When the GAA modified the football qualifiers and reverted to the strictly open draw it seemed inevitable some teams would be treated to a second helping of each other. And so it proved, with Longford drawn against Westmeath for the second time this season.

Their first serving, on May 13th, ended with a dramatic three-point win for Longford when they overturned an eight-point interval deficit to record a first provincial championship victory in six years. For manager Luke Dempsey that proved particularly satisfying, even though it meant inflicting a defeat on the county he once so faithfully served.

"To be honest I have no problem playing Westmeath again," says Dempsey. "I was under huge pressure going into that first game, I really was, and it was such a relief for me, personally, to have come through that. I felt like a great weight was lifted off my shoulders. With that game out of my system the way I feel now is that I could play Westmeath any time again, and not feel the same pressure.

"It's still not ideal, and I suppose from a general point of view we would have preferred a more novel pairing, but the reality of it is we can't be complaining too much, because I'm certainly glad we avoided three of the bigger teams left in there, Armagh, Mayo and Donegal.

"We're just looking forward to another championship game, and going back to Mullingar, where I have some very fond memories. So we're only seeing the positive in all of this . . ."

Longford also boast one of the better qualifier runs of recent years. After narrowly falling to Dublin last summer, they eased past Waterford and Tipperary, stunned Derry, and finally gave Kerry no small fright in Fitzgerald Stadium. So why should they fear playing Westmeath again?

"I think the bigger issue is the way the qualifiers have been reduced," adds Dempsey, "and teams like Wicklow and Offaly don't get the second chance. Wicklow for sure will have benefited an awful lot from their three games against Louth, and Offaly are still a traditional force and always able to pick it up during the summer.

"And then I hear Carlow are struggling to field a team in the Tommy Murphy, and we have seen counties like Waterford getting hammerings in the qualifiers before. And that doesn't do anyone any good. Part of the problem as well is the Tommy Murphy Cup doesn't offer any great reward for the winners. The obvious thing would be to offer them some way back into the championship, but that presents obvious problems in terms of timing. Having said all that, these changes were made by a committee with some logical reason."

While Longford later fell to Laois in the Leinster quarter-final, Westmeath will have been idle for seven weeks and six days come throw-in time in Mullingar tomorrow evening. They have, however, been quietly regaining their confidence, playing three challenges in recent weeks - with wins over Kildare and Leitrim, and a narrow defeat to Limerick.

"Most people have been talking about Westmeath having the chance to gain their revenge, well we're just as motivated, to prove that victory back in May was in no way a fluke. This is my third year in charge and we are making progress every year.

"We still took a lot out of that Laois game. The players were perhaps a little over-anxious with their shooting, and I think if they can be a little more productive this time they can produce a much better performance."

Dempsey has a practically full-strength panel, with only Enda Ledwith definitely out for the rest of the year with a broken collarbone. Star forward Brian Kavanagh got a bit of a scare on Tuesday when he landed on a stone at training, sustaining some knee bruising, but he will start, as should Paul Barden despite an ongoing back injury.