Dowdall drafted into Westmeath hurling team

There is one change on the Westmeath hurling team for the All-Ireland qualifier against Antrim at Casement Park tomorrow (Saturday, June 18, throw-in 3pm). Brian Hanley's charges gave Galway a major fright in the Leinster SHC quarter-final and are now set to take on the Glensmen in the preliminary phase of the qualifiers. Paddy Dowdall replaced Niall Flanagan in the 50th minute of the clash against Galway and he has now been handed a starting berth at midfield for the long trip to Belfast. Paul Greville and Brendan Murtagh - who will be part of the Westmeath football squad which takes on Antrim at the same venue the following weekend - are selected in the half-forward line alongside Ciaran Curley. Another dual player, Kieran Martin of Fr Dalton's, is included among the substitutes. The winners of Saturday's game will take on Carlow in the first phase of the qualifiers. Meanwhile, Antrim hurling boss Dinny Cahill has made a number of changes to his team for the All-Ireland qualifier against Westmeath. Cahill has opted to make both personnel and positional alterations to his starting fifteen. Chris O'Connell returns between the sticks, Ciaran Herron switches from left half-back to midfield to partner Paul Shiels, Neal McAuley returns from suspension at left half-back, Kieran McGourty comes in at left corner-back and James Black at top of the left. Dropped from the side that lost to Wexford in the Leinster SHC quarter-final are Sean Hawes, Kevin Molloy, Barry McFall and Eddie McCloskey. Westmeath (SH v Antrim): C Scally; C Flanagan, D McCormack, A McGrath; E Price, A Mitchell, P Gilsenan; P Dowdall, B Smyth (captain); C Curley, P Greville, B Murtagh; J Shaw, D McNicholas, D Carty. Subs: S McGovern, J Gilligan, A Devine, A Craig, A Price, C Boyle, A Dermody, E Óg Clarke, C Mackey, B Connaughton, K Martin. Antrim (SH v Westmeath): C O'Connell; C McGuinness, C Donnelly, Kieran McGourty; A Graffin, M Herron, N McAuley; P Shiels, C Herron; S McCrory, K Stewart, N McManus; C McCann, D Hamill, J Black.