Westmeath championship draws to take place

The draws for the 2024 Westmeath football and hurling championships will be held next Thursday, April 4 in the Mullingar Park Hotel and as usual, there will be keen interest in the event.

Defending senior football champions St Loman's, Mullingar and reigning senior hurling champions Raharney will learn who they will face in the opening round as they bid to retain their respective titles. St Loman's saw off Coralstown/Kinnegad to win their seventh title in 11 years, while Raharney were victorious over Lough Lene Gaels in a thrilling senior hurling decider.

Early indications are that last year's senior football runners-up Coralstown/Kinnegad will be the biggest threat to defending senior football champions, while The Downs, if at full strength, will be obvious contenders. Outside of that, Mullingar Shamrocks may fancy a decent run.

Raharney, Clonkill, Castletown Geoghegan and Lough Lene Gaels are the main contenders in the senior hurling championship.

The draws for the intermediate and junior championships in both codes will take place on the evening, while the U20 football and hurling draws are also scheduled. Championship action is expected in July, but an extended run by the county's senior footballers would have an impact.