Flanagan"s return to club action boosts Westmeath

WESTMEATH senior football manager Tomás Ó Flatharta received a major boost last Monday night when Martin Flanagan returned to action for his club Tyrrellspass in their SFC clash against St Malachy"s. The 33 year-old, plagued by ankle problems for some time, played a key role as Tyrrellspass defeated St Malachy"s 1-3 to 0-11, with Flanagan notching 1-2. Rotating between midfield and full-forward during the game, Flanagan and inter-county team-mate Denis Glennon did most the damage, registering 1-8 between them. Flanagan just recently returned to training with the Westmeath panel and supporters of the county team will have fingers crossed he stays fit in the build-up to Westmeath"s Leinster SFC quarter-final against Wicklow in Tullamore on Sunday, June 14. Elsewhere, David O"Shaughnessy was sent off on two yellow cards in Garrycastle"s 2-9 to 1-5 victory over last year"s intermediate and "Celebrity Bainisteoir" champions Maryland (see report on page 39). Like Flanagan, the big midfielder has endured a long injury lay-off, although he was in action in Garrycastle"s opening round draw against Mullingar Shamrocks. Dessie Dolan was a notable absentee from the Garrycastle team due to a knee injury, but is expected to be fit for the meeting with Mick O"Dwyer"s side in Tullamore. Damien Healy, meanwhile, returned to the colours of St Mary"s, Rochfortbridge, in last weekend"s defeat of neighbours Milltownpass in Moate, coming on as a first-half substitute. Earlier this month Healy returned from travelling in Australia and has made himself available again for the Westmeath cause. Healy transferred to Galway club Salthill/Knocknacarra a few years ago, but he"s now back with his native club. The fact that Flanagan, O"Shaughnessy and Healy have got "game time" under their belts will be welcomed by Ó Flatharta as preparations begin in earnest for the forthcoming clash against Wicklow. Athlone"s Alan Gaughan has also received a call-up to the senior panel. The Buccaneers rugby star featured as a substitute in Westmeath"s Leinster Under-21 semi-final against Dublin and also returned to the Athlone side which beat Coralstown/Kinnegad last weekend. Gaughan"s return to Gaelic football comes following the recent completion of Buccaneers" All-Ireland League campaign. Last weekend, Westmeath learned that Wicklow will be their opponents in the Leinster SFC quarter-finals, after Mick O"Dwyer"s men saw off Longford by 2-12 to 1-13. A late Paul Earls goal secured victory for Wicklow against Longford on Sunday, just as it looked to be slipping away from the Garden County. Wicklow had established a seven-point lead entering the final quarter but a goal and four points without reply from Longford brought the sides level with just five minutes remaining. However, good combination play by Seanie Furlong and Paul Earls eventually brought about a winning goal for Wicklow in the closing stages to set up a quarter-final meeting with Westmeath. Meanwhile, in addition to the victories for Tyrrellspass and Garrycastle in the SFC last Monday night, Mullingar Shamrocks dished out a 1-15 to 0-3 hammering to Killucan. Killucan surprised county champions Castledaly in the opening round, but they were brought crashing down to earth by Shamrocks, for whom Cian O"Leary scored 1-2. The margin of the victory means Shamrocks jump ahead of Garrycastle in the Division 1A table, by virtue of superior scoring difference. Both sides have three points on the board. In Division 1B, Athlone are on top, just ahead of Tyrrellspass, also on scoring difference, with both sides having two wins from two thus far. In Division 1A of the Westmeath IFC, Tang defeated Moate All Whites (see report on page 37), while Kilbeggan stunned last year"s beaten finalists Ballynacargy by recording a seven-point win (2-14 to 2-7). The other game in that division was the aforementioned win for St Mary"s over Milltownpass. In Division 1B, Tubberclair defeated Shandonagh (1-12 to 0-10), Rosemount lost out narrowly to Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall, while Ballymore played out a draw with Ballinagore (1-11 to 2-8).