TABLES ARE turned tomorrow night in Tullamore when Offaly take on neighbours Westmeath in the Leinster quarter-final. Although the home side have lost only once in nearly 50 years to their neighbours and won the most recent meeting two years ago, they are outsiders after spending spring in Division Four.

Offaly were promoted and are eligible for the qualifiers but their opponents were also going up to a higher floor, beating Dublin in the Division Two final and climaxing a season that had threatened relegation by nailing down instead a place in the top division.

Westmeath have also already taken their first championship scalp, defeating Longford four weeks ago, and are favourites to progress to the Leinster semi-final and a likely reunion with Dublin.

Longford’s manager Luke Dempsey believes, however, that the match will be closer than the form lines suggest.

“It’s a local derby and Offaly have already seen teams from lower divisions, Wicklow and Wexford, win against the odds and that will raise the stakes.

“Tradition also counts for a lot in local derbies. They also have an experienced midfield, an area where we struggled, and that can stymie the flow of ball into the forwards.

“The secret to coping with Westmeath’s approach is to move the ball fast.

“If the referee (Jim McKee) allows quick frees Westmeath can be put under pressure; if he doesn’t they’ll have 12 to 15 players between the goal and the 50-yard line. I’m sure Pat Roe (Offaly manager) has watched the videos and is aware of this.

“He’s has picked a side with defensive players in the half forwards. Karol Slattery is essentially a wing back and is named at centre forward. I think he’ll drop back and play deep. Pascal Kelleghan will then come out to fill the gap at centre forward, leaving Thomas Deehan and Niall McNamee as the usual two-man full-forward line.”

But Dempsey, a former Westmeath manager, believes his successor Tomás Ó Flatharta’s team have the edge. After the first round Dempsey described Westmeath as having adopted Ulster-style tactics with swarm defending from the forwards down.

“They’ve adapted to cover the lack of varied scoring power up front and played to their strengths. They crowd the opposition and stifle them. They’re a very dynamic unit with a strong defence and half forwards willing to drop back.

“They are impressive and have momentum after a great league and a championship win under their belt, which surprised a lot of people but they’ve gone from strength to strength.”