Two of the more Jekyll and Hyde counties in League football meet in what is essentially a Division Three promotion play-off at the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda this afternoon.
Since the League was restructured into its current format in 2008, Westmeath have been either relegated or promoted in nine of the previous 11 seasons.
They are one of only two counties, along with Roscommon, that have occupied all four divisions in that time span.
Last year was one of the two seasons that they stood still (the other was 2012, when they were in Division Two), so it’s no surprise that they’re getting itchy feet at this stage.
Louth, meanwhile, are almost equally as restless. Since 2014, they’ve either experienced relegation or promotion each season and a win today would have them on the move for the sixth consecutive year.
After a deeply disappointing 2018 saw Pete McGrath leave under a cloud, a second successive relegation looked a far more likely prospect than a promotion push Wayne Kierans has defied those expectations with last Sunday’s win over Down particularly impressive.
Moreover, he can call on the talented Ryan Burns, introduced off the bench in Newry, once again after his injury lay-off.
But Westmeath, with John Heslin and Kevin Maguire back on board, have been got increasingly stronger as the League has progressed and their edge in experience can see them to promotion.
They will achieve that with either a draw or a victory here.
VERDICT: Westmeath
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