Reigning champions will be difficult to dethrone

The Westmeath Senior Football Championship is set to begin next weekend, promising an exhilarating series of matches as teams vie for the coveted Flanagan Cup.

The championship will feature prominent clubs from across the county, each bringing their unique strengths and histories to the competition. The defending champions, St Loman's, Mullingar, are entering the tournament with high expectations, having won seven of the last 11 titles and their recent victory over Coralstown/Kinnegad in the Division 1 league final is a real fillip. John Heslin, Ronan O'Toole and Sam McCartan lead an explosive attack that will take all the stopping, one suspects.

The Mullingar side, guided by their manager Paddy Dowdall, who is a former player for the team, will face Athlone in the first round. St Loman's has established a formidable presence in recent years, and under Dowdall's leadership, they are once again favourites to clinch the championship. Their consistent performance and tactical prowess make them the team to beat.

Athlone, despite being up against tough opponents, will be eager to challenge the defending champions and make a strong start to their campaign and Westmeath players Shane Allen and Ray Connellan will lead the charge for the Shannonsiders who retained their Division 1 status in the league.

Uneasy the head that wears a crown, it is said, but the reigning champions will be difficult to stop. The teams get this year's championship underway on Friday evening at TEG Cusack Park (throw-in 7.30pm).

Last year's finalists, Coralstown/Kinnegad, are another key contender in this year's championship. Paschal Kellaghan and Jack Cooney are retained and the club is keen to win a first senior title since 1996. They have made clear progress in recent years. Cooney's experience and strategic insight have bolstered the team's performance, making them a significant threat to St Loman's dominance.

They will begin their campaign against Tang, and expectations are high for them to secure a victory in this encounter, with players of the calibre of Brían Cooney, Darren Giles and Josh Gahan likely to feature prominently.

Tang, now under joint managers Adrian Coughlan and Colm Donoghue, will bring a lively challenge with the likes of Adam Neary good in attack, but this will be a major step up against one of the championship favourites.

The third match in Section A features Tyrrellspass taking on Caulry. This game is anticipated to be highly competitive, with Caulry being slight favourites under the management of former Westmeath supremo Pat Flanagan. Senan Baker has emerged as a player with a bright future even though the transition to senior inter-county level is proving tough and he will be a handful for the Tyrrellspass defence.

Tyrrellspass, under the management of former Laois All-Ireland football referee Eddie Kinsella, will present a stern challenge. Their experience and resilience are key components and Westmeath defender Jamie Gonoud is one of their strongest performers. It should be an intriguing clash.

Competitive Section B

Section B of the championship is equally compelling, featuring six teams with a mix of established powers and rising challengers. The Downs, who claimed the title only two years ago, are set to face Moate All Whites. Johnny Murray's charges are expected to perform strongly and secure a win to kickstart their championship journey.

Their previous triumphs have instilled a winning mentality within the team, making them a formidable force in the competition, with the likes of Charlie Drumm, Luke Loughlin and Conor Coughlan among their leading lights. They finished third in Division 1 behind St Loman's and Coralstown/Kinnegad which is a fair indication of their potential in the race for the Flanagan Cup, but are hit with notable absentees.

Moate All Whites have a marquee forward in Robbie Forde and are a well balanced side, with Liam McNeil in his second season in charge. They will quietly fancy their chances here.

Another noteworthy game in Section B sees Mullingar Shamrocks pitted against their neighbours, Shandonagh. This local derby is expected to draw significant attention, with Mullingar Shamrocks being favoured to win, but the gap has certainly closed in recent years.

Shamrocks, under Enda Monaghan's watch, are reliant on the vastly experienced Denis Corroon, while Dean Moore is a lively forward. The club won the minor title last year and have a decent crop of U20 players, with Shane Ormsby, son of former midfielder Tom, who captained the team to senior glory in the past, a player for the future.

The rivalry adds an extra layer of excitement to the match, as both teams aim to assert their dominance and gain early momentum in the championship. Shandonagh will relish the opportunity to get one over on their neighbours and the addition of Tommy Carr to the management team (alongside Kevin Hickey) can only add experience and knowledge. They have talented young players in Brian Kavanagh, Gareth Carr and Daniel Scahill and there's no reason to fear their once great neighbours.

The final match in Section B features St Malachy's taking on Killucan. St Malachy's are the favourites to come out on top in this encounter and Killucan will need to improve on their Division 3 final showing. They will be typically tenacious and difficult to overcome, one suspects and both sides will be familiar with each other.

County star David Lynch is a major loss to St Malachy's, who won the intermediate title a year ago and dual player Niall O'Brien is also absent. It will be a strain on manager Tom Browne's resources, but Shane Corcoran is a player with serious potential.

Killucan have a new manager in Dublin's Conn Cleary and they disappointed in the Division 3 league final, but they have plenty of hard-working and talented footballers in Sean Leech, Gavin Flood and Cormac Boyle.

As the Westmeath Senior Football Championship kicks off, the anticipation and excitement among fans and players are palpable. Each team brings its unique blend of talent, experience, and ambition to the competition, ensuring a series of thrilling matches.

The defending champions, St Loman's, are under the spotlight, but challengers like Coralstown/Kinnegad, The Downs, and others are poised to give them a run for their money.

With local rivalries and seasoned managers adding to the drama, this year's championship promises to be a memorable showcase of Gaelic football in Westmeath.

The opening round of matches will set the tone for the championship, with teams eager to secure early victories and build momentum.

Intermediate football championship

The Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship looks typically close and the teams are well matched, but Garrycastle will still be reeling from their relegation last year and it is going to take a mighty effort to stop them from bouncing back.

James Dolan's vast experience will be a factor and they go with a local man in Gary Dolan as manager. He will inspire a massive effort. Their biggest threat comes from some of the local teams like Tubberclair, Rosemount and Castledaly. Milltown are certainly dark horses in what is a claustrophobic top group and, quite frankly, none of the teams in Section B look capable of being a threat at the business end.