Westmeath manager Brendan Lowry yesterday confirmed that three of the county's most promising under-21 players were pulled from Westmeath's clash with Carlow on Sunday. The decision took place after consultation with the under-21 management team and the players themselves.

Lowry had expressed his disappointment that the under-21 final, between Kerry and Westmeath, was fixed for Saturday, just six days after Westmeath's senior championship game against Carlow.

"Well, they were selected on the Monday and we talked to the players concerned and the management team. There were different things involved and, while we weren't treating Carlow in any way lightly, we felt we had enough talent to overcome them without the under-21's," said Lowry.

"I don't know whether people think it was a good decision or not, but it's the one we made. Our priority was to beat Carlow and thankfully we did, albeit in difficult circumstances, and now we have two weeks to regroup before our next outing."

He said that the under-21 players concerned - David O'Shaughnessy, Aidan Canning and Des Dolan - were kept informed. "We wanted to give them every chance on Saturday. As it happened, there was every possibility that one of them could have been sent off in that game against Carlow and got a month, which would have been a really hard thing on them."

Asked why the three were named in the official programme to begin with, it was pointed out by a number of Westmeath officials that to be seen to have chosen a weakened team could only have further motivated their opponents.

"This way, we didn't divulge anything about the team and there was no added incentive," said Lowry.

He felt that his hand had been forced somewhat by the fixtures schedule.

"I feel that the council just didn't feel that the likes of Westmeath or Longford or Carlow were capable of qualifying for an All-Ireland under21 final, but this just shows that counties like ourselves can be a force."

Galway will almost certainly be without defender Pauric Kelly for Sunday's hurling league final against Tipperary in Cusack Park, Ennis. Kelly picked up an ankle injury last Thursday evening and is almost certain to miss the match along with Vinny Maher, who has been on the casualty list for some time. Galway are scheduled to announce their team tomorrow, while Nicky English is also expected to choose his side after training. Wing forward John Leahy remains sidelined with a groin strain, while Paul Ormonde is still recuperating from a broken arm.

Meanwhile, Jason Sherlock will probably learn of his fate at the next GAC meeting tomorrow week (May 19th). The Dublin attacker was dismissed just six minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute against Cork in Sunday's NFL Church and General final in Parc Ui Chaoimh.

He became embroiled in an ongoing tussle with his marker Anthony Lynch almost immediately and was sent to the line after an incident which left the Cork defender lying on the ground. Referee Brian White confirmed afterwards that Sherlock's dismissal directly related to that incident. If Sherlock receives the mandatory suspension of one month, he will become eligible for selection again on the eve of Dublin's first championship outing against Louth.

"A month would leave him available for that yes, but he would obviously miss out on competitive club games in the meantime, so it's not an ideal situation for him," offered Dublin manager Tommy Carr yesterday. Sherlock's red card was generally regarded as the only worthwhile talking point of a drab final, especially as it runs against Sherlock's previously impeccable record.

"Well, I think everyone knows that this is not in Jason's character," said Carr. "I spoke to him yesterday after the game and he was understandably very remorseful."