Added pressure on first-round clashes
Westmeath SFC begins this weekend
Defending champions The Downs are facing a challenge in the opening round of the Westmeath Senior Football Championship next Saturday at TEG Cusack Park against St Loman’s, Mullingar (7.15pm).
Marquee forward Luke Loughlin, who had surgery following an injury sustained while playing for Westmeath against Meath in the Leinster SFC quarter-final at Tullamore, will be a notable absentee, as will midfielder Jonathan Lynam. There are also injury concerns surrounding industrious wing-forward Kevin O’Sullivan, who also won a Leinster Championship medal with Westmeath.
St Loman’s, Mullingar have injury concerns of their own regarding Sam and Danny McCartan.
Last year’s finalists, Coralstown/Kinnegad, will be keen to make a positive start when they meet Garrycastle in Saturday’s curtain-raiser (5.30pm) at headquarters. Jack Cooney has an unchanged side to choose from and they will see this as an opportunity to make an early push for a place in the knock-out stages.
Brían Cooney was a Leinster winner with Westmeath this year and Ciaran Daly was part of the successful panel, and their experience is expected to feed into a renewed effort from a side that has reached a couple of senior finals.
With just three teams qualifying from Section ‘A’, there is added pressure on this year’s first-round clashes. The top two teams will qualify for the semi-finals, while the third-placed side is through to a quarter-final and the team that finishes fourth is eliminated.
Garrycastle, under the guidance of Gary Dolan and John Keane, will also have intentions of making an early impact and, with Alex Gardiner back, they contested the All County Football League Division 1 final against Mullingar Shamrocks, losing after extra time. They scored 3-20 in that match, 0-8 of which came from Gardiner, a former Westmeath player.
Mullingar Shamrocks, under the guidance of former Maryland and Westmeath footballer David Martin, are fourth favourites for the senior title (7/1) and the Division 1 league champions could be dark horses. Young talent such as Alex Sheerin (1-4), Killian Mooney (0-5) and goalkeeper Adam Buckley will boost their chances, and scoring 2-31 in the league decider underlines their ability in attack.
The Downs, St Loman’s, Mullingar and Coralstown/Kinnegad are the early favourites, but the race for the Paddy Flanagan Cup is more open than in recent years.
Elsewhere, three teams will emerge from Section ‘B’ this year and Killucan and Tyrrellspass will both be targeting qualification. They meet on Friday (7.30pm) at TEG Cusack Park. Athlone and Moate All Whites will both have ambitions, but Tubberclair have been dealt a blow with injuries to both Matthew Whittaker and Tom Bourke.
Meanwhile, Shandonagh and Milltown, two leading contenders for the Intermediate title, meet on Friday in Kinnegad (8pm) as the race for the Peter Geraghty Cup gets underway. See preview on p52/53 inside.