Search Results for 'Gary Connaughton'

Fermanagh 1-13 Westmeath 0-7

Down strolled to an emphatic 2-17 to 0-10 Allianz Football League Division Two success over Westmeath at Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday.

Saturday night in Pairc Tailteann will be Westmeath’s next Allianz Football League Division Two examination, but Tom Cribben’s side will make the short journey to Navan encouraged by last Sunday’s stirring win over Kildare.

With Kildare and Westmeath already relegated from Division 1 of the Allianz Football League, Sunday’s last group match is a chance for Paul Bealin’s team to avoid a seventh straight loss in the competition.

One of Westmeath’s most recognisable and experienced players, Gary Connaughton, has decided to call time on his inter-county career after over a decade as Westmeath number one. The affable Tubberclair man leaves a huge void, literally and metaphorically.

Disappointment and dismay were the order of the day as Westmeath hurlers and footballers both tasted their last bit of action in this year’s all-Ireland championships last Saturday. Whatever about our hurlers who were punching above their weight, general expectation was that our footballers would have enough in the tank to be included in the draw for the next round of the qualifiers which took place last Monday morning.

The HSE Community Games May National Festival took place in AIT last weekend with almost 4,000 children participating in a wide range of activities from debating to swimming, gymnastics to indoor soccer, art to rugby.

Westmeath make the long and difficult trip to Celtic Park, Derry this Sunday safe in the knowledge that losing their unbeaten tag is about all that is at stake. With promotion secured and given that it is very likely the same teams that will be contesting the division 2 final on April 28 it is not surprising that Pat Flanagan has opted to rest many of his regulars.

A gutsy 0-16 to 2-9 opening round win over Louth last Sunday was the perfect start to the new season for Pat Flanagan’s side who look well placed to collect another valuable brace of league points when they make the short journey to Pearse Park, Longford this Sunday.

It is surely a case of nothing to lose and everything to gain as Westmeath welcome Kerry to Cusack Park on Sunday for round two of the all-Ireland qualifiers. Nobody, diehards included, are giving Pat Flanagan’s men a chance and the consensus is that it is only a matter of by how much will the Kingdom reign supreme.