Moate and Caulry to battle for quarter-final place
From a local perspective, the stand-out fixture in the Westmeath SFC this weekend is the meeting of Moate All Whites and Caulry in Section B.
This is a winner-takes-all clash with a place in the quarter-finals at stake, and the fact that two such close neighbours are meeting certainly adds spice to this Sunday’s game at TEG Cusack Park (throw-in 4pm). And it's believed to be the first ever meeting between Moate and Caulry in a Westmeath SFC game.
Both sides should enter the game in confident mood after notable victories in their last outings. Caulry had a 2-13 to 1-10 win over Mullingar Shamrocks, with Alan Malynn and Emmet Nally scoring the goals.
For their part, Moate claimed a 0-15 to 0-10 victory over Rosemount, with Robert Forde scoring ten points for the All Whites. In addition, the Moate club received a major boost last weekend when their minor team won the Westmeath U-17 Division 1 football title, defeating St Loman’s Mullingar in the final - see page 77.
The winner of the Moate v Caulry game will be guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals. If the Moate v Caulry match ends in a draw, and if Mullingar Shamrocks and Killucan win their games (against Shandonagh and Rosemount respectively), four teams would finish on six points. In this scenario, the two teams with the best scoring difference would take the two quarter-final places up for grabs in Section B.
The head-to-head rule is the first criterion to separate teams who are equal on points. But if two or more teams are level, scoring difference comes into play.
Rosemount are not safe from relegation danger as they prepare to face Killucan in The Downs. Ian Bradley departed his role as manager in the aftermath of the defeat to Moate, with Des Collins in charge for this weekend’s crucial clash with Killucan.
Teams cannot be relegated from a championship grade on the head-to-head rule or on scoring difference. So if the bottom two teams in Section B are level on points, a play-off would take place.
In Section A, Garrycastle and Athlone are in a three-way battle along with St Loman’s Mullingar for the two remaining places in the knockout stages. The Downs and Coralstown/Kinnegad are already assured of semi-final places.
Athlone face the formidable task of taking on county champions St Loman’s, for whom the returning John Heslin scored six points in their narrow win over Garrycastle recently. Liam McHale’s charges got the better of Tyrrellspass in their last outing to keep their hopes alive.
If Athlone and Garrycastle - who face the already qualified Coralstown/Kinnegad - both win their games, they will both go through.
Anything less than a win is likely to see Athlone knocked out and their scoring difference is inferior to that of the other two teams in contention. As Garrycastle and Athlone drew their group meeting, there is no head-to-head advantage in the event of the sides finishing level on points.
Both the Caulry v Moate and the Athlone v St Loman's games will be streamed live on Iarmhí TV.
Despite losing to Tyrrellspass last night (Friday) on a 1-8 to 0-10 scoreline, The Downs will retain top position in Section A. The Downs have a head-to-head advantage on Coralstown/Kinnegad, the only team who can finish level on points with them. But Coralstown/Kinnegad have a semi-final place secured as they beat St Loman's, the only team that can draw level with them on six points.
In the Westmeath IFC, the four qualification places are decided in Section A, with Castledaly, Tang, St Malachy’s and Milltownpass safely through. Only the placings in the group are to be decided, with the top two teams going straight though to the semi-finals.
Things are more interesting in Section B of the IFC, with St Mary’s Rochfortbridge, Milltown and Tubberclair in the hunt for two qualification places.
Meanwhile, Kilbeggan Shamrocks will meet Multyfarnham in what is effectively a relegation play-off - if Kilbeggan avoid defeat, they will secure their intermediate status for next year.
Westmeath GAA Fixtures
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2
Shay Murtagh Precast Senior FC Section ‘A’
TEG Cusack Park: Garrycastle v Coralstown/Kinnegad, 4pm, B Kelly.
Moate: Athlone v St Loman’s, Mullingar, 4pm, E Kelly (Iarmhí TV).
Writech Intermediate FC Section ‘B’
Tang: Tubberclair v Ballynacargy, 4pm, P Fox.
Drumraney: Milltown v St Mary’s Rochfortbridge, 4pm, K O’Brien.
Ballymore: Kilbeggan Shamrocks v Multyfarnham, 4pm, N Ward.
Junior 2 FC Section ‘B’
Shandonagh: Shandonagh v Killucan, 4pm, M Moran; Delvin: Delvin v Mullingar Shamrocks, 4pm, B Heaney
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3
Shay Murtagh Precast SFC Section ‘B’
TEG Cusack Park: Caulry v Moate All Whites, 4pm, M Murtagh (Iarmhí TV).
The Downs: Rosemount v Killucan, 4pm, S Carroll; Lakepoint Park.
Shandonagh v Mullingar Shamrocks, 4pm, A Coyne.
Writech IFC Section ‘A’
Milltown: Maryland v Tang, 2pm, B Pierce.
Tubberclair: Ballymore v Castledaly, 2pm, D Nugent.
Rochfortbridge: St Malachy’s v Milltownpass, 2pm, G Hurley.
Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 FC Section ‘A’
Garrycastle: Garrycastle v Athlone, 11.30am, P McCaughey.
Kinnegad: Coralstown/Kinnegad v The Downs, 11.30am, S Maher.
Lakepoint Park: St Loman’s, Mullingar v Mullingar Shamrocks, 11.30am, J Rock.
Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 FC Section ‘B’
Springfield: St Joseph’s v Ballycomoyle, 4pm, B Keena.
Killucan: CFCW v Bunbrosna, 4pm, Ken Daly.
Robinstown: St Paul’s, Clonmellon v Ballinagore, 4pm, M Gordon.
The Downs: The Downs v Multyfarnham, 2pm, A Devine.