Tang and Tubberclair aim to stay on track

There is also a hectic weekend in prospect in the Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship, with all 12 teams in action as the battle for places in the knockout stages heats up. Division 1A The action begins on Friday evening when Tang face Ballynacargy in Ballymore at 7.30pm. With three wins from three games, Tang are currently on top of the Division 1A table. They defeated St Mary's, Rochfortbridge in their most recent outing, having previously defeated Milltownpass and Moate All Whites. After suffering a surprise defeat to Kilbeggan Shamrocks, Ballynacargy got back on track in their last game, dishing out a heavy defeat (4-17 to 2-8) to bottom of the table Milltownpass. Ballynacargy came very close to winning the intermediate title last year and they will have their sights set on going one better this year. With Ballynacargy having the greater need for victory, Tang's unbeaten record looks in jeopardy in what should prove a close encounter. The other games in Division 1A don't take place until Monday. Moate All Whites had to wait until last Monday week for their game against Kilbeggan, so it seems unfair to leave them waiting over the Bank Holiday weekend until Monday evening to play this time around. Moate take on St Mary's Rochfortbridge in Castletown-Geoghegan on Monday at 6.30pm. The All Whites have lost all three of their games thus far and are likely to find it difficult to secure a win against St Mary's, who have two wins to their credit and who were pipped by Tang (2-12 to 1-14) in their last match. The Moate v St Mary's will be preceded by the meeting of Kilbeggan Shamrocks and Milltownpass. Although they defeated Moate in their last outing, Kilbeggan did not play particularly well, but they should have enough in the tank to see off struggling Milltownpass. Division 1B Tubberclair, who have a 100 per cent record from three games, face Ballinagore on Saturday evening in Tang at 7.30pm. In their last outing, Tubberclair overcame Ballymore and although they struggled to find their best form in the first half of that encounter, they will be hopeful of keeping their winning run going. Ballinagore have one win, one draw and one defeat so far, but they did play in the senior championship last year and with Michael Ennis and Thomas McDaniel on board, they could well make it difficult for Tubberclair. Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall are on top of Division 1B, ahead of Tubberclair on scoring difference - although if teams finish level on points the result between the two teams will now be the first means of separating them. They face Ballymore on Sunday in Lakepoint Park at 1pm as they seek to wrap up a place in the knockout stages. With just one point in the bag, Ballymore need a win and are likely to battle hard, but whether they can get the scores necessary to secure a victory is very questionable. That match will be followed by the meeting of Rosemount and Shandonagh at 2.30pm. Rosemount have lost all three of their games; their last two defeats were by a single point and losing games by such tight margins has been a problem for Rosemount at intermediate level in recent years. But Shandonagh have not been going well in the championship so far, and Rosemount will see this game as an opportunity to gain a win, as they bid to avoid the spectre of the relegation play-off.