It may be only April but the Westmeath senior and intermediate football championships kick into action this weekend with a full list of games down for decision. With an earlier than usual start, this year’s championship has crept up on us almost unnoticed.
A lot of hard work has been done on the training fields around the county since early January. Even though four rounds of the league have been played, everyone knows that championship football is different, and Sunday’s games will give a good indication of who the likely contenders for this year’s Flanagan Cup are.
Incidentally, I, like most players am delighted that a full list of championship dates has been published this year.
The first round of games takes place this weekend, while the second round is down for decision on the weekend of May 24. The third round is scheduled for the weekend of the 18/19 July with the final two rounds of group games pencilled in for August. This allows players to plan out their summer, presuming that the county board stick to these dates, and is a welcome improvement.
Reigning champions Castledaly will find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they set out to defend their county title for the first time in their history. Last year they appeared to be going no-where before finding serious form when it mattered most. They will be keen to show that last year’s success was no flash in the pan but are up there now to be knocked. They take on Killucan on Sunday evening in Cusack Park at 6.30pm and though it will be close, the reigning champions should make a winning start to their title defence.
Garrycastle, last year’s runners up, will be fancied by many to go all the way this year under the guidance of former St Brigid’s manager Anthony Cunningham. Even without the injured Gary Dolan, and now with Dessie back in action, they can be expected to account for Mullingar Shamrocks when the sides clash in Cusack Park on Saturday at 5pm.
Tyrrellspass, another team that will be high up on many people’s list of potential winners, should collect two points when they meet St Loman’s in Cusack Park on Saturday at 6.30pm. St Loman’s have been below par so far this season and even though Tyrrellspass are without a number of regulars they should be too strong.
Athlone, with Brendan Clarke at the helm, will be keen to get off to a winning start against St Malachy’s on Sunday in Moate at 1.30pm. Athlone will wear the favourites’ tag but we also will be taking nothing for granted having lost the first round for the past two years. With the dressing room like a scene from ER over the past few weeks, we will be hoping that the likes of Dermot Bannnon, Tom Stuart Trainor, Mickey Greene, and Gary Quinn will be back on board. Malachy’s will be without the injured Alan Mangan but will be still out to cause an upset.
The second game in the double header in Moate on Sunday is the clash of Bunbrosna and Maryland. This is one of the most interesting clashes of the opening round with history between these two sides going back to their intermediate days. Both sides will be seen as likely candidates for relegation so will be more than anxious to get off to a winning start.
Bunbrosna will field without the Newmans and Padraig Walsh who are away travelling, but their experience over the past two years might be enough to see them through in what promises to be a close encounter.
The final game in the opening round is the derby clash of Coralstown/Kinnegad and the Downs. Kinnegad have set out their stall early with some good league performances and look the most likely winners but in such a game I wouldn’t rule out a draw.
Hurlers finish league campaign with rare win over Laois.
In a game that mattered little in reality, Westmeath’s hurlers recorded their first competitive win over Laois since 1949. Westmeath can now focus firmly on regaining the Christy Ring Cup.
Minor Footballers get off to a winning start.
Our minor footballers had nine points to spare over Carlow last weekend with an impressive 1-15 to 1-6 win. This comfortable win sets up a quarter-final clash away to Meath on May 23. While a win is all that mattered, Ger Heavin’s young charges will be aware that an improvement will be needed to get the better of the Royals in a month’s time.
