Wonderful weekend for Westmeath clubs in provincial ties

What was an excellent weekend on the club provincial scene for Westmeath saw all teams progress to the next stage of the various competitions, with St Loman’s, Mullingar joined by intermediate champions St Malachy’s and junior winners Kilbeggan Shamrocks.

St Malachy’s had to travel to Carlow and overcome Clonmore (2-9 to 1-8), while Kilbeggan Shamrocks survived a bit of scare before seeing off the Kilkenny champions, Lisdowney (1-15 to 2-7), at Lakepoint Park on Saturday.

St Malachy’s will face the Kildare champions Allenwood in the next round and will be up against Lilywhites legend Johnny Doyle on the weekend of November 5. Kilbeggan Shamrocks meet Longford’s Ballymore on the same weekend.

Elsewhere, the Milltown ladies senior footballers have a massive home game against Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes next weekend in the Leinster club semi-final, following their terrific victory over Wicklow’s Tinahely on Sunday.

It was sweet revenge for the Rathconrath ladies, who lost out narrowly against the same opposition in Wicklow last season and they are now looking forward to what should be a great occasion.

Meanwhile, there was positive news on the senior football managerial front as Dessie Dolan was confirmed as manager for a second term last week, and his side will face Wicklow in the 2024 Leinster championship.

Elsewhere, next Sunday night sees a massive fundraiser taking place in the Mullingar Park Hotel, with Westmeath GAA expected to generate a record €150,000. The Quid Games event will be compered by comedian Conor Moore and a big crowd is expected to attend.