Westmeath senior and intermediate championship previews

The meeting of Moate All Whites and Garrycastle at Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone tonight (Friday, 7.30pm) kicks off this weekend's Westmeath SFC action.

Here we take a look at the second round games in the Westmeath senior and intermediate football championships, with all fixtures listed below.

WESTMEATH SFC SECTION B

Moate All Whites v Garrycastle: After a fully deserved victory over Athlone in their opening game (1-9 to 0-7), Moate All Whites can approach this game against Garrycastle with confidence. Young players such as Daragh Lowry, Tobby Conteh and goal scorer Ronan Murray played influential roles in that Moate win which is encouraging for their future prospects.

Garrycastle looked lightweight in attack in their game against Shandonagh, with Alex Gardiner (so often their scorer-in-chief) in Canada and two of the Monaghan brothers not playing, so it was no surprise that the versatile James Dolan was deployed up front.

But with players like Mark McCallon, Jack Donohue and John Gaffey in defence and Eoin Mulvihill and Justin Barrett in midfield, they still have quality operators. If Garrycastle can curb the threat of Robbie Forde and deny the Moate attacker opportunities from frees, they might just get over the line. Verdict: Garrycastle.

Athlone v Tang: For Athlone, the need for drastic improvement from the opening game against Moate is obvious - they only managed to score two points from play, with no forward scoring from play.

With Shane Coughlan and Jack Keenan scoring the goals, 2021 intermediate champions Tang claimed a notable win over Mullingar Shamrocks in their opening game. They certainly won't make it easy for Athlone. Another defeat would almost spell the end of Athlone's hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages and their greater need for a victory might just spur them over the line. Verdict: Athlone.

Mullingar Shamrocks v Shandonagh: A narrow defeat to Shamrocks caused Shandonagh to be relegated a couple of years ago and they would love to tun the tables on their Mullingar neighbours, while the men in green and white will be very keen to avoid a second successive defeat.

Two of the Section B first round games were won by a single point and, interestingly, there is no draw in any of the SFC or IFC openers. Those who enjoy a punt on club games - not a practice I'd recommend as likely to be profitable - are often frustrated by draws when doing accumulator bets. Anyway, I'm going to sit on the fence and opt for a draw here. Verdict: draw.

WESTMEATH SFC SECTION A

Caulry v Tyrrellspass: Caulry lost out to Tyrrellspass in last year's quarter-final and will be keen to overturn that result. By all accounts Tyrrellspass did not pull up any trees in their win over Killucan but with former Westmeath star Ger Egan still pulling the strings, they look the safer bet. Verdict: Tyrrellspass.

St Loman's Mullingar v Coralstown/Kinnegad: The fact that St Loman's Mullingar could accumulate a tally of 4-13 - without John Heslin or Shane Dempsey - when defeating county champions The Downs says a great deal about their capabilities.

For their part, Coralstown/Kinnegad scored four goals in their win over Caulry and they won this year's ACFL Division 1 title. With four teams out of six to qualify from Section A, both of these teams are virtual certainties to advance, so the result of this game is unlikely to be significant. Still, Loman's look the more likely winners. Verdict: St Loman's

The Downs v Killucan: Reigning champions The Downs lost out to St Loman's and they will be keen to bounce back in this local derby. Killucan's game against Tyrrellspass was widely described as a lacklustre affair, and anything other than a win for The Downs would be a major surprise. Verdict: The Downs.

WESTMEATH IFC SECTION A

Rosemount v Milltown: Relegated from the senior ranks last year, Rosemount got off to a winning start against St Mary's. With Des Collins in charge, the Roses are capable of inflicting a second successive defeat on Milltown, who lost out to neighbours Ballymore last time out. Verdict: Rosemount.

Castledaly v Ballymore: Ballymore have caused Castledaly problems in championship outings over recent years, but Castledaly will be on a mission of atonement after their heavy defeat to Tubberclair. If Castledaly can get sufficient ball into Westmeath forward Lorcan Dolan, they should be able to amass a winning tally. Verdict: Castledaly.

Tubberclair v St Mary's, Rochfortbridge: This is a repeat of last year's semi-final which Tubberclair won by virtue of an impressive second-half display. Matthew Whittaker was a conspicuous absentee from the Tubberclair team in their win over Castledaly and St Mary's, having lost to Rosemount, might turn the tables on last year's game. Verdict: St Mary's.

WESTMEATH IFC SECTION B

Maryland v Ballynacargy: As has been the case for many years, Maryland will look to Kieran Martin and Callum McCormack for inspiration, but Keith Malynn's scoring contribution of 1-2 was encouraging in their win over last year's junior champions Multyfarnham.

If Maryland can limit the influence of Troy Maher (scorer of 1-3 in Ballynacargy's win over Milltownpass), the Drumraney men might just make it two wins from two. Verdict: Maryland.

*In the other games, Milltownpass will hope to have Sam Duncan and others back in the fray - otherwise they could fall to another defeat, this time at the hands of St Malachy's. David Lynch and Niall O'Brien scored 1-8 between them in the Castletown/Dysart side's opening round win. Multyfarnham, aided by the presence of Westmeath defender Ronan Wallace, get the nod to overcome Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall.

WESTMEATH GAA FIXTURES

Friday, July (all games 7.30pm)

Shay Murtagh Precast Senior FC Section B: Moate All Whites v Garrycastle (Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone), Pat Fox

Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 FC Section A (first named teams at home): St Loman’s Mullingar v Athlone, Barry Kelly; The Downs v Killucan, Jim Rock; Mullingar Shamrocks v Garrycastle, Ken Daly.

Clarke’s Bar Junior 2 FC Section A: Loughnavalley v Caulry (St James' Park, Kilbeggan), Mick Murtagh; Rosemount v Multyfarnham (Ballymore), Paul McCaughey;

Saturday, July 8

Shay Murtagh Precast Intermediate FC Section A: Rosemount v Milltown 5.15pm, TEG Cusack Park, Gary Hurley.

Shay Murtagh Precast Intermediate FC Section B: Multyfarnham v Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall, 5.15pm, Rochfortbridge, Ken Gunning; Ballynacargy v Maryland, 7pm, Rochfortbridge, Alan Coyne.

Shay Murtagh Precast Senior FC Section A: Tyrrellspass v Caulry 5.15pm, Moate, Declan Nugent; Coralstown Kinnegad v St Loman's Mullingar, 7pm, TEG Cusack Park, Barry Pierce.

Shay Murtagh Precast Senior FC Section B: Tang v Athlone, 7pm, Moate, Barry Nea; Shandonagh v Mullingar Shamrocks, 7pm, The Downs, Damien Maher.

Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 FC Section B: Ballycomoyle v Kilbeggan Shamrocks 5.15pm, The Downs, Michael Gordon.

Sunday, July 9

LGFA - TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship quarter-final: Cusack Park, Ennis: Clare v Westmeath, 2pm.

Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 FC Section B: St Joseph's v Bunbrosna, 2pm, Shandonagh, Ray Farrelly; St Paul's v Moate All Whites, 3.45pm, Shandonagh, Alfie Devine.

Clarke’s Bar Junior 2 FC Section A: Mullingar Shamrocks v Killucan, 1.30pm (Springfield), Michael Moran.

Shay Murtagh Precast Intermediate FC Section A: Ballymore v Castledaly, 2pm, Páirc Chiaráin, Niall Ward; Tubberclair v St Mary's, Rochfortbridge 5.15pm, TEG Cusack Park, Shane Maher;

Shay Murtagh Precast Intermediate FC Section B: St Malachy's v Milltownpass 3.30pm, Springfield, Derek Heffernan.

Shay Murtagh Precast Senior FC Section A: The Downs v Killucan, 7pm, TEG Cusack Park, Enda Kelly.