Last weekend saw no fewer than three Westmeath clubs in action in the Leinster club championship but unfortunately all three came up against better opposition and duly bowed out of contention.
Senior hurling champs Clonkill were the main focus of attention as they took on Laois champions Rathdowney/Errill in wet and windy Portlaoise last sunday. The Westmeath men were installed as warm favourites but Rathdowney/Errill showed greater hunger in the final quarter to eke out a win.
The Westmeath champs struggled to turn possession into scores in the opening half and trailed 0-7 to 0-4 at the break. An improved showing after half time saw them wipe out their deficit and take the lead with 20 minutes remaining.
With the game in the balance it was the O’Moore men who got the vital break when John Purcell found the net to put the home team in the driving seat. That proved to be the decisive score as Clonkill were unable to close the gap thereafter and went down by three points on a final score of 1-12 to 0-12.
Na Fianna 1-13
Castletown/F/C/W 1-07
Westmeath intermediate football champions Castletown/Finea/Coole/Whitehall had their hopes of reaching the provincial semi-final dashed by a stronger and more clinical Na Fianna side last Sunday. Fielding without Niall Kilcoyne, who recently emigrated, was a big blow to the home side who battled bravely against better opposition.
Rathmoylan 3-13
Crookedwood 2-04
Meath representatives Rathmoylan had far too much firepower for a disappointing Crookedwood in this Leinster junior club championship encounter. The Westmeath intermediate champions finished with 14 men but even with a full complement were no match for the Meath men on a disappointing weekend for Westmeath teams all round.
