Lots at stake in Westmeath football’s ‘super Sunday’
By Gerry Buckley
As every fixture-maker – indeed, every sporting volunteer – will testify, it is impossible to please all of the people all of the time, but yours truly happens to think that the powers-that-be in Westmeath GAA have got the formats pretty much as right as is possible in the championships in both codes.
The large attendance in sun-drenched TEG Cusack Park last Sunday afternoon got tremendous value for money, with a really splendid opening game (Castlepollard defeating Lough Lene Gaels) and a very decent second (Raharney edging out Castletown-Geoghegan).
Next weekend sees the concluding round robin fixtures in the race for the Flanagan Cup. And how sad it will be that the man after whom the blue riband cup in Westmeath football, Paddy Flanagan RIP, will not be around to celebrate its 60th handing over to winning captain(s). His beloved St Loman’s, Mullingar have dominated Lake County football over the past decade and again they are certain to have, at least, a very big say in the trophy’s destination from October 9.
The shortest journey for the Flanagan Cup from TEG Cusack Park is to the Mullingar Shamrocks’ clubhouse. However, unless a truly miraculous series of events unfold, this year it will not be heading underneath the canal tunnel to Springfield, with Enda Monaghan’s mixture of experience (superbly led despite four defeats by Denis Corroon) and youth having found life difficult in Section A.
For many, the likely port of call will be slightly further up the Delvin Road, with Declan Kelly leading the Mullingar blues to a hat-trick. The star-laden champions have not really fired on all cylinders to date, but they are guaranteed at least a quarter-final slot. Many observers feel (and it is hard to disagree) that such a slot (a la a semi-final slot in senior hurling) is far from an encumbrance and can be worth any amount of challenge games when compared with the ‘predicament’ of a side with a penultimate round position already secured.
The winner-takes-all game between the holders and Liam McNeill’s promising Coralstown/Kinnegad outfit at Westmeath GAA headquarters is sure to be a riveting contest. Naturally, neither side will want to lose, but it may not be the end of the world for the defeated team given the guaranteed second chance on offer.
Lar Wall’s black and amber-clad charges in The Downs have impressed all and sundry to date, and there are many Gaels who feel their long-threatened breakthrough may be on the cards this autumn. They have had many a memorable tussle with next Sunday’s opponents Garrycastle, especially in the ‘noughties’.
Garrycastle are now under the tutelage of Galway man John Donnellan and they may end up in either a quarter-final or Section B (for 2023) after next Sunday’s game in Milltown. There is no reason to suspect that The Downs will be in any way complacent and/or under-motivated despite having already secured a semi-final slot. For their part, Garrycastle need to win and hope that Caulry fail to beat Mullingar Shamrocks.
The aforementioned pointless Shamrocks would love to secure two points in their last round robin game. Despite a very respectable opening performance against Garrycastle and a better-than-expected showing against neighbours St Loman’s, they can have no complaints about being rock bottom in Section A.
Their opponents Caulry are managed by one the game’s most colourful characters, former Roscommon goalie Shane Curran, and his sideline antics (sometimes preceding a place behind the fence!) always make for an interesting study.