Former kingpins Garrycastle in drop danger as Tang clash looms

County champions as recently as 2019, Garrycastle are now facing a major battle to remain in the senior ranks of Westmeath football.

Garrycastle have lost their first three games and another defeat against table toppers Tang on Sunday at Páirc Chiaráin (throw-in 3.30pm), combined with unfavourable results in the other Section B games, could see the green and red outfit relegated this weekend.

If Garrycastle lose to Tang and both Athlone and Shandonagh win or draw their games, the 'Castle men would be relegated with a round of games to spare.

But if Garrycastle can get a win, they will live to fight another day and to add additional intrigue into the mix, they face local rivals Athlone in their last group game.

A team cannot be relegated if they finish equal on points with another team - in that scenario, a play-off would be required to decide who drops down to the intermediate grade.

Since lifting the Flanagan Cup for the first time in 2001, Garrycastle have gone on to win seven more Westmeath senior football titles, also winning a Leinster crown in 2011. It's a period of wonderful success that the club is understandably proud of, but past glories generally count for little when results take a turn for the worse. The absence of some key players has taken its toll on Garrycastle in this year’s championship.

With Tang winning all three of their games - prevailing in close battles against Mullingar Shamrocks, Athlone and Moate All Whites - Garrycastle will need to a significantly improved performance to emerge victorious on Sunday.

The other games in Section B will see Athlone take on Mullingar Shamrocks in Kinnegad on Friday evening (7.30) and Moate All Whites meet Shandonagh (Saturday, TEG Cusack Park, 5.15).

Athlone edged out Shandonagh in their last outing to claim their first win, while Shamrocks came from behind to beat Garrycastle. Moate and Shamrocks are second in the table on four points.

In Section A, Caulry, after winning their last two games, face championship favourites St Loman's, Mullingar on Saturday evening at TEG Cusack Park (7pm).

The other Section A fixtures will see defending champions The Downs meet Tyrrellspass, while Coralstown/Kinnegad will face Killucan. Those two games will form a double header in Rochfortbridge on Sunday evening, having been moved from TEG Cusack Park.

Westmeath GAA updated fixtures

Friday, 4th August

Shay Murtagh Precast Intermediate FC Section A

Ballymore v Rosemount, 7pm, Tang, Enda Kelly.

Shay Murtagh Precast Senior FC Section B

Mullingar Shamrocks v Athlone, 7.30, Kinnegad, Declan Nugent.

Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 FC Section A (Round 4)

The Downs v Garrycastle, 8pm, The Downs, Rob Cornally.

Saturday, 5th August

Shay Murtagh Precast Intermediate FC Section B

St Malachy's v Maryland, 7pm, The Downs, Sean Carroll.

Shay Murtagh Precast Senior FC

Section B Round 4 - Shandonagh v Moate All Whites, 5.15, TEG Cusack Park, Niall Ward.

Section A Round 4 - Caulry v St Loman’s Mullingar, 7pm, TEG Cusack Park, Barry Pierce.

Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 FC Section A (Round 4)

Athlone v Killucan, 7pm, Athlone, Michael Galvin.

Sunday, 6th August

Clarke's Bar Junior 1 FC Section B

Bunbrosna v St Paul's, 12.45, Shandonagh, Ray Farrelly.

St Joseph's v Kilbeggan Shamrocks, 2pm, Ballinagore, Alfie Devine.

Ballycomoyle v Moate All Whites, 2.30, Shandonagh, Ken Gunning.

Shay Murtagh Precast Intermediate FC

Section A Round 4 - Castledaly v St Mary's Rochfortbridge, 12.00, Moate, Pat Fox; Tubberclair v Milltown, 2pm, Athlone, Barry Kelly.

Section B Round 4 - Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall v Milltownpass, 2pm, Home Instead Lakepoint Park, Shane Maher; Multyfarnham v Ballynacargy, 3.30, Home Instead Lakepoint Park, Mick Gordon.

Shay Murtagh Precast Senior FC

Section B Round 4 - Tang v Garrycastle, 3.30, Athlone, Enda Kenny.

Section A Round 4 - Tyrrellspass v The Downs, 5.15, Rochfortbridge, Damien Maher; Killucan v Coralstown/Kinnegad, 7pm, Rochfortbridge, Alan Coyne.

Monday, 7th August

Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 FC Section A

St Loman’s Mullingar v Mullingar Shamrocks, 12.00, Home Instead Lakepoint Park, Paul McCaughey.

Clarke’s Bar Junior 2 FC

Section A Round 4 - Caulry v Multyfarnham, 12.00, Loughnavalley, Ken Daly; Rosemount v Delvin 12.00, Killucan, Derek Heffernan.

Section B Round 4 - Ballinagore v Coralstown/Kinnegad, 12.00, The Downs, Mick Murtagh.