Leinster champions Westmeath are facing into an injury crisis that not only threatens their hopes of staying in Division One of the National Football League, it may also affect their championship aspirations later in the year.
Former All Star midfielder Rory O'Connell woke up last Sunday morning with a disc complaint after playing the previous night against Kerry. Following a scan, the current prognosis has O'Connell potentially facing into a long-term recovery process.
To make matters worse for manager Páidí Ó Sé, centre back Damien Healy pulled a hamstring and is out for a month allowing David Kilmartin to come in.
Alan Mangan suffered medial ligament damage against Dublin two weeks ago and faces a similar lay-off period.
An ideal replacement for the corner forward would have been David Glennon, brother of Denis, but he suffered a suspected fractured fibia after falling awkwardly in training last Tuesday.
"We are losing people at just the wrong time," admitted selector Paddy Collins. "We have had a run of bad luck recently but, except for last Saturday, we have been there or there abouts in most games. However, we got a right drubbing against Kerry."
Several players quit the panel after last summer's exploits but the return of Martin Flanagan and David O'Shaughnessy looked set to keep the momentum moving forward. But they have only beat fellow strugglers Donegal in their league campaign.
Dessie Dolan is consistent as ever but several other weapons have been curtailed in recent weeks. Neither Flanagan nor O'Shaughnessy are fully fit, while the best impact forward in the country is being used from the start. With the ability to kick off either boot, Joe Fallon is the ideal weapon to launch from the bench but O'Connell's absence has forced John Brennan into midfield and Fallon in from the start again against Tyrone on Sunday.
Although not named in the starting line-up, Mayo manager John Maughan has indicated he will start Trevor Mortimer against Kerry in Castlebar.
Division Two B has turned into a straight shoot-out between Cavan, Derry and Meath.
Cavan manager Eamonn Coleman has picked the same team that defeated Waterford 7-15 to 0-8 with star forward Michael Lyng still ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Things seem unsettled in Derry as manager Mickey Moran has to plan without Seán Marty Lockhart who is getting married, while Eoin Bradley, the brother of team captain Paddy, has opted out of the panel.
Meath are likely to be without injured trio Ollie Murphy, Mark O'Reilly and Stephen Bray.
Meanwhile, TG4 will continue their Aussie Rules highlights programme for the ninth consecutive season, broadcast on Sundays at 10.30am, and repeated at 11.10pm.
Kerry's Tadhg Kennelly is a regular with the Sydney Swans, while Cork hurling brothers Setanta and Aisake Ó hAilpín are attempting to break into the Carlton starting line-up this season, which runs from April to the Grand Final in September.
It has been confirmed that the GAA will hold a national youth forum in Croke Park on Saturday, April 2nd. Over 160 delegates have been invited to attend, and each county will have the opportunity of sending four youth delegates and the county youth officer to the forum.
GAA President Seán Kelly will address the forum that intends to deal with issues such as coaching and games development, refereeing and the code of ethics and best practice.
WESTMEATH (SF v Tyrone): G Connaughton; J Davitt, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis, D Kilmartin, D Heavin; D O'Shaughnessy, J Brennan; P Tormey, J Fallon, C Galligan; D Glennon, M Flanagan, D Dolan.
MAYO (SF v Kerry): D Clarke; L O'Malley, D Heaney, K Higgins; G Mullins, J Nallen, P Gardiner; R McGarrity, BJ Padden; A Moran, C McDonald, A Kilcoyne; C Mortimer, A Dillon, J Prenty.
MAYO (U21 v Leitrim): R Byrne; T Gaughan, C Halloran, K Higgins; E Hughes, J McAndrew, S Melia; B Kelly, J Kilcullen; S Hughes, J Dillon, A Kilcoyne; M Conroy, D Munnelly, J Prenty.
KILDARE (v Laois): T Corley; C Fagan, R Nevin, M Hogarty; J Lonergan, M Foley, M Scanlon; D Flynn, R Glavin; J Kavanagh, P O'Neill, H Lynch; T O'Neill, J Fogarty, T Archbold.
CAVAN (SF v Louth): J Reilly; M Hannon, D Rabbitt, K Fannin; K Crotty, A Gaynor, P Reilly; D McCabe, S Maguire; M Cahill, G Pierson, F O'Reilly; J O Reilly, J Tierney, L Reilly.
