RONAN FAGAN
Westmeath senior footballers will be hoping for an extended run in this year’s Leinster championship following the provincial draw which took place on Tuesday morning.
As per the All Ireland senior football championship 2020, there is no ‘backdoor option’ for those counties suffering defeat in their first provincial outings - and with Laois to provide quarter final opposition, there is a real prospect that a place in the final four of the Leinster championship can be achieved.
Both counties will look towards that quarter final clash with optimism - Westmeath comfortably disposed of Laois when the teams clashed in an Allianz National League Division 2 encounter in October.
Their previous Leinster senior football championship encounter occurred in 2019 when Laois emerged victorious by two points in what was, on the whole, a dour contest.
The semi-final draws take place after the quarter-finals are decided.
The opening round of games will take place on the weekend of June 26/27 with the quarter-finals scheduled for July 3/4 or July 10/11.
The Leinster final is down for decision on July 31 or August 1.
County senior squads return to collective training
Westmeath senior football and hurling squads have now returned to collective training as both panels aim to forge a successful season on their respective fields of play.
The Lake County hurlers return to competitive action in the Allianz National Hurling League on the weekend of May 8/9 and will continue without interruption until Sunday, June 13.
Westmeath will face the five major hurling powers on successive weekends in a series of high profile matches - unprecedented competitive action not previously witnessed in the county.
Based on last year’s schedule Westmeath will play Galway (home ), Waterford (away ), Cork (away ), Tipperary and Limerick (home ).
The Allianz National Football League commences on the weekend of May 15/16. Westmeath’s opening matches in Division 2 North will be against last year’s relegated teams from Division 1, Meath (away ) and Mayo (home ), with the final match in the division against Down. These matches are also played on successive weekends.
Movathon Challenge draw winners
The Lake County Movathon challenge has drawn to a conclusion although the GoFundMe page will remain open until the end of the month to facilitate those wishing to make a late donation.
The success of the venture has been well documented, and the contributions have now reached an incredible €143,000 and the organising committee acknowledge and thank the wonderful support given by the Westmeath GAA community at home and abroad.
The following are the winners of the participants’ draw.
•Three month membership (for two ) in Wolfhound Fitness donated by Joe and Katie Nangle: Dean Egerton, The Downs.
•Training day with Jack Cooney and Management Team: MTB Autos (contributed on behalf of Garrycastle GAA Club ).
•Pair of All-Ireland Hurling Final tickets: John Malone, Symcom Group UK.
•Pair of All-Ireland Football Final tickets: Aine Higgins, Raharney Hurling Club.
•Pair of All-Ireland Ladies Football Final tickets: Ken Eades, St Loman’s.
•Pair of All-Ireland Camogie Final tickets: Harry Dawson.
•Two Passes to Westmeath GAA Club Championship Games: Paula Weir, Raharney Camogie Club.
•Two Passes to Westmeath GAA Club Championship Games: Kevin and Denise Muldoon, Clonkill.
•Signed Westmeath Camogie Jersey: Clonkill GAA Club.
•Signed Westmeath Ladies Football Jersey: C. Moore.
•Signed Westmeath Hurling Jersey: Declan Weir, Raharney.
•Signed Westmeath Football Jersey: Moore Family, New York and Mullingar.
•Tickets and Passes are for 2021 if attendances are permitted - if not, they will be for 2022.
The scrutinisers are working on the results of the Sliotar Challenge (set of jerseys ) and the Dawn-to-Dusk Easter weekend challenge (set of training tops ) and the results will be available during the week.
