Garrycastle to face Slashers again if they can down Shamrocks

This year's Westmeath senior football champions will meet their Longford counterparts in the Leinster club championship for the third year in a row. Garrycastle - the Westmeath senior champions for the past two years - managed to get the better of their Longford opponents in 2009 and 2010, but they were both tight battles. In 2009, extra-time was required as Garrycastle eventually overcame Clonguish on a 1-14 to 0-15 scoreline, in what was a dramatic clash at Pearse Park. Garrycastle went on to reach the 2009 Leinster final, where they were defeated by Portlaoise. Last year, only one point separated Garrycastle and Longford Slashers in a first round tie, with the Westmeath side coming through by 0-13 to 1-9. This year's Westmeath SFC final between holders Garrycastle and last year's defeated finalists Mullingar Shamrocks will take place on Sunday, October 2. The Longford decider has already been played with Longford Slashers edging out old rivals Clonguish (0-7 to 0-6) to retain their crown last Sunday week. That victory for Slashers sets up a possible Leinster championship rematch with Garrycastle but Mullingar Shamrocks will have other ideas - as Ray Smyth's charges attempt to prevent the Athlone side from completing a coveted three-in-a-row. The clash between the Westmeath champions and Longford Slashers is scheduled for October 23, with the Lake County representatives having home advantage. The winners will advance to the semi-finals, where they will meet either the Kildare, Offaly or Carlow champions. Meanwhile, in the Leinster Club SHC, the Westmeath champions have been drawn at home to the Dublin representatives, with the winners taking on the Offaly standard-bearers. In last year's championship, Raharney hurlers pulled off a famous victory over Offaly champions Coolderry (0-17 to 0-14). They were subsequently eliminated by Oulart-the-Ballagh of Wexford (4-11 to 4-9), in a game remembered for the dense fog which enveloped Cusack Park. Interestingly, considerable doubts have been raised about whether Dublin will have their football and hurling championships completed in time to take part in this year's Leinster competitions. With Dublin's county teams reaching four mainstream All-Ireland finals this year (senior and minor football, minor and U21 hurling) - in addition to the senior hurlers' progression to the All-Ireland semi-finals - the Dublin championships are running well behind schedule. Garrycastle's Leinster title ambitions were ended by Dublin opposition last year, eventual winners Kilmacud Crokes. Meanwhile, this year's Westmeath intermediate football champions (Coralstown/Kinnegad or Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall) will meet Longford opposition (Ballymore or Killashee) in Leinster. The Westmeath intermediate hurling champions are taking part in the Leinster Club JHC, where they will also face Longford opposition (in the form of the county's senior champions). This year's Westmeath junior football champions have been drawn away to the Wexford winners. NOTE The Leinster Club JHC consists of the following: the intermediate champions of Laois, Offaly, Dublin, Wicklow, Westmeath, Kildare, Meath and Carlow; the senior champions of Longford and Louth; and the junior champions of Kilkenny and Wexford.