Greater jeopardy adds spice to football championships

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Neutral supporters will be hoping this is not the case as the Westmeath football championships throws in tonight (Friday), but the likes of The Downs, St Loman’s, Mullingar and Coralstown/Kinnegad, who have been to the fore in recent years, will be difficult to dislodge.

There is greater jeopardy for the top-tier teams this year, and that has been the main talking point before a ball is kicked: just three of the top four in Section ‘A’ will qualify for the knock-out stages (the top two making the semi-finals, with third reaching a quarter-final), and the team that finishes fourth will be eliminated.

Three teams will emerge from Section ‘B’, the weaker of the two, making for an intriguing battle at both senior and intermediate level this year.

Defending champions The Downs have been dealt a blow with a long-term injury to attacking ace Luke Loughlin and, while he is set to return, he is likely to miss a couple of early games. Add in injury problems for Jonathan Lynam and Kevin O’Sullivan and it stretches their resources, but they are still a force, and it will be a surprise if they don’t make the knock-out stages.

Coralstown/Kinnegad reached last year’s final and Jack Cooney will be keen to build on that experience, and if he has everyone at his disposal, they are bound to make another strong bid. Also among the leading contenders will have to be St Loman’s, Mullingar, who will be determined to respond after last year’s semi-final loss to Cooney’s men.

The South Westmeath teams will be pushing hard also, but whether Garrycastle, who reached the Division 1 league final, can challenge for honours is not certain, even allowing for the return of the talented Alex Gardiner. A lively outsider may well be Mullingar Shamrocks, who won the Division 1 league title under new manager David Martin and have some eye-catching young talent breaking through alongside established players like Denis Corroon and Dean Moore.

Three teams will qualify from Section ‘B’, where a case can be made for many of those involved, but it will be a major surprise if any of those teams go on to win the Paddy Flanagan Cup later in the season. Killucan could well make a strong bid, while Athlone, under new manager John Twaddle, will be keen to get back to the top tier, and Moate All Whiles will expect to be in contention also.

Tubberclair, last year’s intermediate winners, can physically match most teams, but the loss of Matthew Whittaker and Tom Bourke is a major blow.

Once again, a fascinating senior championship awaits and, after Westmeath’s memorable year on the inter-county scene, it’s expected that more supporters will take an interest in how the flagship competition unfolds.

Senior Football Championship

Section 'A'

The Downs

Manager: Dermot Power. Current standing: Defending champions. League form: Third in Div. 1, winning six games.

Prospects: They remain leading contenders, but the absence of Luke Loughlin for the opening stages is a big blow, while Jonathan Lynam is carrying an injury also. Kevin O’Sullivan is another injury concern. Charlie Drumm had a fine season for Westmeath.

St Loman’s, Mullingar

Manager: Paddy Dowdall. Current standing: Beaten semi-finalists last year. League form: finished fourth having won four games.

Prospects: They are still strong contenders with everyone available, but there are injury concerns around Sam and Danny McCartan after Westmeath’s great season. John Heslin remains a threat, especially with two-pointers such a key factor, and they have Jason Daly, Eoghan Hogan and TJ Cox in their side also.

Mullingar Shamrocks

Manager: David Martin. Current standing: They are up there with the likes of Garrycastle, Coralstown/Kinnegad and Caulry, but at full strength, The Downs and St Loman’s, Mullingar may still be ahead. It may take another couple of years to win a senior title. League form: Won the ACFL Div. 1 title, beating Garrycastle in the final.

Prospects: They are a developing team having reached the knock-out stages last year and there will be many eyes on the likes of Shane and Críostóir Ormsby, Alex Sheerin and dual star Brian Guerin.

Coralstown/Kinnegad

Manager: Jack Cooney. Current standing: Last year’s defeated finalists and on their day are well capable of matching anyone. The first round tie against Garrycastle is crucial with three teams qualifying. League form: They finished sixth of the ten teams in Division 1.

Prospects: They have been missing players from last year through travel. Brían Cooney is a key man and Ciarán Daly was part of the Westmeath panel also which will benefit his development. They have obvious talent and can have a say again if everyone is available.

Caulry

Manager: Nigel Dineen. Current standing: They contested the quarter-finals last year but taking the next step proved extremely tough. League form: Were bottom of Division 1 of the ACFL and will be in Div. 2 next year.

Prospects: Third place may well be beyond them. Westmeath star Senan Baker is absent and that’s a major blow, but Tadhg Baker is obviously a big player and they have Conor McCormack to call on also.

Garrycastle

Managers: Gary Dolan and John Keane. Current standing: They worked their way into the top section last year having quickly risen from intermediate level.

League form: Contested the ACFL Div. 1 final against Mullingar Shamrocks, losing out after extra-time.

Prospects: They have a marquee forward in Alex Gardiner who has returned from abroad and he is a threat for any defence so they will target third place. Conor Cosgrove is dangerous up front; James Dolan is still strong; Jack Donohue is tigerish at the back.

Section 'B'

Killucan

Managers: Frank Boyle and Conor Jordan. Current standing: They failed to progress from Section B last year. League form: They finished eighth in Div. 1 of the ACFL.

Prospects: There’s a good opportunity to progress this year and Killucan will feel they have the talent, though the dual players will find it tough as always. Devin Hill remains a big threat in attack, while Seán Leech and Sami Clarke are others to watch, but Sam Smyth’s injury is a blow.

Tyrrellspass

Manager: Enda Monaghan. Current standing: They were demoted to Section ‘B’ last year along with Athlone. League form: Won Div. 2 of the league with a dominant display against Shandonagh, though their shooting left a lot of question marks.

Prospects: They are under pressure at senior level now, but still will feel positive about their chances of making a quarter-final with three teams advancing from this weaker section.

The vastly experienced Denis Glennon has returned. Jamie Gonoud impressed in the league final, while Kieran Geraghty and Tommy Ryan have ability.

Moate All Whites

Manager: Val Daly. Current standing: They are in Section ‘B’ and one of the teams who will fancy their channces of qualifying.

League form: They were seventh in Div. 1 of the ACFL.

Prospects: County players like James Mitchell (goalie) and lively forward Robbie Forde will add to their chances and there’s plenty of young talent in the side, but a place in the knock-out stages looks like their ceiling.

Tang

Manager: Paul Conway. Current standing: They showed their resilience by staving off the threat of relegation last year, winning after a penalty shootout against St Malachy’s. League form: They were fifth in Div 2 of the ACFL.

Prospects: It will be a big achievement to qualify from this group, but John Keenan, Aidan Burke, John Rock and John Tumelty will form part of a stubborn opposition for the other teams and Paul Conway will aim to get the best out of his home club.

Athlone

Manager: John Twaddle.

Current standing: They are demoted from the top section after last year’s run, but did reach the knock-out stages in 2024.

League form: They endured a poor run and were ninth in Div 1 of the ACFL.

Prospects: They will feel they need to progress from this weaker section and will target third, with new manager John Twaddle hoping to make an impact. Ray Connellan is their main man, while Shane Allen brings quality and experience also.

Tubberclair

Management: Daniel Sammon and Keith Higgins, with Gary Connaughton, Brendan Owens, Paul Madden and James Higgins.

Current standing: They are up from intermediate level after last year’s win against Shandonagh. League form: Finished fifth in Div 1 of the ACFL.

Prospects: They are an emerging team and will take heart from how Garrycastle played last year, but Matthew Whittaker’s loss is a blow. Tom Bourke is another injury concern, while Matthew Lynch comes into the panel. Stephen McGonagle and Eoghan McCabe were part of the Westmeath panel this year.