If Carlsberg did league fixtures they couldn’t have organised it any better than the way this year’s final round of league games has panned out. There will be plenty of excitement and drama up and down the country this weekend as the final pieces in the promotion/relegation jigsaw are put together. Cusack Park, Mullingar will host the mouth-watering clash of old rivals Westmeath and Offaly in what is essentially a winner takes all contest. Whichever side wins gains promotion to division two, though a draw would also suffice for Offaly.
Dublin and Mayo are the only two teams in the top three divisions for whom the outcome of this weekend’s games makes no difference. Table-toppers Roscommon are in the same boat in division four as they have already secured promotion.
Few people would have expected Pat Flanagan’s men to be in the hunt for promotion after they lost the two opening round games. However a combination of two hard-earned wins in their last two outings and favourable results elsewhere have provided them with a great opportunity to secure promotion.
Every cloud has a silver lining and Pat Flanagan has admitted that the u21s’ surprise exit at the hands of Longford did help the senior cause. Seven of the u21s are on the senior panel and Ger Egan and Conor Lynam will have a big role to play for the senior side this year. Both were excellent in last weekend’s win over Limerick in Newcastlewest and were unlikely to have played had the u21s remained in contention.
All teams in division three have something to play for as only four points separate the lot of them. Wexford and Offaly are currently on eight points with Westmeath on seven. Louth and Tipperary are both on six points, Cavan on five points, and Limerick and Waterford lie on four points.
In recent years the Lake County have held the upper hand over our neighbours though a more medium to long term review would see Offaly very much in the ascendancy. That won’t count for much when the ball is thrown in on Sunday except that Offaly will not fear coming to Cusack Park.
As well as featuring a number of u21s seeking to avenge their quarter-final defeat in Athlone, the Faithful County will be looking to evergreen Ciaran McManus to put in a performance at midfield. Westmeath’s problems in midfield have been well documented but Brendan Murtagh and in particular Denis Corroon impressed in Newcastlewest. A repeat performance will be needed from the pair this Sunday if we are to come out on top.
Dessie Dolan again led by example against Limerick scoring six points while Lynam, Sharry, and Corroon each chipped in with a brace of points.
I still feel Denis Glennon would be better utilised playing in a more forward role. Scores win matches and no better man than Denis to get them if he is played closer to goal. I would be inclined to isolate him in the full forward line and feed quick ball to him in space. No full back would fancy marking him. He is no threat out at midfield though, no matter how much he is on the ball.
Not to mention the obvious benefits that come from playing in division two, promotion would also provide a timely morale booster to all the football folk in the county. Support for the team has dwindled significantly in the past three years with only the diehards making the journey to Newcastlewest.
Fifteen straight league defeats saw people’s interest in the county team wane. The underachievement of the u21s in the past two years hasn’t helped things either. However Pat Flanagan and his selectors seem to have turned the corner and with so much at stake a big turnout is expected on Sunday.
So who is going to win? I felt before last weekend that if Westmeath were to lose to Limerick they would also struggle against Offaly. However the confidence gleaned from beating Limerick in their own backyard cannot be underestimated. Offaly also come into the game after a win away to Waterford but I feel Westmeath are on an upward curve and that will continue on Sunday.
Like all derby games it will be tight in the finish but I expect the home side to have two or three points to spare.
