Offaly v Westmeath: THE MOST noticeable aspect of Laois's first-half dismantling of Wicklow last Saturday was the pace of their attack.
They gobbled up breaking ball and looked every inch the Division One side lording it over Division Four opponents.
Here Division Two champions Westmeath seek to expose the lethargic pace Offaly have operated at en route to securing promotion to Division Three.
Westmeath coach Tomás Ó Flatharta has moulded this panel into razor-sharp footballers. When Páidí Ó Sé delivered a Leinster title in 2004 it was obvious they had quality. Alan Mangan and Dennis Glennon in attack complemented Dessie Dolan's genius. John Keane and Donal O'Donoghue were solid in defence. But they lacked a hard mental edge.
Offaly have enough potency in the full-forward line - Thomas Deehan and Niall McNamee - to trouble any team and Pat Roe gives Brian Darby a championship debut at wing forward alongside Karol Slattery, starting his first game of the season after long-term injury. Slattery is wearing number 11 but he is a half back and may drift deep. A question mark remains over his and Paul McConway's wellbeing.
Ciarán McManus and Alan McNamee make up a formidable midfield but Westmeath's Martin Flanagan, O'Donoghue and David Duffy ensure plenty of big men will contest the aerial ball.
So long as they don't fall asleep, Westmeath can progress with relative comfort.
OFFALY: P Kelly; G Rafferty, S Sullivan, J Keane; P McConway, S Brady, N Grennan; C McManus, A McNamee; B Darby, K Slattery, N Smith; T Deehan, P Kelleghan, N McNamee.
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; F Boyle, K Gavin, J Keane; M Ennis, D Heavin, D Healy; M Flanagan, D O'Donoghue; F Wilson, J Smyth, D Harte; A Mangan, D Glennon, D Dolan.
Referee: J McKee (Armagh).
In the last episode: Offaly won 0-15 to 0-11 in a poor first-round Leinster clash at Croke Park two seasons back, with Niall McNamee and Ciarán McManus landing 0-4 each. The real difference was the absence of the injured Dessie Dolan. No such problem this evening as Dolan has shaken off a troublesome hamstring.
You bet: Fresh from collecting my winnings on Wicklow staying inside the four-point handicap against Laois, you would be best advised to heed this. Westmeath should gobble up Offaly's one-point handicap. Throw the July mortgage payment on it at 10/11. Otherwise, it is 6/4 on Offaly, 15/2 for a draw or 4/6 on Westmeath.
On your marks: We spy some typically GAA cuteness with Pat Roe's decision to name Karol Slattery at centre forward and, equally, Tomás Ó Flatharta leaving a fit-again David Duffy in reserve.
Gaining ground: O'Connor Park in Tullamore got a make-over last year and its new stand holds 7,000 of the 16,000 capacity.
Just the ticket: Covered stand costs €20 and terrace €15. Ticket booths are across the road. A decent crowd is expected as live television coverage fell through the cracks because of poor communication at committee level.
Crystal gazing: Westmeath, if they can avoid being dragged into a scrap, should pull clear long before the end.
