St Loman’s to face The Downs in Westmeath SFC final
St Loman’s, Mullingar and The Downs will renew their rivalry in the Westmeath Senior Football Championship final on Sunday October 13 after both teams emerged victorious in their respective semi-finals over the weekend.
Holders St Loman’s produced a dominant display, defeating Tyrrellspass 2-12 to 0-6 at TEG Cusack Park on Sunday. Goals from Shane Dempsey and John Heslin (1-4) were key in sending the Mullingar outfit through to their tenth final in as many years. St Loman’s took control from early on, holding a 0-7 to 0-3 lead at half-time. Two minutes into the second half, Dempsey's well-taken goal put daylight between the sides, stretching the lead to seven points. Tyrrellspass struggled to break down the Loman’s defence, and their fate was sealed when Heslin’s long-range free found the back of the net late in the game.
St Loman's manager Paddy Dowdall knew from the previous day that The Downs were in the final and he fully expects a serious test from the 2022 champions, who beat the Mullingar side to win the title. Dowdall will be very familiar with The Downs team having played hurling with many of them in Clonkill. “It’ll be a massively different test. They’re our neighbours down the road, in The Downs. It’s not as if I don’t know a lot of them either! We’re looking forward to the challenge ahead and I’m sure they are as well,” he said.
The Downs had a much tighter affair in their semi-final on Saturday, edging out Coralstown/Kinnegad 1-8 to 0-10. Ian Martin’s decisive goal just before half-time proved the difference, sending the 10-time champions into the final. Despite a spirited challenge from last year’s runners-up, The Downs held firm in a tense second half, securing their place in the decider. "Had we taken more of our chances we might have won it by more, but we showed great resilience to see the game out," remarked manager Johnny Murray.
The final will see St Loman’s aiming for their fourth Flanagan Cup in five years and it's their tenth consecutive Westmeath final. The Downs, Leinster finalists two years ago, will be aiming to emulate their 2022 victory over the Mullingar men. With both teams in strong form, another thrilling contest is expected between two heavyweights of Westmeath football.
Garrycastle impress
Elsewhere, an experienced Garrycastle side produced an impressive performance to overwhelm Multyfarnham in the Westmeath IFC semi-final on Sunday, winning by 2-19 to 2-4. They will face a strong challenge from Milltown in the final on Sunday, October 20, after the Rathconrath side comfortably beat Rosemount in Saturday's other semi-final (1-14 to 0-11). Garrycastle and Milltown have already played out a draw in round four (1-9 apiece).
The junior football decider will see CFCW and St Joseph's clash on the same day. CFCW beat St Loman's, while St Joseph's emerged victorious over Bunbrosna in their respective semi-finals.
It was also a draw when St Joseph's and CFCW met in July (2-10 to 1-13), all of which makes for two intriguing football finals.