Westmeath club season set to start as first round fixtures confirmed
The 2024 Westmeath GAA club season kicks off on Friday week, February 23, with four ACFL Division 1 games among the games scheduled to take place.
Athlone, promoted from Division 2 last year, will take on Shandonagh at Páirc Chiaráin (8pm), while Division 1 league champions Coralstown/Kinnegad will host Milltownpass.
The Downs will meet St Loman’s Mullingar in a repeat of the 2022 Westmeath SFC final, with Moate All Whites hosting Tyrrellspass.
On the same night in Division 2, Daniel Sammon's Tubberclair side are at home to Garrycastle, who now have Gary Dolan back in charge.
Among the games on Saturday week, February 24 is a local derby between St Joseph's and Kilbeggan Shamrocks in Streamstown (2pm).
All clubs with floodlit facilities are expected to play their home league games on a Friday nights, and their second team will play on Saturdays or Sundays. This has been decided because of the significant lack of referees for adult games, according to the Westmeath County Board.
If a home venue for a fixture is not playable, the game shall be played at the opposing team venue. Non-fulfilment of a fixture shall result in the league points being awarded to the opposition.
Clubs failing to field for a second time (two walkovers) shall be disqualified from the competition and will face automatic relegation to the next lowest division. They will replace the lowest of the two bottom teams in the division, thus saving one team from relegation.
The absence of county players is not considered an acceptable reason for the postponement of league games. Postponements/rearrangements will not be granted unless in exceptional circumstances (e.g., a bereavement that directly affects players) and then only with permission from Competitions Control Committee chairperson Frank Mescall.
Westmeath GAA has also reminded clubs that sanctions will come into effect for 2025 for clubs who have no referees available to referee adult games.
See below for upcoming club fixtures.
Westmeath GAA fixtures
Friday, February 23 (first named team at home, unless otherwise stated)
ACFL Division 1 Round 1
Athlone v Shandonagh, 8pm, Pat Fox
Coralstown/Kinnegad v Milltownpass, 8pm, Barry Pierce
The Downs v St Loman’s Mullingar, 8pm, Alan Coyne
Moate All Whites v Tyrrellspass, 8pm, Niall Ward.
ACFL Division 2 Round 1
Tubberclair v Garrycastle, 8pm, Declan Nugent.
ACFL Division 3 Round 1
Maryland v Bunbrosna, 7.30 (TUS, Athlone), Cathal Boland.
Saturday, February 24 (first named team at home)
ACFL Division 1 Round 1
Mullingar Shamrocks v Tang, 2pm, Shane Maher.
ACFL Division 2 Round 1
Milltown v Caulry, 2pm, Brendan Keena
St Malachy's v Castledaly, 2pm, Damien Maher
Ballymore v Garrycastle, 7pm, Gary Hurley.
ACFL Division 3 Round 1
St Joseph's v Kilbeggan Shamrocks, 2pm, Michael Galvin
Ballynacargy v St Loman’s Mullingar, 2pm, Sean Carroll
Tyrrellspass v Killucan, 2pm, Enda Kenny
Multyfarnham v Moate All Whites, 2pm, Mick Murtagh.
ACFL Division 4 Round 1
St Mary’s Rochfortbridge v The Downs, 2pm, Ray Farrelly
Coralstown/Kinnegad v Rosemount, 7.30, Derek Heffernan
Garrycastle v Milltownpass, 7.30, Joe Fallon
St Loman’s Mullingar v Athlone, 7.30, Rob Cornally.
Sunday, February 25 (first named team at home)
ACFL Division 2 Round 1
St Mary’s Rochfortbridge v Ballymore, 11.30, Barry Kelly
Mullingar Shamrocks v Rosemount, 11.30, Michael Gordon.
ACFL Division 4 Round 1
Caulry v Shandonagh, 11.30, Vinny Cox.
ACFL Division 5 Round 1
Milltown v St Paul’s, 11.30, Ken Daly
Castledaly v Ballinagore, 11.30, Ken Gunning
The Downs v Ballycomoyle, 11.30, Declan Leech
Killucan v Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall, 11.30, James Allard
Mullingar Shamrocks v Tubberclair, 2pm, JP Reynolds.