Search Results for 'David Duffy'

Westmeath 3-15

(Westmeath v Carlow, Cusack Park, Sunday, 3.30pm)

Derry were deservingly crowned Division 2 champions at the end of a highly entertaining game in which the final scoreline is more than a little flattering to The Oak Leaf county. The sides were level going into injury time and Pat Flanagan’s men were live contenders to collect their fourth ever division 2 title but it was Derry who hit 1-3 without reply to seal matters.

All roads lead to Croke Park this Sunday as Westmeath square up to Derry in the division 2 league final at 2pm. Dublin take on Tyrone in the division 1 final at 4pm but Lake County supporters will be hoping to be celebrating a fourth division 2 title at that stage.

Derry 2-17

What a difference a year makes. Hard to believe that a little over a year ago there were strong fears throughout the county that Westmeath were in real danger of dropping to division 3. Pat Flanagan’s belief in his side proved well founded as they recorded wins over Galway, Monaghan, and Derry to retain their place in division 2 against the odds.

Westmeath’s hurlers and footballers will be hoping to make the most of home advantage as they prepare for tough challenges from Derry and Laois respectively. The hurlers get the action under way at 12.45pm when they will be looking to collect their first points of the campaign having lost the opening round against Kerry.

Lightning isn’t supposed to strike twice but unfortunately for Westmeath footballers their dismal showing in Wexford was repeated in Casement Park last Saturday as they were put to the sword by an Antrim side.

Leaving Wexford Park after the debacle which condemned Westmeath to the qualifiers it was hard to be optimistic of our chances regardless of whom we would be pitted against in the qualifiers. The consensus was that no other county would mind playing us.

Westmeath learned their opposition for their upcoming Leinster quarter-final when Wexford easily brushed aside the challenge of Offaly in Tullamore last Saturday. I fancied Offaly to prevail on home turf but in truth they were no match for a much slicker and sharper Wexford outfit. Westmeath must now make the long journey to Wexford Park for a 5pm throw-in (the powers that be must think nobody works on a Saturday) and the game will be followed by the meeting of Kilkenny and Wexford in the Leinster hurling semi-final.