Connaughton and Duffy return for Westmeath's trip to Tipp

The Westmeath team for Sunday's Allianz Football League Division 3 clash against Tipperary in Thurles shows four changes in personnel from last weekend's drawn game against Cavan. There are also a number of positional switches as Westmeath seek their first National Football League win since 2008. With the Westmeath under-21s now preparing for a Leinster quarter-final against Offaly on March 9 (after their emphatic 1-15 to 1-5 win over Laois last Wednesday), Ger Egan is the only member of the U21 squad named on the senior team for Sunday. Gary Connaughton replaces Darren Quinn in goal, while Micheál Curley is drafted in at half-back. Aidan Finnan moves from right half-back to centre-back, where U21 player Kieran Martin played against Cavan. With John Heslin suspended following his red card against Cavan, there is a new midfield pairing of David Duffy and Brendan Murtagh. Duffy has missed all of Westmeath's games so far this season through injury, although he was an unused substitute for the Cavan game last Sunday. In attack, Denis Corroon, who lined out at midfield against Cavan, has been moved to centre-forward in place of Denis Glennon. Although a pre-match doubt due to injury, Glennon started the Cavan game but was taken off early in the second half. Westmeath ended their run of 15 consecutive league defeats with that draw with Cavan, and now they will be hoping to garner their first win since 2008 in Semple Stadium on Sunday (throw-in 2.30pm). Westmeath SF v Tipperary: G Connaughton; F Boyle, K Gavin, J Gaffey; M Curley, A Finnan, D Harte; D Duffy, B Murtagh; F Wilson, D Corroon, G Egan; P Greville, David Glennon, D Dolan.