Women’s IFC final: Westmeath favourites to beat Wexford

Westmeath v Wexford

Croke Park, Sunday 1.45 (TG4)

Sunday's intermediate final is also an all-Leinster affair, Westmeath, who lost to Meath in last year's decider, going in as favourites against a Wexford side they beat by 13 points when they met in the group stages back in July.

While Westmeath have two intermediate titles to their name, from 1995 and 2011, Wexford are looking for their first success at this grade having lost in their two previous final appearances, in 1999 and 2007.

Lizzy Kent played in that 2007 final and having spent time coaching soccer with the Republic of Ireland under-19 women's team and with Wexford Youths she returned to take over as manager of the county in the summer after a dispiriting league campaign that saw them relegated to Division 3.

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She has revived their fortunes since then, the team beating Down and Laois to reach the final, their form suggesting they are capable of vastly improving on that July performance. They will, though, come up against an attack that has been one of the most clinical in the country this year, Sarah Dillon, with 4-17, the third top scorer across all three championship grades.

The prize for whoever prevails is a place in next year’s senior ranks, bringing to three, after Dublin and Meath, the number of Leinster counties in the top flight.

Westmeath (v Wexford): L McCormack; N Spellman, L Duncan, T Fagan; F Coyle, L Power, A Brady; V Carr, T Dillon; F Claffey (capt), L Archibold, A Jones; C Blundell, L McCartan, S Dillon.

Wexford (v Westmeath): S Merrigan; L Doyle, A Halligan, S McCarthy; C Donnelly, S Murphy, S Harding-Kenny; K Kearney, R Murphy; S Hamilton, C Murray, C Banville; A Neville, A Murphy (capt), A Wilson.