Westmeath to face local derby in 2026 Leinster SFC
Westmeath have been drawn against midland rivals Longford in the first round of next year's Leinster SFC.
Interestingly, the Westmeath footballers' last victory in the Leinster championship came against Longford in 2022. Since then Westmeath have lost at the first time of asking against Louth (2023), Wicklow (2024) and Kildare (2025).
The meeting with Longford will be Mark McHugh's first championship game in charge of Westmeath.
If Westmeath manage to get over Longford, who are managed by Mike Solan, they will face another tantalising local derby against old rivals Meath.
The Royals finally dethroned Dublin in 2025 but were then defeated by Louth in the Leinster final, before going on to reach the All-Ireland semi-finals.
But given Westmeath's inability to claim a Leinster championship win for the past three years, it would be very foolhardy for anybody to look beyond the clash with Longford.
Elsewhere in next year's Leinster SFC, Offaly have been drawn against Laois, with the winners to face Kildare, so there are two local derbies guaranteed in that part of the draw.
Leinster champions Louth will meet Wexford in one of the four quarter-finals. The 2025 Leinster semi-finalists were guaranteed a place in next year's quarter-finals, with Wexford the team going straight into the last eight by the luck of the draw.
Dublin, Leinster champions every year from 2011 to 2024, will meet the winners of the Carlow vs Wicklow opening round game.
Louth's Delaney Cup success last year - with the Leinster final versus Meath drawing a huge crowd to Croke Park - has given other counties in the province renewed hope. And with the new rules bringing more excitement and entertainment to Gaelic football, next year's Leinster championship will be eagerly anticipated.
2026 Leinster SFC draw
First round - Carlow v Wicklow; Westmeath v Longford; Offaly v Laois.
Quarter-finals - Kildare v Offaly or Laois; Meath v Westmeath or Longford; Louth v Wexford; Dublin v Carlow or Wicklow.