Westmeath will attempt to pick up the pieces after last Sunday's shattering loss to Dublin when they return to training tonight. The Lake County's 27-point defeat was their heaviest in the Leinster SFC in nearly 120 years, and morale is bound to be at an all-time low as they turn their attention to the second round of the All-Ireland qualifiers on July 11. Manager Tomas O Flatharta must decide whether to keep faith with many of the players who have served Westmeath so well since the turn of the millennium but are now a pale shadow of their former selves, or to give the younger members of the squad their chance for could conceivably be his last game in charge of the team. It was interesting to note that Westmeath's two best performers last Sunday were under 21s John Connellan and Conor Lynam, who scored 0-7 between them from play. The reaction in the midlands to what O Flatharta aptly described as a 'horror show' has been one of shock and disbelief. Supporters have been asking themselves how a team that came close to beating Dublin in the corresponding game last year have regressed so much in 12 months. But there has also been a realisation that the current team has past its sell-by date and a major rebuilding job awaits whoever is manager next year. Meanwhile, Dublin wing forward Paul Flynn has told Westmeath to keep the faith after last Sunday's chastening experience. "It was one of those games for them," he said. "Last season, they put it up to us. I know they're not doing as well as last season but they don't turn into a bad team overnight." Tweet

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