All-Ireland intermediate final replay (Croke Park, Sunday 4.15pm )
Westmeath’s lady footballers are back in action in GAA headquarters this Sunday as they bid to see off the significant challenge which Cavan will pose in the replay of the intermediate All-Ireland final.
Having performed well throughout the drawn game before surrendering a three point lead in the closing minutes the maroon and white ladies will have to perform for the full hour plus if they are to bring the first ever All-Ireland ladies title to the county.
The sides are well and truly evenly matched. When they met in Cavan last year it was the Breffni women who had a small bit to spare while the Lakelanders reversed the result this year when the sides clashed in Ballinagore. The final was always going to be close and while Westmeath looked to have a match-winning lead, Cavan refused to accept defeat and secured a draw.
Co-managers Alan Mangan and Peter Leahy have plenty to ponder ahead of the replay. It is likely there will be one or two changes to the starting personnel. A key decision will be who is given the task of marking Cavan’s Aisling Doonan who had a big bearing on proceedings the last day.
Credit to the county board for bringing forward the men’s junior and intermediate county finals which had been fixed for Sunday. Hopefully a large Westmeath crowd will be present to see history being made.
