Westmeath hit by departures

After last season's breakthrough year, Westmeath are going to be hard pressed to retain their Leinster title, never mind make a genuine assault on the All-Ireland title, after a number of withdrawals from the football panel.

Four key players - Brian Morley, Fergal Wilson, Paul Conway and Gary Dolan - are unavailable.

Morley, who kicked the controversial point which was subsequently disputed against Offaly in the first Leinster championship match, has left the panel because of work commitments, while Wilson is doing his final exams. The availability of full back Donal O'Donoghue is also in doubt due to final exams.

Conway and Dolan may be back by the championship as both are in the recuperation stages after shoulder and ankle operations, respectively.

Others such as Aidan Canning, Fergal Murray, Tom Stuart-Trainer and the Casey brothers - JP and Russell - have dropped out of the panel, guaranteeing a hugely challenging second season for Páidí Ó Sé.

"In some cases players left as a pre-emptive to being left out," said selector Paddy Collins. "Others were just not able to make the huge commitment involved. Losing eight players for one reason or another and two to long-term injuries is more change than ever before over one season.

"Damien Healy is also out for a while with a knee injury, while Paul Martin, Colin Whyte and James Conroy are not back in the open-ended panel at present."

Already the newpanel is back training on the sand track in Ballinagore, said to be far deeper than last year, under the guiding eye of Tomás Ó Flatharta.

Several new faces are present, including promising minor graduate David Glennon, brother of Denis, and former Athlone Town soccer player Paddy Mulvihill.

Meanwhile, Leinster Council chairman Nicky Brennan is unconcerned about the recent withdrawal of Carlow from the O'Byrne Cup. The decision further belittled the competition's worth after Dublin opted to field an under-21 side, under Paddy Canning, when they play Wicklow on January 2nd.

"It's really only there for two purposes. First to help counties prepare for the National League," said Brennan. "The Carlow withdrawal and Dublin under-21 entry does mean it loses a small bit of profile.

"Due to the interest generated by Páidí (Ó Sé) in Westmeath it took on a life of its own last year, but that was a once-off. We expect a couple of hundred at each game and maybe more for the final."

Over 14,000 attended last January's final in Mullingar between Westmeath and Meath, in which the latter prevailed.

"We're not concerned with the withdrawals as the other purpose of the O'Byrne is to help generate proceeds for the GAA hardship fund. It's outside the GAA scheme, but at least through this we are able to help out by adding a little bit to it."

Although Dublin are blooding their young, teams such as Laois, Offaly and Westmeath are planning to field the strongest teams available when the first round proper begins on January 2nd.

"Micko (O'Dwyer) decided to participate with a full-strength squad," Laois selector Declan O'Loughlin said. "Although, if others start pulling out or putting in under-21 sides it will have to be reviewed."

Carlow pulled out - a decision backed by all but one club in the county - because new manager Liam Hayes has not had time to put sufficient structures or training in place to compete at intercounty level. Carlow have not played a match since the qualifier defeat to Down last June.

The draws for the Ryan, Trench, Fergal Maher and Corn Na MacLéinn Cups take place today in Croke Park.

Meanwhile, All-Ireland ladies football champions Galway have been dealt a severe blow for the new season with victorious manager PJ Fahy deciding to step down from the position.