Antrim manager Kevin Ryan is looking no further than this Sunday's Leinster SHC preliminary clash with Westmeath in Mullingar.

Expectation is high in the Ulster county that they will safely negotiate this weekend's hurdle but Ryan remembers what happened when the two sides last met in the championship.

12 months ago, Westmeath scored a 0-14 to 0-12 victory over the Saffrons at the same stage.

"Westmeath beat them last year. But everyone seems to be talking about other matches," Ryan explained to Gaelic Life.

"This is our first championship outing together. It will be testing."

Ryan also pointed out that Antrim will be minus the services of players such as Liam Watson, Michael Herron, Brian McFall and Darren Hamill this time around.

Simon McCrory, Collie McFall and Paul Shiels are also injury concerns.

"Antrim probably had a stronger panel last year, and there were a lot of different players."

Ryan says he will give Westmeath the respect they deserve.

"I think it will be very tight, Westmeath will be smarting quite a bit after they missed out on getting promotion.

"But there is not much between the teams at the top of division 2A and the likes of Carlow and Antrim. They will be well prepared for us." Tweet

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