O Se looks beyond Mullingar

Gaelic Games Team news: It might present a glorious beginning to his new life as Westmeath football manager yet Páidí Ó Sé continues…

Gaelic Games Team news: It might present a glorious beginning to his new life as Westmeath football manager yet Páidí Ó Sé continues to look beyond Sunday's O'Byrne Cup final against Meath in Mullingar.

Included in his team is 19-year-old debutant Paul Martin, while kept in reserve are established forwards Dessie Dolan and Martin Flanagan.

Even the anticipated crowd of around 10,000 hasn't tempted Ó Sé to go quite all out for victory. For the fourth successive week he has rotated players, with Martin the big talking point.

First invited on to the panel last November, Martin, a member of the St Loman's club, has represented the county at every grade from under-16 up and has been described by selector Paddy Collins as "one of the most exciting talents to come on the Westmeath stage in recent years".

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He is named at full forward at the expense of the experienced Shane Colleary, who was replaced by Joe Fallon in the semi-final win over Carlow last Sunday. The only other change sees another relative newcomer, Donal O'Donoghue, preferred to Tom Stuart-Trainor at right-half back.

Dolan might yet feature at some point, although he is carrying two injuries - strains of both the wrist and hamstring.

Meath will announce their team after training tonight and the only doubt surrounds full forward Niall Kelly.

The McGrath Cup final also takes place in Ennis on Sunday, featuring Limerick against Clare. After playing Galway in a challenge match under lights last night, Clare manager John Kennedy will finalise his selection this morning.

In hurling, Dublin and Wexford have confirmed their teams for Sunday's Walsh Cup tie, to be played at Piercetown, home of the St Martin's club, outside Wexford town. Dublin have left a vacancy at full forward following Shane Ryan's decision to concentrate solely on football, although included for now is dual player Conal Keaney, who helped Dublin to collect the Walsh Cup at the expense of Kilkenny last January.

While there are other familiar names in Stephen Hiney, Stephen Perkins, Kevin Ryan, Darragh Spain and goalkeeper Brendan McLoughlin, Wexford will start favourites. Manager John Conran has introduced just one newcomer in Robbie Codd, younger brother of Paul, at full forward. The 24-year-old was Rathnure's top scorer in their march to a second successive senior hurling championship title last year.

Elsewhere, former Dublin goalkeeper John O'Leary has been named manager of the Dublin women's football team after three years in charge of the Wicklow men's team. Dublin are eager to build on the success of last year, when they were pipped by Mayo in the All-Ireland final.

"John brings a wealth of experience to the position having had such a long and illustrious career with the county team," said John Hillery, chairman of the women's board. "He will raise the profile of ladies' football in the county and is sure to get great backing from Dublin supporters."

DUBLIN (SH v Wexford): B McLoughlin; K Elliot, S Perkins, D Spain; D O'Reilly, S Hiney, K Ryan; R Fallon, C Keaney; M Carton, L Ryan, D Sweeney; S Martin, A N Other, F Flynn.

WEXFORD (SH v Dublin): D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, D O'Connor, M Travers; K Rossiter, D Ruth, M O'Leary; T Mahon, R McCarthy; P Carley, A O'Leary, M Jacob; C McGrath, R Codd, R Jacob.

WESTMEATH (SF v Meath): A Lennon; J Davitt, D Gavin, F Murray; D O'Donoghue, D Kilmartin, D Heavin; R O'Connell, D O'Shaughnessy; F Dardis, M Ennis, A Mangan; F Wilson, P Martin, D Glennon.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics