Dowling returns for Westmeath tie

The return of Cathal Dowling is a major boost for Kildare ahead of their second round McDonagh Cup tie against Westmeath at Cedral St Conleths Park on Saturday afternoon.

The swashbuckling Naas forward has suffered badly with injuries this year and his return has the potential to inject a bit of life into a forward line that relied on David Qualter’s dead ball skills during the opening round heartbreaking defeat to Kerry.

There are also a number of positional switches.

Gerry Keegan lined out at centre forward last week and he moves closer to goal, while James Burke moves in the opposite direction, from the full forward line to the half forwards.

There’s another couple of switches in the backline. There is a feeling among Kildare supporters that Simon Leacy is somebody who bring a lot to the Kildare team around the middle third and while he doesn’t quite move into midfield, he switches from the corner back position to centre half back.

That means that Cian Boran moves from a central position to wing back, with Dan O’Meara dropping into corner back. Boran was named on the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Hurling Team of the Year for his performances in the forward line as he helped DCU into the final of the Fitzgibbon earlier this year and the move to the wing may give him some more freedom to show what he can do in an attacking sense.

For a full preview of the game, which throws in at 4.30pm, read Richard Commins’ thoughts here.

Kildare team for Joe McDonagh Cup Round 2 tie against Westmeath, Saturday 26 April 26th, 4.30pm at Cedral St. Conleth’s Park