of them have opted for inter-county retirement.

The loss of so many quality and experienced players leaves a major void in the Westmeath panel, but Finneran and his management team will be hoping that younger players can step up to fill the breach.

Former St Dominic's and Roscommon star Finneran is joined in the management team by Paul Leonard (St Loman's Mullingar), Gary Wynne (Boyle), Shane Monaghan (St Brigid's), Mark Barrett (Clann na nGael) and Marie Kelly (Clann na nGael).

Westmeath's second league match is against Donegal this Sunday, with Lakepoint Park confirmed as the venue (throw-in 2pm).

Donegal defeated Galway by three points (0-10 to 0-7) in their opening game and are expected to provide another difficult assignment for Westmeath.

Meanwhile, Westmeath LGFA has named a minor panel of 31 players ahead of this year’s Leinster championship.

Athlone, Caulry, Goldsmiths, Moate, Garrycastle, St Joseph’s and Kilbeggan Shamrocks are among the clubs represented on the panel.

The team will be managed by Dermot Power (The Downs), with Thomas McCormack (Moate), Damien Molloy (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Niamh Ballesty (Milltown) and Maura Mulderry (St Loman’s Mullingar) also part of the management team.

Westmeath will open their Leinster campaign with a home game against Wexford on March 27, followed up three weeks later by a trip to Louth. In their final group game, Westmeath will welcome neighbours Longford on May 21.

Westmeath LGFA said “a wide pool of talent has been brought together” to make up the minor panel. “We wish Dermot, Thomas, Damien, Niamh and Maura and the panel of 31 girls the very best of luck in the upcoming season,” a spokesperson for Westmeath LGFA added.

Westmeath LGFA senior panel: Aoife Temple (Athlone); Áine Gaynor, Ruth Martin (Caulry); Kiara Giles, Mia McDonald, Shannon Lyons (Coralstown/Kinnegad); Zoe Guinane (Goldsmiths); Shannon Mulvihill (Garrycastle); Aoife O'Malley (Killucan); Ashley Ruane (Loughnavalley); Sarah Dillon, Abbie Sheerin, Aoife Kenny, Emma Ballesty, Tracey Dillon, Kelly Boyce Jordan, Orlaith Sheerin, Rachel Dillon (Milltown); Shona Neary (Moate); Anna Jones, Clara Thornton, Karen Hegarty, Melek Fagan, Chloe Smullen (Mullingar Shamrocks); Ciara Blundell, Lucy McCartan, Vicky Carr (St Loman's Mullingar); Lucy Power, Ciara Faulkner, Niamh Nolan (The Downs); Fiona Coyle, Kacey Geoghegan, Jennifer Whelehan (St Mary's Rochfortbridge); Amy Alford, Chloe Kelly, Sarah Keegan (Tyrrellspass).

Westmeath LGFA minor panel: Ava Martin, Leah Nugent, Aine DiTullio (Athlone); Amy Murphy, Ava Hallissey, Leah Hallissey (Caulry); Tegan Foley (Garrycastle); Emma Tumelty, Lisa Seery, Rebecca Higgins, Sinead Seery (Goldsmiths); Jemma Seery, Laura Murphy (Kilbeggan Shamrocks); Ciara Molloy, Maeve Molloy (Clann Gaels); Tori Coyne (Coralstown/Kinnegad); Aoife O’Donnell, Cathy Doyle, Meadbh Monaghan (Killucan); Jill Ballesty (Milltown); Chloe Moran (Moate); Joyce Conway (St Joseph’s); Caoimhe Coogan, Claire Gaffney, Sadbh Gorman (Milltownpass); Anne-Marie Reilly (Mullingar Shamrocks); Annie Kilmurray, Ellen Kilmurray, Keelie Mulderry (St Loman’s Mullingar); Caoimhe Morley, Leigha Greer (St Paul’s/Delvin).