A fortnight ago in Croke Park, Westmeath minors proved another stirring example of 14 players raising their game against 15. Six minutes into the second half of the Leinster final, corner back Donal O'Donoghue was sent to the line. Not long after, Dublin stretched into a five-point lead.

Then came the hurricane finish from Westmeath which earned them their first provincial title in five years. PJ Ward's place has been left vacant due to a throat infection but there's no great fear he won't be able to start.

Mayo have named an unchanged team from the one which shot 17 wides in the Connacht final against Roscommon yet still managed to win by four points. It was a far from a convincing display. Conor Mortimer may have ended up with 1-7 (six from frees) but otherwise the scoring capability of their forwards was slack.

Westmeath appear to be the more balanced side. Three of their substitutes the last day - Tom Browne, Gary Flanagan and Gordon McDonnell - each ended up with a point. McDonnell retains a starting place at left half forward. Mayo have now won four out of the last five Connacht titles, reaching the final last year only to be toppled by Down. However, the momentum this summer seems to be with Westmeath. Another big display from Ward and they should progress.

WESTMEATH: E Farrell; D O'Donohgue, K Larkin, F Newman; D McDermott, A Lambden, G Glennon; P Leavy, N Kilmartin; N Adamson, C Whyte, G McDonnell; L O'Reilly, AN Other, A Hickey.

MAYO: D Clarke; R Keane, R Walshe, D Geraghty; D Costello, E Devenney, C Moran; E Barrett, A Burke; P Prenty, C Mortimer, S Lindsay; P Carey, A Dillon, T Geraghty.