Tubberclair and Maryland to do battle

IT couldn't possibly be set up any better. Local rivals Maryland and Tubberclair meet this weekend in a do-or-die game in the Westmeath SFC Division 1 (Saturday, Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone, 6.45pm), with the winners guaranteed a place in the knockout phase of the this year's Pat Flanagan Cup. With the top-two in the group (Killucan and Athlone) already assured of places in the knockout phase, and also going head to head this weekend (Sunday, Moate, 6.45pm) to decide who tops the division and goes straight into the semi-finals, that all-important third qualification spot in the group is very much up for grabs as the weekend approaches. Fighting it out to join Killucan and Athlone in the latter stages is near neighbours Maryland and Tubberclair, with the latter currently marginally in the drivers' seat, and needing only a draw to seal a place in the last eight. Worryingly for Finbar Egan's Maryland, their form seems to have dipped somewhat at a critical point in the campaign, losing their last two matches (against Athlone and Killucan), after previously claiming a couple of wins during the early stages of the group. Tubberclair's last outing saw them draw with strugglers St Loman's, Mullingar, at Ballymore, and they welcome back David Ganly and David Cassells into their panel for this coming weekend's all-important game in Athlone. A large crowd will no doubt be in attendance on Saturday to see two old foes battle it out in a pressure-cooker situation, and Tubberclair manager Tom Lennon thinks it will be "a brilliant occasion" at Páirc Chiaráin. "I think it's credit to both clubs and each set of players that we're coming to this stage of the championship and there's still so much to play for," said Lennon, whose team's five points to date have come in the shape of two wins against Coralstown-Kinnegad and Killucan (they're the only team to beat Killucan so far), and that draw against St Loman's (2-6 to 1-9). County star Fergal Wilson - injured earlier in the year - is making a concerted effort to return for this big game, said Lennon, but he feels it might come too early for the inspirational attacker. "Fergal had a bad knee injury and although it didn't need surgery in the end, only repair work to the muscles around the knee, it's been a difficult few months for him," said Lennon. "But he's been doing some light jogging recently and I suppose there's a very slim possibility of him getting involved on Saturday. It's unlikely though, because it would be very unfair to pitch him straight into such a pressurised game, and to pin your hopes on somebody who has missed lots of football recently. Maybe Fergal is better off waiting for the knockout stages - if we make it through," Lennon added. Defender Enda McGee is also a long-term injury casualty for Tubberclair, but they have plenty of forward firepower in the likes of Ian Coffey, Jeffrey Farrell, Michael 'Junior' Hopkins and Francis Spollen. Maryland manager Finbar Egan also has several injury worries, with David Reynolds, Conor Farrell, Ronan Farrell, John Cunningham and Philip Rainey almost certainly all out, while James Reynolds is also rated 50/50. Egan has not been best pleased with Maryland's recent form but believes injuries have played a major part in his side's last couple of defeats. "We could blame injuries but the bottom line is we haven't been up to the mark in our last couple of games. Okay, injuries at the wrong times in games hasn't helped, but generally we haven't been taking our chances or playing to our normal standard," he said. "We're certainly hoping to do our best on Saturday and improve on recent showings. I'm hoping the players will bounce back, and we have to ensure we get back to doing the things we do best. But Tubberclair will give us a very close battle and their inside-forwards are very dangerous, and they've a very good manager in Tom Lennon. We'll try to win as a team," added Egan. Elsewhere in Division 1, Athlone are already guaranteed a place in the knockout stages, but are hoping to seal top-spot in Division 1, and subsequently qualification to the semi-finals, with a win over Killucan at Moate on Sunday. With Athlone and Killucan tied on six points, Athlone must win to leapfrog the North Westmeath men at the summit of Division 1, as Killucan currently boast a superior scoring difference. Athlone, however, were disappointing in their last outing, and lost a low-scoring game (1-6 to 1-4) to a previously pointless Coralstown-Kinnegad. while Killucan are the group's form team with three straight wins since losing their opening day fixture againstTubberclair. The weekend's other game in Division 1 is also of much importance, as bottom-two sides Coralstown-Kinnegad and St Loman's clash at Cusack Park on Sunday (6.45pm), with the losers finishing bottom and going into a relegation play-off. St Loman's fall from grace this year has been startling, with last year's beaten finalists only accumulating a single point from their four games to date. Coralstown-Kinnegad have two points, garnered from a recent win against Athlone, and a draw would see them safe from relegation. In Division 2, Garrycastle and Mullingar Shamrocks play at Cusack Park on Saturday evening (6.45pm), with Garrycastle needing only a draw to secure top spot and a semi-final berth. Shamrocks are currently a point behind Anthony Cunningham's holders in the race to top the group, but Garrycastle will be most people's favourites to do enough on Saturday to finish the division with a win. Who finished in third place and reaches the quarter-finals is less clearer, with Castledaly, The Downs and Tyrrellspass all vying for that sought-after position. A victory for Castledaly (who currently hold third-place on four points) against Tyrrellspass on Sunday (Moate, 5.30pm) would seal the deal for Enon Gavin's men, regardless of the outcome of the The Downs fixture against St Malachy's the same day (Cusack Park, 5.30pm). However, if Castledaly lose to Tyrrellspass (which is not unreasonable to suggest), fifth-placed Tyrrellspass could yet sneak through, but only if The Downs suffer an unlikely defeat to bottom side St Malachy's. St Malachy's, meanwhile, are already confirmed as Division 2's bottom-placed side and will go into a relegation play-off against either Coralstown-Kinnegad or St Loman's. In the Jasca Sports Westmeath IFC this weekend, Moate All-Whites need a point against bottom-placed Kilbeggan Shamrocks to secure football at this level for another year, when the sides clash in Division 1 at Lakepoint Park on Friday (7pm). Caulry have already qualified from the group but could yet ensure a second-placed finish if they beat Ballynacargy on Friday evening (Lakepoint Park, 8.30pm). Both Tang and Rosemount are also looking to seal places in the knockout stages this weekend, as their IFC Division 2 group draws to a close. A draw for Tang in their game against Ballymore (Saturday, Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone, 5.30pm) would see them through, while Rosemount probably need to beat Ballinagore at Cusack Park to make sure of further progression, although a draw would be enough if St Mary's, Rochfortbridge fail to beat table toppers Castletown F/C/W/ at Kinnegad (Saturday, 5.30pm).