Westmeath learn fate in Leinster minor and U20 championships

Kieran Galvin

Published: Fri 14 May 2021, 4:48 PM

Last updated: Sat 15 May 2021, 11:58 AM

Westmeath's minor and under-20 footballers now know who they will face in their respective Leinster championships this year.

In addition, the draws for the Leinster minor and U-20 hurling championships have been made by Leinster GAA.

In the 2021 Electric Ireland Leinster MFC, Westmeath have been drawn against Louth, with the Lake County having home advantage in that opening round game on Saturday, June 26. This is because Louth were at home the last time the counties met at this grade.

This year's Westmeath minor (U-17) team will be managed by Vinny Cox, a Ballymore native now attached to the Rosemount club. His management team includes David O’Shaughnessy (Garrycastle), David Keane (Rosemount), John Duignan (Killucan) and Gary Devine (St Loman's, Mullingar).

The other first round games are Kildare v Longford, Carlow v Wicklow and Laois v Wexford, with Dublin having a bye into Round 2.

The draw for the 2021 championship is complicated by the fact that the 2020 Leinster minor football final between Offaly and Meath has yet to be played. The loser of that final will enter the second round of the 2021 Leinster championship, while the winner will go straight into the 2021 Leinster semi-finals.

The 2020 Leinster MFC final between Offaly and Meath will take place on Wednesday, June 30 at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, with last year's All-Ireland series to follow.

In the 2021 EirGrid Leinster U-20 FC, Damien Gavin's Westmeath charges have been drawn against Kildare, with the Lilywhites having the benefit of a home venue.

Interestingly, this year's Kildare U-20 team is managed by Brian Flanagan, who was previously part of Jack Cooney's Westmeath senior football backroom team.

In both the Leinster minor and U-20 championships, the draw for Round 2 will take place immediately after the completion of the Round 1 games.

And because players from last year's Offaly and Meath minor teams will be involved at U-20 level in 2021, the winning county in that delayed minor final will go into the 2021 Leinster U-20 semi-finals.

It's an unusual situation that the result of the Leinster minor final from one year will have an impact on the following year's U-20 championship. Yet it's just another example of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is still having on sporting fixtures.

Meanwhile, the Westmeath U-20 hurlers will face Laois in their Leinster championship, with the winners to meet Antrim or Down in the second round.

And if Noel Conaty's Westmeath minor hurlers can win their opening round game at home to Meath, a meeting with Antrim or Down also awaits them in the next round.

If Westmeath lose in Round 1 or 2 of the Leinster MHC, they will go into the Peadar Ó Liathain Cup (the 'B' championship at this age group).

The details of this year's Leinster minor and U-20 championships are provided below.

Electric Ireland Leinster Minor FC 2021

Round 1 (June 26th)

1. Westmeath (home) v Louth

2. Kildare v Longford

3. Carlow v Wicklow

4. Laois v Wexford

EirGrid Leinster U-20 FC 2021

Round 1 (July 1st)

1. Kildare (home) v Westmeath

2. Longford v Louth

3. Laois v Wicklow

4. Wexford v Carlow

Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U-20 HC 2021

Round 1 (June 29th)

1. Down v Antrim

2. Laois (home) v Westmeath

3. Kildare v Carlow

Round 2 (July 6th)

4. Laois/Westmeath v Down/Antrim

5. Kildare/Carlow v Wexford

Leinster Minor HC 2021 (O'Hanrahan Cup)

Round 1

1. Down (home) v Antrim (June 30th, 7.30pm)

2. Carlow v Kildare, Netwatch Cullen Park (June 30th, 7.30pm)

3. Westmeath (home) v Meath (July 1st, 7.30pm)

*Winners progress to Leinster MHC Round 2, runners-up enter the Peadar Ó Liathain Cup.

Round 2 (Wednesday, July 7th)

4. Winners 1 v Winners 3, Darver 7.30

5. Winners 2 v Laois, 7.30

NOTE: Winners progress to the quarter-finals with Dublin and Wexford. Winners from Round 2 will have home advantage. Runners-up in Round 2 (with the exception of Laois) go into Peadar Ó Liathain Cup.

Leinster MHC Dates

Quarter-finals: Wednesday, 14th July.

Semi-finals: Wednesday, 21st July - winners of the quarter-finals (two), Kilkenny and Offaly.

Final: Wednesday, 28th July.