Westmeath to compete in Sam Maguire Cup again
Westmeath footballers' championship fate for 2024 has been decided, as favourable results in games involving other teams this weekend ensured the Lake County will again compete in the Sam Maguire Cup.
Louth's victory over Kildare (0-17 to 0-13) and Dublin's widely expected win over Offaly (3-22 to 0-11) in today's Leinster SFC semi-finals were the last pieces in the jigsaw which ensured Westmeath will compete in the top tier All-Ireland championship.
The surprise defeat to Wicklow ended Westmeath's hopes of reaching the Leinster final - something would have sealed a Sam Maguire place - but the fact that Dessie Dolan's side had won the Division 3 league title (defeating Down in the decider) ultimately proved crucial. That league final victory on Easter Saturday at Croke Park gave Westmeath a higher placing than the Mourne men.
There were some very close calls over the past two weekends in terms of deciding Westmeath's fate.
Had an unlucky Sligo side held on against Galway (they were denied by a stoppage time goal) or if Down had edged out Armagh in Clones yesterday (they lost out by a single point), Westmeath would be heading for the Tailteann Cup - a trophy Westmeath won in 2022, sparking considerable celebrations in the process.
Westmeath will be fourth seeds in the draw for the Sam Maguire Cup stages which means they will meet one of the provincial champions (a first seed), a defeated provincial finalist (a second seed) and one of the third seeds (Division 1 league champions Derry, Tyrone, Roscommon or Monaghan).
2023 Tailteann Cup winners Meath, Cavan and Cork are fourth seeds, along with Westmeath (see list of seeds below).
Last year, Westmeath performed very commendably in the inaugural Sam Maguire Cup group stages, during which they pushed Armagh very close and drew with Tyrone. The Lakesiders also caused Galway problems for long stages when they hosted the Tribesmen at TEG Cusack Park.
The draw for the All-Ireland series is scheduled to take place next Tuesday, April 30 and will be broadcast live on GAA.ie (GAANOW).
First/second seeds (depending on provincial final results):
Dublin/Louth
Mayo/Galway
Kerry/Clare
Armagh/Donegal
Third seeds:
Derry
Tyrone
Roscommon
Monaghan
Fourth seeds:
Cavan
Cork
Meath
Westmeath