Team news for Down’s Croke Park clash with Westmeath

By Michael McMullan

CONOR Laverty has named an unchanged team for Saturday’s National League final against Westmeath at Croke Park (7.15pm).

It’s a rematch of the recent drawn encounter in Mullingar when a late Ryan McEvoy points earned Down a share of the spoils.

McEvoy is one of seven players to have started all of Down’s games this year could come up against Kieran Martin in Westmeath’s attack.

Down’s all energy performances have been based around the pace of speedsters Liam Kerr, Miceál Rooney and Ceilum Doherty.

Odhrán Murdock is a key figure at midfield with top scorer Pat Havern leading the attack.

Down missed out on promotion last season and lost the final of the Tailteann Cup. In one sense the pressure off due to promotion being engrained in their minds, but the chance to end the county’s trophy drought will be a huge focus.

Dessie Dolan has named 13 of the team that drew with Down with Charlie Drumm the only change, coming in for Nigel Harte.

Robbie Forde, who came on in the drawn game, has down to start with the Danny McCartan now on the injured list.

The game will be preceded with the Division Four decider between Leitrim and Laois.

Down: John O’Hare, Peter Fegan, Ryan McEvoy, Ceilum Doherty, Finn McElroy, Pierce Laverty, Daniel Guinness, Johnny Flynn, Odhrán Murdock, Micéal Rooney, Liam Kerr, Ryan Johnston, Danny Magill, Pat Havern, James Guinness
Subs: TBC

Westmeath: Jason Daly Danny Scahill, Charlie Drumm, Kevin Maguire, James Dolan, David Lynch, Sam McCartan, Ray Connellan, Andy McCormack, Jonathan Lynam, Ronan O’Toole, Conor Dillon, Luke Loughlin, Kieran Martin, Robbie Forde
Subs: Trevor Martin, Matthew Whittaker, Senan Baker, Stephen Smith, Shane Allen, Conor McCormick, Eoin Mulvihill, Nigel Harte, Jamie Gonoud, John Heslin, Lorcan Dolan