A cruel 2014 at inter-county level for Westmeath concluded without a competitive win so new manager Tom Cribbin will be hoping to make an impact in the new year. Westmeath face three games in the Bord Na Mona O’Byrne Cup before the Allianz Football League clicks into gear.
Having suffered in the bear-pit that constitutes the top flight, Westmeath will be seeking better performances and results in Division Two. The fact that Westmeath’s first two encounters against Laois and Galway will be staged at Cusack Park, Mullingar ensures the Midlanders can make a positive start. It will be needed because trips to Kildare, Meath, and Cavan promise to be revealing. How Westmeath cope in those fixtures will be monitored with interest ahead of the Leinster Senior Football Championship opener on May 17 away to Louth.
When the teams last collided a late Louth burst flattened a Westmeath outfit miserably low on confidence in Mullingar. That Drogheda clash has a defining cut to it so Cribbin will be keen to utilise the 10 matches before then in the Bord Na Mona O’Byrne Cup and Allianz Football League. In a little under a month the action recommences.
Dates for the diary
Bord na Mona O’Byrne Cup Group C
Sunday January 4
Westmeath v Meath
Wednesday January 7
Westmeath v DCU
Sunday January 11
Longford v Westmeath
Allianz Football League Division Two
Sunday February 1
Westmeath v Laois
Sunday February 8
Westmeath v Galway
Sunday March 1
Kildare v Westmeath
Saturday March 7
Meath v Westmeath
Sunday March 15
Westmeath v Down
Saturday March 28
Cavan v Westmeath
Sunday April 5
Westmeath v Roscommon
Leinster Senior Football Championship
Sunday May 17
Louth v Westmeath
Sunday June 14
Louth/Westmeath v Wexford
Sunday June 28
Louth/Westmeath/Wexford v Wicklow/Meath
Sunday July 12
Leinster Football Final
Hurling
With Raharney’s stirring Leinster Club Championship campaign providing an injection of hope, Westmeath’s hurlers will be anxious to improve further next year under Michael Ryan’s stewardship.
The former Waterford boss has put a decent backroom team together so Westmeath will want to impress in Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League. The January Walsh Cup tussles at home to Offaly and Galway will be an ideal testing ground for Ryan, who will work diligently in the spring to ensure Westmeath are primed for the Leinster Championship round robin series in May.
Dates for the diary
Bord na Mona O’Byrne Cup Group 4
Sunday January 11
Westmeath v Offaly
Sunday January 18
Westmeath v Galway
Allianz Hurling League Division 2A
Sunday February 15
Westmeath v London
Sunday February 22
Derry v Westmeath
Sunday March 8
Kerry v Westmeath
Sunday March 15
Westmeath v Wicklow
Sunday March 22
Westmeath v Carlow
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Sunday May 3
Westmeath v Carlow
Sunday May 10
Westmeath v Antrim
Sunday May 24
Laois v Westmeath
