IT MAY only be the last Sunday in February but already the Carlow hurlers face what could be a season defining match when Kevin Ryan's charges host Westmeath in Dr Cullen Park next week-end.

Following their narrow defeat in Belfast last Sunday and with the division's big guns of Clare and Wexford yet empty their artillery on Carlow, the points from this vital Westmeath game could well decide which of the two wannabe hurling counties will vie with Laois for third place.

Carlow were delighted to finish fourth last season and their ambition is, at the very least to emulate that feat. Already Antrim have avenged their 2009 defeat in Dr Cullen Park and now Westmeath, under the new manager Kevin Martin, the former Offaly All-Ireland hurler, set their sights on the red, yellow and green who in recent times have beaten Westmeath in both the 2008 Ring Cup final and last seasons NHL in Mullingar.

Westmeath faced a difficult first task last Sunday, hosting Wexford in Mullingar and while the purple and gold's 1-20 to 0-14 victory was expected, a late Jim Berry goal puffed up the margin to flattering proportions.

Mind you, Westmeath ran Wexford to two points in Wexford Park last season while Carlow's visit Slaneyside ended in a bit of a trimming though again the margin might not have reflected the exchanges.

Westmeath's usual suspects were to the fore again last week, terrific centre half back Andrew Mitchell trumping his defensive play with a fistful of points from long range placed balls while Brendan Murtagh, though, unusually for him, failing to score from play was, as ever, a menace.

Westmeath manager Kevin Martin, who as player manager steered Tullamore to a shock Offaly SHC title last Winter, then to a Leinster final appearance, stated before a ball was pucked in the NHL that "I've been appointed to try and get Westmeath up to the standard of the likes of Offaly. I've no doubt in my mind that if the boys listen to what I want them to do and train hard we can get to that level. The hurlers are there and it is a matter of gelling them together".

Carlow and Westmeath know each other well, have been neck and neck in the race for hurling respectability, both winning a brace of Ring Cups, both working hard to establish themselves as a Tier One county.

That's why Sunday's match is so important, it gives the winner a real confidence booster for the difficult battles that lie ahead.

These Carlow hurlers are always up for a battle, you could never ever fault their work-rate but as was seen in Casement Park last Sunday, an extra bit of craft needs to be added to the graft.

Playing high tempo games in this Division will help fast-track the attainment of that craft and that's yet another reason why Sunday is a must-win game; make no mistake, should Carlow, considering the strength of the opposition down the line, drop two more points the spectre of relegation to Div 3 could begin to loom .

Carlow, though, proved last Sunday that they can mix it with the division's favourites and were unlucky not to beat Antrim, a Liam MacCarthy county with lofty ambitions of their own.

There is a lot of hurling to be done yet but a win on Sunday would make that hurling far more enjoyable for eager-beaver Carlow.

- Leo McGough