Improving Westmeath can stay in touch with All-Ireland champions

Dublin v Westmeath
RTE2, 4pm Sunday

We will learn a lot more about All-Ireland champions Dublin as they return to Croke Park to face Westmeath for the third year on the trot.

The Leinster semi-final should help to answer the question of whether Dublin have lost some of their swagger this year and if Jim Gavin needs to freshen up his attacking unit.

Dublin stumbled over Carlow and it was strange to see them struggle to break down the whipping boys of Leinster. They got frustrated and shot from stupid positions and Diarmuid Connolly lost his discipline and picked up a 12-week ban for getting up close and personal with a linesman.

There were more negatives than positives to be taken out of the performance and Westmeath manager Tom Cribbin can be expected to try to cash in.

Westmeath have scored 0-10 and 0-6 against Dublin in the last two Leinster finals but they will have gained crucial experience from those two tussles and should be expected to score 12 points or more and stay within a dozen points of the Dubs.

Westmeath will surely try to contain the Dubs and counter-attack at pace. Ger Egan, Paul Sharry and Kieran Martin are capable of turning defence into attack quickly and, up front, John Heslin and Denis Glennon could pose the Dublin full-back line plenty of problems.

Cribbin would have seen how Carlow constantly frustrated Kevin McManamon and Con O'Callaghan and he will be telling his players to stay in touch in the opening period. Do not expect them to pour players forward in search of early scores.

Dean Rock is arguably the best free-taker in the business, but Heslin is not far behind him and he will pop over free after free if Dublin are not disciplined in the tackle.

Westmeath scored 13-128 in Division 4 of the league and got three goals in their Leinster replay win over Offaly. They have averaged 15.9 points in their last 11 championship outings and odds of 5-6 about Cribbin's charges getting 12 points or more at 5-6 with Paddy Power looks great value.

Dublin need one of their fringe forwards to issue a statement of intent and Paul Mannion could be the one. If his handling and end product improves, he could torment the Westmeath defence and given his cool finishing when he does get one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he looks overpriced at 11-1 with BoyleSports to get the first goal.

The best bet on the qualifiers coupon could be Cavan to defy a five-point handicap against hosts Offaly at O'Connor Park in Tullamore.

Cavan were plying their trade in Division 1 of the league this spring, whereas Offaly struggled in Division 3. Not only that but the Faithful County go knocking on the back door after a heavy defeat at the hands of Westmeath in their Leinster replay. They could, and possibly should, have won the drawn encounter.

Confidence is low in Offaly and Cavan could take advantage.

The Breffni boys have a good track record in the qualifiers and know what it takes to have a prolonged passage through the back door. They lost out by three points to Monaghan but remained competitive throughout that Ulster clash and would have taken positives out of the defeat.

Although Cavan often try to contain, when they do commit players forward they are effective. Gearoid McKiernan, Cian Mackey, Niall McDermott and Seanie Johnston could pose a fragile Offaly rearguard unit, who conceded 3-17 to Westmeath, all sorts of problems.

Cavan could see off Offaly by double-figures and should be backed to score two or more goals as well.

Kieran McGeeney appeared to be making big progress in Armagh and his side racked up 15-103 in seven Division 3 outings, but a last-gasp Tipperary goal spoiled their prospects of promotion in the final round of fixtures and they were no match for Down in the second half of their Ulster opener either, so begin the qualifiers on something on a retrieval mission. They could be vulnerable.

Fermanagh are without some key players this year, but went toe-to-toe with a top Monaghan side for much of their Ulster opener and the final scoreline of 1-20 to 1-11 was not a fair reflection of the 70 minutes. Pete McGrath has a cracking record in the qualifiers, as do Fermanagh, and they will fancy their chances of causing an upset.

The betting does not reflect the recent form of these sides. Although outclassed in the end, Fermanagh were still in with a shout with 20 minutes remaining against Monaghan and gave as good as they got in the first half.

Had they not coughed up a cheap goal from a poor kick-out, it would have been a lot closer. Armagh are at home, but the visitors could spring a shock and it is worth taking the 7-2 available about them winning by two points or more.

Recommendations
Westmeath +12
2pts 13-10 BoyleSports
Westmeath over 11.5 points
2pts 5-6 Paddy Power
P Mannion first goalscorer
1pt 11-1 BoyleSports
Cavan -5
4pts 11-8 Betway
Cavan -10
1pt 9-2 BoyleSports
Cavan over 1.5 goals
1pt 13-8 Paddy Power
Fermanagh -1
2pts 7-2 Paddy Power