Published: Wednesday, 15th April, 2009 12:00pm

Westmeath minors begin Leinster campaign

WESTMEATH"s minor footballers begin their bid for Leinster championship glory on Saturday when they face Carlow in the opening round for the second year running (Dr Cullen Park, throw-in: 7pm).

The Lake County minors managed to see off Carlow at the same stage last year before going out in the quarter-finals to near neighbours Offaly.

The winner of the Carlow/Westmeath match will progress to meet the victors in the first round meeting of Meath and Offaly next month. If Westmeath lose to Carlow they will play the losers of Wicklow v Kildare in the losers" section.

Westmeath have a few injury concerns ahead of Saturday"s match with Athlone goalkeeper Scott Gaynor definitely ruled out through a hand injury. Either Moate Community School student Brian Finnerty or Scott Hogan will start between the sticks.

Key player John Heslin - who has been the subject of a transfer wrangle in recent weeks, after he was denied a move to St Malachy"s - has been suffering with an ankle knock in recent times, but is expected to start. The Westmeath management will also be keeping a close eye on another couple of players with slight knocks. The management team are set to wait until training on Thursday evening before informing the players of the starting line-up.

Selector Eugene Dolan said: 'Our preparations were slow to begin with due to the instructions from Croke Park which stated that collective training couldn"t take place until March 1, but it"s the same for the other teams. We had a handful of challenge matches which were a bit topsy-turvy, but we"ve been trying to find our best team and are getting to know the players. We"re looking forward to Saturday and the beginning of the championship, and hopefully it will go okay for us.'

Westmeath are managed by Moate All-Whites clubman and former senior county star Ger Heavin, with Shandonagh"s John Gordon and Alan McCormack (Kilbeggan Shamrocks) part of the backroom.

Among the local players hoping to make an impression this year for the minors are Caulry trio Ben Moran, Alan Fitzpatrick and Ciaran Sheridan, Garrycastle"s Shane Mulvihill and Maryland"s Callum McCormack. Other notable players include David Gavin, John Heslin and Ger Egan.

WESTMEATH MINOR PANEL

Scott Hogan (Mullingar Shamrocks); Ciaran Sheridan (Ballynacargy); Kevin Maguire (Caulry); Brian Finnerty (Millmore Gaels); Ben Moran (Caulry); Ben Hogan (The Downs); Ger O"Toole (Tyrrellspass); Shane Mulvihill (Garrycastle); Brian Mulvihill (Athlone); Alan Fitzpatrick (Caulry, captain); Paul Carey (St Mary"s, Rochfortbridge); Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass); John Heslin (St Loman"s, Mullingar); Kelvin Reilly (St Loman"s); Conor Donoghue (St Loman"s); Stephen Gilmore (St Loman"s); Trevor Farrell (Maryland/Tang); David Gavin (Mullingar Shamrocks); Robbie Kenny (Caulry); Darren Ruane (St Malachy"s/Ballinagore); James Geoghegan (Rosemount); Clive Kiernan (Coralstown/Kinnegad); Callum McCormack (Maryland/Tang); Wayne Fox (Coralstown/Kinnegad); Cormac Boyle (Killucan); Eoin Gorman (St Mary"s); Jason Cully (Coralstown/Kinnegad)