Athlone and Caulry play out dramatic draw

Athlone did just about enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Westmeath SFC when they played out a tense draw with Caulry in Tang this evening (Saturday).

Midway through the second half, Caulry led by four points (0-9 to 0-5) and Athlone were staring elimination in the face. However, a goal from Shane Reid – who palmed the ball to the net after Caulry coughed up possession from a free out – gave Athlone a lifeline.

Still, Caulry were back in front by a single point approaching full-time. With the game on a knife edge in added time, Ray Connellan drew Athlone level. His brother, substitute John Connellan then hit two points in quick succession to leave Liam McHale’s charges seemingly safe.

Caulry refused to throw in the towel with points from Andy O’Sullivan and the outstanding Conor McCormack drawing them level again.

But the Mount Temple/Baylin men needed to win, with the eventual draw enough to see Athlone through on scoring difference, thereby setting up a quarter-final clash with Rosemount. Final score: Athlone 1-10 Caulry 0-13.

Caulry had parted company with manager Sean Kelly in the aftermath of their heavy defeat to Garrycastle in the opening round.

Meanwhile, 2018 champions Mullingar Shamrocks are out of the championship following a two-point defeat to Killucan (1-12 to 1-10). The win sees Killucan set up a quarter-final meeting with 2019 finalists St Loman’s Mullingar.

Both Shamrocks and Caulry will now enter the relegation play-offs, where they will be joined by the losers of the Castledaly v The Downs and Tyrrellspass v Shandonagh games.

In the Westmeath Intermediate FC, Ballymore beat Bunbrosna (1-10 to 0-5) in Ballynacargy to set up a quarter-final against Tang.

St Malachy’s advanced to the quarter-finals as group winners by virtue of a narrow win over Multyfarnham (0-13 to 1-9).

Ballynacargy had booked their spot in the last eight on Friday night with a victory over neighbours Milltown, also by the minimum margin.

St Malachy’s will face Ballynacargy in their quarter-final, with St Mary’s Rochfortbridge meeting Milltownpass in the other confirmed quarter-final.

The remaining quarter-final will be between Moate All Whites and the winner of the Maryland v Kilbeggan Shamrocks match in Athlone tomorrow (Sunday), 2pm.

*For the remainder of this weekend’s Westmeath GAA fixtures, see HERE

Shay Murtagh Precast Westmeath SFC Results

Athlone 1-10 Caulry 0-13.

Killucan 1-12 Mullingar Shamrocks 1-10.

Writech Westmeath IFC Results

Ballynacargy 1-10 Milltown 1-9.

Ballymore 1-10 Bunbrosna 0-5.

St Malachy’s 0-13 Multyfarnham 1-9.