Connaughton, Gavin and Ennis return for Westmeath

Gary Connaughton, Kieran Gavin and Michael Ennis have all returned to the Westmeath team for Sunday's crunch Allianz FL Division 2 clash with Derry at Cusack Park. All three missed the heavy defeat to Kildare in the last round through injury. But 2008 All-Star goalkeeper Connaughton, key defender Gavin and the versatile Ennis are back in the side for Sunday, with Darren Quinn, Aidan Finnan and Callum McCormack dropping to the bench. However, no Garrycastle players are named in the 28-man squad for the vital clash which will decide whether Westmeath can avoid relegation to Division 3. Garrycastle were defeated by Crossmaglen Rangers in the replay of the All-Ireland final last Saturday, and there were hopes that some of players from the Leinster club champions would be available for Sunday's game. But if Westmeath are to avoid relegation, they will have to do so without such players as Dessie Dolan, Doron Harte, John Gaffey and James Dolan. With four teams level on four points and Derry on five points, Westmeath need to win on Sunday to escape the drop. Westmeath manager Pat Flanagan hopes home advantage can help his side secure a vital victory. "My reading of the situation is that we're safe if we win, and that's what we're all fully focused on doing. If anybody, at the start of the campaign, had given me the chance to win our last game, at home in Cusack Park, to maintain Division 2 status, I'd have bitten their hand off," Flanagan told the Westmeath Independent. See this week's Westmeath Independent for more on Sunday's game (thrown-in: 2.30pm). Westmeath SF v Derry: Gary Connaughton; Micheal Curley, Kieran Gavin, Kevin Maguire; Daniel McDermott, Michael Ennis, Ben Moran; John Heslin, Paul Bannon; Kieran Martin, Ger Egan, Ronan Foley; Denis Glennon, David Glennon, Paul Sharry. Subs: 16. Darren Quinn, 17. Philip Sheridan, 18. David Gavin, 19, Kieran Sheridan, 20. Alan Giles, 21. Tommy Warburton, 22. Trevor English, 23. Callum McCormack, 24. Mark Gorman, 25. Alan Stone, 26. Declan Mullen, 27. Aidan Finnan, 28, John Egan.