Dolan set to miss rest of league

WESTMEATH talisman Dessie Dolan is unlikely to feature again in this year"s Allianz National Football League. Dolan has been nursing ongoing hamstring difficulties for some time - problems that sidelined him for Westmeath"s last three league outings - and is now almost definitely unavailable to the Lake County"s management team for the remaining Division 1 fixtures against Donegal and Dublin. Westmeath could seriously do with an in-form and fit Dolan ahead of the penultimate league fixture this coming Sunday when Donegal visit Cusack Park in Mullingar (throw-in: 2.30pm). Tomás Ó Flatharta"s side have so far failed to register any points in this year"s league and are odds-on favourites to suffer relegation at the end of the campaign. They have also by far the worst scoring difference in the division (-38). Westmeath still harbour very slim hopes of avoiding the drop and require nothing less than two wins from their remaining fixtures to have a chance of staying in Division 1 for next year. As well as Westmeath beating both Donegal and Dublin, they would also need Kerry to beat Dublin this weekend and then Derry to defeat Donegal in the final game. Apart from Dolan, Westmeath continue to be without long-term casualties Martin Flanagan and Fergal Wilson, both of whom appear to have no chance of featuring in the last two league games. However, sources close to the Westmeath camp remain confident that Dolan, Flanagan and Wilson will still play a key role in this year"s championship - which begins for Westmeath with a Leinster quarter-final against either Longford or Wicklow in June. On the plus side, the Westmeath camp are this week reporting that Donal O"Donoghue is nearing a return to action following hamstring problems and could even feature at some stage against Donegal. Meanwhile, Westmeath"s gallant hurlers, who pushed Wexford all the way in last week"s NHL Division 2 before losing by four points at Wexford Park, entertain Carlow at Cusack Park on Saturday (throw-in: 2.30pm). Westmeath will have something to prove against a Carlow side that narrowly beat them in last year"s Christy Ring Cup final. Carlow underlined their rising standing in hurling with a notable win over Antrim last Sunday. In Division 3 of the NFL, Roscommon face a tricky trip to Kingspan Breffni Park to take on Cavan, who are now managed by former Ros" manager Tommy Carr. Roscommon"s hopes of promotion suffered a major blow when they were defeated at home by Tipperary last Sunday (see report and Division 3 table on page 31).