Caulry through, Moate and Athlone out, Tang can still stay up

There was high drama in the last round of the Westmeath SFC group games over the weekend.

Caulry produced a huge second-half display to defeat neighbours Moate All Whites on a scoreline of 2-18 to 1-13 at TEG Cusack Park yesterday (Sunday). This was more than enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals, eliminating Moate in the process.

Caulry needed to win by five points to be sure of qualification, if Killucan defeated St Malachy’s which they duly did (1-22 to 1-10). That win for Killucan meant they finished on six points along with Caulry and Moate. With each side having two points apiece in this ‘mini table’, it came down to scoring difference in the matches involving these three teams.

Caulry’s eight-point win moved their scoring difference from -2 to +6, while Moate finished on -2. Killucan went into the weekend on -4 (from their games against Caulry and Moate) and therefore couldn’t qualify.

Conor McCormack (0-10) and Senan Baker (1-6) led the way for the Mount Temple/Baylin men as Moate’s challenge wilted alarmingly in the second half. The sides were level at half-time (1-5 to 0-8), the Caulry goal coming from Sean Murphy. A late goal from a penalty by Robbie Forde wasn’t enough to reduce Moate’s losing margin by enough to make it through.

It was a deflating exit for Moate who had shown impressive form in their previous four games, while Caulry will now meet Coralstown/Kinnegad in their quarter-final.

Tang managed to force a relegation play-off with a surprise 1-18 to 1-16 win over Garrycastle at Páirc Chiaráin, albeit their opponents were already qualified. As Tang and St Malachy’s both finish on two points, they must meet again in the play-off to decide who drops down to the intermediate grade.

For their part, Garrycastle are preparing for a quarter-final showdown with Mullingar Shamrocks. Garrycastle and Caulry will move up to Section A for 2026.

On Saturday in Section A, Athlone allowed a significant lead to slip away in the second half as wind-assisted Coralstown/Kinnegad kicked a number of two-pointers to turn their crunch encounter around. The Kinnegad’s side 0-21 to 2-12 victory in Moate secured a place in the knockout stages and knocked Athlone out. The Shannonsiders had led by seven points with less than 15 minutes left, and were ahead by nine points at one stage, but they faded when Jack Cooney’s charges launched their revival mission.

In addition to Coralstown/Kinnegad, the other big winners in Section A were defending champions St Loman’s, Mullingar who inflicted a heavy defeat on Tyrrrellspass (3-16 to 1-6). This means St Loman’s march into the semi-finals, where they will meet the winners of the Caulry vs Coralstown/Kinnegad quarter-final.

A repeat of last year's final between Loman's and The Downs is now a strong possibility, while Tyrrellspass and Athlone will operate in Section B next year.

The Downs completed their programme of group games with five wins from five, overcoming Mullingar Shamrocks by 0-15 to 1-6. Despite losing three of their five fixtures, Shamrocks scrape into the quarter-finals in fourth place and if they overcome Garrycastle in their quarter-final, they will meet The Downs again in the last four.

The Westmeath SFC quarter-finals have been fixed for next weekend, with Garrycastle facing Mullingar Shamrocks on Saturday at 4.15pm, while Caulry will meet Coralstown/Kinnegad on Sunday (also 4.15). Both games will be played in TEG Cusack.

Meanwhile, the relegation play-off between Tang and St Malachy’s will be played in Ballymore on Sunday (throw-in 2pm).

Westmeath SFC quarter-finals

Saturday, September 27: Mullingar Shamrocks v Garrycastle (TEG Cusack Park, 4.15pm).

Sunday, September 28: Coralstown/Kinnegad v Caulry (TEG Cusack Park, 4.15).