The final pieces of the jigsaw for the knockout stages of the Westmeath senior football championship will fall into place this weekend with the final round of group games down for decision. Garrycastle and St Loman’s have already secured the automatic semi-final spots while Tyrrellspass and Mullingar Shamrocks are already assured of a quarter-final berth. Meanwhile at the other end of the spectrum Athlone and Tubberclair have been consigned to a relegation play-off having finished bottom of the table.
The real battle this weekend is for third spot in each group which will ensure a place in the last eight. In group one Castledaly and Killucan both currently sit on four points but if results go as expected it will be the men from the south of the county who will progress.
In group two Maryland and The Downs are both on four points but with Maryland up against in-form Garrycastle and The Downs pitted against out-of-form Athlone one would have to fancy The Downs to advance.
The action gets underway with the meeting of Castledaly and St Malachy’s in Moate at 7pm on Friday evening. Graham Geraghty’s men have their destiny in their own hands knowing that a win here will secure their place in the last eight. Despite the number of notable long term absentees they will be encouraged by their last two winning performances and are unlikely to let an opportunity like this slip.
On Saturday in Tang at 5.30pm St Loman’s and Tubberclair meet in Tang in a dead rubber game. While Tubberclair will be priming themselves for their upcoming battle with Athlone it is difficult to see anything but a win for the Mullingar men here.
In the second game fixed for Tang on Saturday evening, Athlone will be hoping to get our first win of the campaign against The Downs. The black and ambers however need to win to secure their place in the quarter finals so are unlikely to be in generous form. Our eyes are now firmly set on Tubberclair so while the result here matters little we will be looking for a much improved performance.
Mullingar Shamrocks should continue their winning run when they take on Bunbrosna in Cusack Park on Saturday at 7pm. Ray Smyth’s men’s only game to lose so far has been against the reigning champions but they will need to improve significantly if they are to have any hope of lifting silverware this year.
On Sunday Tyrrellspass and Killucan meet in Cusack Park at 7pm. The outcome of the Castledaly game on Friday evening will have a bearing on this fixture as Killucan will have nothing to play for should Castledaly win. I expect the men from the Tidy Village to edge a tight affair.
The final action of the weekend is the meeting of Garrycastle and Maryland in Moate on Sunday at 7pm. It is almost impossible to see anything but a win for Anthony Cunningham’s men here.
