Westmeath and Kildare teams named for Leinster quarter-final
The Westmeath and Kildare teams have been named for their Leinster SFC quarter-final in Newbridge tomorrow evening (Saturday).
Nigel Harte has been selected at wing-back after returning to action in Westmeath's last league game against Roscommon. Otherwise, the starting XV is along predictable lines with most of those who impressed during the league included.
But Jack Geoghegan is not in the match-day squad of 26, having sustained an injury in the league encounter away to Down. In the absence of Geoghegan and Charlie Drumm (who is overseas), David Giles has been selected at full-back.
Conor McCormack will play his first championship game in goals, but his Caulry clubmate Senan Baker misses out through injury after his hamstring troubles resurfaced.
Brian Guerin has been named on the bench, having missed all of Westmeath's league campaign apart from the opening round game against Louth. Jonathan Lynam of The Downs is also among the substitutes after he rejoined the panel in recent weeks.
The Kildare team has also been named and it contains such familiar as Kevin Feely, Alex Beirne, Niall Kelly and Darragh Kirwan.
There are a number of changes to the team which lost to Offaly in the recent Division 3 league final, with Mark Dempsey, Kevin Flynn (returning from injury), Ben McCormack, Brian McLoughlin and the aforementioned Kirwan drafted into the team.
Saturday's game will be the first championship fixture at the newly refurbished Cedral St Conleth's Park (throw-in 7pm).
Westmeath team (vs Kildare): Conor McCormack; Jamie Gonoud, David Giles, Conor Dillon; Nigel Harte, Ronan Wallace, Sam McCartan; Ray Connellan, Fionn O'Hara; Kevin O'Sullivan, Danny McCartan, Matthew Whittaker; Robbie Forde, Luke Loughlin, Brían Cooney. Subs: Kieran Martin, Sam Smyth, Brian Guerin, Joseph Moran, Eoghan McCabe, Brandon Kelly, Jonathan Lynam, Lorcan Dolan, Daniel Scahill, Stephen Smith, Shane Ormsby.
Kildare team (vs Westmeath): Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill, Mark Dempsey, Brian Byrne; Kevin Flynn, David Hyland, James McGrath; Kevin Feely, Callum Bolton; Colm Dalton, Alex Beirne, Ben McCormack; Niall Kelly, Darragh Kirwan, Brian McLoughlin. Subs: Didier Cordonnier, Ryan Burke, Mick O'Grady, Jack McKevitt, Tommy Gill, Ryan Houlihan, Aaron Masterson, Cathal Hagney, Paddy McDermott, Darragh Swords, Ryan Sinkey.