Tomorrow afternoon’s Leinster Senior Hurling Championship round robin clash carries huge importance for Westmeath at Mullingar as Brian Hanley’s team seek to escape relegation to the Christy Ring Cup.
Whoever loses won’t be involved in next year’s Senior Championship so there will be plenty at stake when London visit Cusack Park.
The victors of the Westmeath and London encounter will face the Christy Ring Cup winners in a promotion/relegation play-off. In their three matches in the competition to date London have drawn with Carlow, but they were beaten by Antrim and Laois. The point London gained against Carlow means a draw in the midlands would relegate Westmeath, who have been overpowered in their three fixtures.
Despite producing plucky performances against Antrim, Laois, and Carlow Westmeath haven’t been strong enough to register a positive result. Improvement is necessary, especially converting chances, if a return to the Christy Ring Cup is to be avoided in 2015.