Westmeath welcome back Flanagan

Gaelic Games/Round up: After missing the most successful year in Westmeath football history, the highly-rated Martin Flanagan rejoins Páidí Ó Sé's panel this evening to provide a ray of light in a pre-season already littered with injuries and absenteeism.

Flanagan did make a tentative return to football last year after an ankle operation only for the other ankle to buckle under the strain. With that in mind, the management are not taking his availability for granted ahead of Sunday's national league opener against Offaly in Tullamore.

"He has been out for a while with disappointments and frustrations, through injury, so we will just try and get him fit first," said team trainer Tomás Ó Flatharta. "The ankle is a serious operation and he hasn't been playing at all so we will just try them out first. Hopefully the ankles will stand up to the pressure."

Regarding any previous disagreements Flanagan may have had with the Westmeath management, Ó Flatharta was adamant that was in the past: "We are just moving forward now".

Flanagan is expected to play for his club Tyrellspass before turning out for the Lakes County. Yet, his return is a massive lift considering Brian Morley and Fergal Wilson have opted out.

Also, 2005 captain David O'Shaughnessy is at least six weeks away from playing after an Achilles tendon problem. Damien Healy is expected back by March 1st after a "small operation" on his kneecap.

It gets worse though, as Gary Dolan has just had a cast removed from his leg (six weeks off full training), while Paul Conway may not make it back at all this year after undergoing operations on both shoulders.

Limerick football is suffering a similar plight with John Galvin, Stephen Lucey, Jason Stokes and Séamus O'Donnell all out injured ahead of their league opener against Laois.

Stephen Kelly has already withdrawn from the panel for personal reasons, while Eoin Keating and Conor Fitzgerald are still injured.

At least captain Muiris Gavin is back training with the McGrath Cup champions after his honeymoon.

Meanwhile, Derry manager Mickey Moran has jumped to the defence of midfielder Patsy Bradley after he was shown a straight red card at the end of Sunday's victory over Fermanagh. Bradley allegedly head-butted an opponent but Derry officials intend to appeal such a charge if mentioned in the referee's report.

He may have a lifeline as Down official Colm Broderick consulted the linesman before sending him off.

"Patsy Bradley would never, ever stick a head in anybody," said Moran. "He'll stand up and be counted, physically, shoulder to shoulder, but he's not that type of player. That's why I'm so disappointed.

"He's a genuine young fellow that commits his whole life to football, doesn't smoke, doesn't drink and looks after himself 100 per cent. He's absolutely a real role model."