The St Joseph’s team (in different jerseys than usual) before their win over St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge in this year's ACFL Division 5 final. Photo: Thomas Gibbons.

St Joseph's among the contenders in JFC quarter-finals

Kieran Galvin

Published: Fri 9 Sep 2022, 10:39 AM

Last updated: Fri 9 Sep 2022, 3:35 PM

The pairings for the quarter-finals of the Westmeath Junior 1 Football Championship were finally confirmed earlier this week.

The fact that a play-off game between Garrycastle and Mullingar Shamrocks did not take place last Tuesday night caused some delay in finalising the situation.

The play-off was deemed necessary to decide the placings in Group A as Shamrocks had received a walkover from Athlone in their group fixture. As it turned out, Garrycastle were unable to field in the play-off and the club informed the Westmeath Competitions Control Committee (CCC) that they had conceded the game.

This means St Joseph's will meet Garrycastle in their quarter-final at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday (3pm), and the other quarter-finals are as follows: Athlone v Multyfarnham, Mullingar Shamrocks v Bunbrosna and The Downs v St Paul's.

The first teams of St Joseph's, Multyfarnham, Bunbrosna and St Paul's are competing in the championship, while the other contenders are second teams of senior clubs.

Multyfarnham, with Westmeath star Ronan Wallace in their ranks, would be regarded as the favourites to win the championship. Multy won all five of their teams to top Group B.

However, St Joseph's will fancy their championship chances after posting some high scores in their group games. The Horseleap/Streamstown outfit registered wins over Bunbrosna (2-13 to 0-13), Ballinagore (1-10 to 0-9), Ballycomoyle (7-16 to 0-5) and St Paul's (3-18 to 1-7). Their only defeat came in Round 4 against Multyfarnham (1-10 to 1-7).

St Joseph's are bidding to reach a first JFC semi-final in 18 years. Their last semi-final appearance was back in 2004 when the club went on to win the junior title.

The St Joseph's manager this year is Declan Mullally from Portarlington and the management team includes Eoin Carberry (the Rosemount goalkeeper has been out of action through injury this year) and Daire Lynam.

The likes of Dean Slevin, Ros Elliffe, Jordan McDonnell, Brian Fitzgerald, Alan Conlon and Ben McDonnell have been to the fore for St Joseph's this year and they will hope they can build on the progress made so far.

For Garrycastle's part, the junior championship represents another chance to contend for silverware after the club's first team was unable to make the knockout stages of the Westmeath SFC. Interestingly, Garrycastle was the only team who defeated JFC Group A table toppers The Downs.

Athlone's second team face a tough assignment when they take on Multyfarnham in Rosemount tomorrow (Saturday).

Meanwhile, the second teams of Moate All Whites, Caulry and Rosemount are among the sides in action in this weekend's Junior 2 FC quarter-finals - see fixtures for both junior championships below.

Clarke’s Bar Westmeath Junior 1 FC quarter-finals

Saturday, September 10: Rosemount (3pm) Athlone v Multyfarnham, Pat Fox; TEG Cusack Park (3pm) St Joseph's v Garrycastle, Jim Rock; Ballymore (3pm) Mullingar Shamrocks v Bunbrosna, Mick Gordon.

Tuesday, September 13: The Downs (home) v St Paul's, 8pm, Ken Daly.

Westmeath Junior 2 FC quarter-finals

Saturday, September 10: Moate All Whites v Shandonagh, 7:30, Moate Community School, Rob Cornally.

Sunday, September 11: Caulry v Mullingar Shamrocks, 12:00, Ballinagore, Michael Moran; Rosemount v The Downs, 12:00, Kilbeggan, Paul McCaughey; Delvin v Coralstown-Kinnegad, 1:30, Springfield, Alfie Devine.