O'Byrne Cup fits well into Longford's long-term plan

Although the O'Byrne Cup may be strictly secondary stuff in the greater scheme of things, Longford and Westmeath are eagerly anticipating the competition's final this Sunday.

Longford are on a fine run with successive wins against Kildare, Dublin and Offaly as they close in on a first win in the competition since 1965 - which proved the precursor of National Football League (1966) and Leinster (1968) titles during what was the most successful spell in the county's history.

Longford manager Michael McCormack accepts that the major counties in Leinster will never be plunged into grief over losing O'Byrne Cup matches but points out that neither do they go out to lose and that Dublin went to the trouble of winning the competition last year. Furthermore the sustained run is just what his team needed after a poor pre-Christmas League campaign.

"We usually put on a good show against teams like Kildare, which is good for confidence but to actually win is better. Westmeath beat us well last year because we didn't play on the day and I feel it's good for the team to get a chance to play them again. This is a young side. Padraig Davis and Enda Barden are the oldest and they're only 25."

In the past few weeks, the efforts of Davis and Barden have been supplemented by excellent performances from David Blessington at centre back and, particularly, Barden's brother Paul, who was ruled out of the Leinster team last week only because of injury.

In recent years, Longford have lost a number of influential, experienced players - primarily Dessie Barry and Frank McNamee - so the learning curve has become steeper for McCormack's players, particularly as the commitment of the clubs to the county's cause has been in doubt.

"When a county's getting beaten in the first round of the championship - remember it's not long since Longford went seven years without winning a match - it's hard to get the momentum going," says McCormack.

"The O'Byrne Cup gives the players a bit of a spotlight, a chance to show what they can do and now you've got the roundrobin in the championship which means they're guaranteed three games. So things are better this year."

Westmeath still harbour a residual discontent at how they missed out on medals a few years ago when the team wouldn't play extra-time in the final against Wexford, who were awarded the O'Byrne Cup.

In the years since, Westmeath have carved out a new reputation on the underage scene with an All-Ireland at minor level in 1995, followed by the under-21 equivalent last year. Under Brendan Lowry, the county has been threatening at senior level in the last two years and after winning the Leinster preliminary pool on both occasions, this year they take their place in the main draw.

Although Longford have had three championship matches in the last two summers, these relatively protracted campaigns have been based on drawing with Wexford in both years before going on to lose to Westmeath.

Longford's hopes of making an impact in the championship have risen with the mini-league structure this year.

However for Sunday's game neither Paul Barden nor Aidan Keogh are deemed fit, although both are receiving intensive physiotherapy and the team management has decided to leave final decisions on their fitness until tomorrow or Sunday.

Liam Keenan will come in at centrefield for Keogh should he fail to make the starting line-up and Sean Hagan is likely to be Barden's potential replacement. Otherwise the team shows one change with Padraig Jones coming in for Peter McWade at right corner back.

LONGFORD - G Tonra; P Jones, D Ledwith, B Burke; M Mulleady, D Blessington, C Conefrey; AN Other, E Barden; P Brady, AN Other, P Ross; T Smullen, N Sheridan, P Davis.