Saturday May 27

Leinster SHC Quarter-Final

Westmeath v Offaly, TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, 7pm

Two Leinster SHC Round Robin defeats to Laois and Kerry under serve duress, but Michael Ryan’s team responded against Meath.

A Tommy Doyle inspired win over the Royals ensured Westmeath advanced from the qualifying group for the third campaign in a row.

That is a decent achievement for Westmeath, who continue to make strides under Ryan with two more matches guaranteed.

The well respected Ryan has repeatedly spoken about the fact that Westmeath have benefited enormously from the fact that they have hurled in 10 summer fixtures during 2015 and 2016.

Now, though, Westmeath face Offaly, a team they beat in dramatic circumstances in last year’s Championship.

Offaly, now being managed by Kevin Ryan, endured a demanding start to the Allianz Hurling League, but they beat Kerry to secure their Division 1B status.

Shane Dooley was in prolific scoring form for Offaly throughout the competition and even struck 2-8 in the Quarter-Final loss to Tipperary.

Reaching the penultimate stage in the province is Offaly’s target, but the Faithful saw exactly what a pumped up Westmeath outfit can achieve 12 months ago.

Killian Doyle, already an established member of the Westmeath senior set-up, was in brilliant scoring form during Wednesday’s Bord Gais Energy Leinster Under 21 Championship triumph over Meath.

A 1-12 contribution was a reminder of his attacking threat with evidence of Westmeath’s underage investment and improvement evident in the 2-20 to 0-12 success.

Michael Ryan hasn’t been afraid to integrate youngsters into the inter-county arena and despite the losses to Laois and Kerry, Westmeath will be gunning to cause a surprise when Offaly visit Mullingar.

It is an awkward assignment for Offaly, who know that a determined and defiant display must be registered because Westmeath will thunder into this contest.