Search Results for 'Shane Mulvihill'

I don’t think Paddy Power has as yet offered outright odds on the Westmeath senior football championship but even if he had he would probably be paying out on Garrycastle at this stage. I felt Mullingar Shamrocks were the only side capable of stopping Anthony Cunningham’s men from completing the hat-trick. Last weekend however the reigning champions had little difficulty in seeing off the rather tame challenge of an underwhelming Shamrocks side. That they did this without the services of Dessie Dolan, Paul Dillon, and Shane Mulvihill up front is all the more noteworthy. While the sides could yet contest the decider it is difficult to see how Shamrocks could reverse the result.

After a break of almost two months the Westmeath football championship springs back into action this weekend with a full set of third round games down for decision. In recent years we have seen a number of teams struggle to maintain form after the extended break while others come back with all guns blazing. With the big guns on both sides of the draw set to go head to head, it is at the bottom of the table where the most intriguing clashes will take place.

Garrycastle v Kilmacud Crokes (Sunday, 2.30pm, Parnell Park, TG4 4pm)

Last weekend saw winning performances from the green and red of both Garrycastle and St Brigid’s in their respective provincial campaigns. The Roscommon champions booked their place in this year’s provincial decider thanks to their hard fought win over a gutsy Glencar-Manorhamilton (Leitrim) side. Garrycastle too had to work hard to forage a win in Cusack Park against Louth’s Mattock Rangers.

It is better to nearly drown than to nearly be saved. Garrycastle footballers will well understand the meaning of this cliché following their lucky escape against Longford Slashers in Cusack Park last Sunday. Last year’s beaten provincial club champions were expected to clear the first hurdle in this year’s Leinster club campaign with a bit to spare but in the end were glad to have kept their heads above water.

Westmeath SFC final (Sunday 3.30pm, Cusack Park)

Mullingar Shamrocks and reigning champions Garrycastle are this week preparing for an intriguing county final clash on October 3. Shamrocks proved too strong for The Downs in the first of the two semi-finals played in Cusack Park last Sunday. Garrycastle’s ability to score goals proved decisive in the second game as they overcame Killucan on a scoreline of 3-12 to 1-13 in a proverbial game of two halves.

This weekend is a big one for eight teamsfrom both sides of the Shannon as the semi-finals of the Westmeath and Roscommon SFC are down for decision. On the Leinster side Garrycastle and Mullingar Shamrocks will be many people’s idea of the most likely candidates to progress to the county final at the expense of Killucan and The Downs respectively. Across the bridge St Faithleach’s and Elphin will be hoping to upset the odds against their fancied opponents St Brigid’s and Castlerea.

Hogan Park, Moate, is the place to be this Saturday evening at 6.30pm as Athlone and Garrycastle lock horns for the right to progress to the last four. Garrycastle, the reigning champions, will not want to relinquish their title easily, least of all to their neighbours Athlone.

Dublin 5-22