Football and hurling championship draws produce big derby games

The Downs will take on neighbours Coralstown/Kinnegad in the first round of this year’s Westmeath senior football championship following last Thursday’s draw.

The meeting of the two keen rivals is arguably the main highlight of the draws, held in TEG Cusack Park under the guidance of the Competitions Control Committee (CCC). Chairman Frank Mescall and Secretary Keith O’Brien conducted the draws, which were broadcast live on the Iarmhí TV podcast. Shandonagh and Milltown will meet in round one of the intermediate.

In hurling, the main highlight is the clash of Castletown Geoghegan and Lough Lene Gaels in the first round in what is a repeat of last year’s final. Clonkill and Raharney face first-round clashes with Castlepollard and Fr Dalton’s respectively.

The main football and hurling championship draws took place on the evening, with subsidiary competitions (such as junior ‘B’ and U20) to be held at a later date. Westmeath are set to commence the hurling championships on the weekend of July 20, with football championships beginning a week later (July 27).

In other senior football first-round ties, St Loman’s, Mullingar will face Athlone in a north v south clash and while the Shannonsiders are complete underdogs, they have made steady progress in recent times and will not fear the challenge. Mullingar Shamrocks will fancy their chances of getting a good start when they tackle Tyrrellspass, and it is a key match for both sides as they look to build early momentum.

"We have two teams, The Downs and Coralstown/Kinnegad, who are capable of winning the title, meeting in the first round and it's the standout game. There's the local rivalry side to it and it should be a really good game," said Frank Mescall. "We have some mouthwatering games to look forward to. Coralstown/Kinnegad dipped a bit last year, but I think they are well capable of recovering."

Pat O'Brien signalled out Athlone's Ray Connellan, Luke Loughlin of The Downs, John Heslin and Ronan O'Toole of St Loman's, Mullingar as potential stars.

"Ray Connellan could kick two-pointers for fun; Luke Loughlin has given exhibitions in a lot of venues around the country for Westmeath; John Heslin and Ronan O'Toole will be itching to play under these new rules," he remarked. "If this doesn't bring the football supporters out, nothing will."

Meanwhile, Garrycastle and Moate All Whites meet in what is the highlight of section ‘B’, where only two teams will make it through to the knock-out stages (quarter-finals). Tang meet St Malachy’s, who won the intermediate title two years ago, while Caulry face Killucan. There is less wriggle room in this group and all six teams will view the first-round games as crucial.

The intermediate football championship will see several intriguing first-round matches, none more so than that of Shandonagh and Milltown, both major players in the race for the Peter Geraghty Cup. Tubberclair, many observers fancy for outright honours, will have to overcome Rosemount to get off to a winning start, while St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge meet Multyfarnham.

Castledaly and Ballymore meet in a crunch game in section ‘B’ where just two of the six teams will qualify for the quarter-final. Castletown-Finea/C/W take on Kilbeggan Shamrocks and Milltownpass meet Maryland.

“It’s quite possible we have our county final on the first day: we all know how Milltown and Shandonagh love each other! It will be a really spicy one,” said Frank Mescall.

“Shandonagh will be annoyed at dropping down; Milltown had a really good year and played very well on the first day of the final, before losing to Garrycastle in the replay. They are well capable of winning an intermediate title.

“It’s almost impossible to tell who could win the intermediate championship – teams who come out of the group, the momentum could carry any of them to the title.”

Clubs will now be gearing for the various championships, with the All County Leagues entering the final few rounds in the coming month.

“We are really looking forward to it; I know it’s still a bit away, but once our county teams are finished, we will all be looking forward to them. We have had brilliant championships down the years and it’s a league basis, but you can still feel the excitement of who you are going to meet in that first round,” said Frank Mescall.

“I’m a firm believer in momentum: if you can win that first game it sets you up. That’s probably because I was involved with Ballynacargy and I would call the Bal’ boys real momentum boys. If they get off with a win, God only knows who will stop them!

The more seasoned teams like St Loman’s can take a defeat and bounce back. Last year, the Downs – and we are not mentioning them much – lost a final on penalties. And I would class penalties as a lottery. That’s all they lost on – did they lose the match? They didn’t, they lost it on penalties. They will be there or thereabouts again this year.

“We are well removed from it now, but I’m really looking forward to it.”

Pat O’Brien feels the new football playing rules will play a big part in this year’s championships.

“Teams with youth on their side will benefit. It is a lot more fluid and a far quicker game now. A quick understanding of the rules is important; getting a good goalie with a good kick-out and a good midfield who can move the ball in quickly.

“There could be a team who adapt better than anyone else to these rules; we won’t know until we see the first round,” he said.

Keith O’Brien said the championships have been running really well in Westmeath in recent years.

“We are in round five of the leagues this weekend and the clubs love them. They are striving for the championships and there’s three weeks of a break at the end of the leagues, and the county players will be back with their clubs,” he said.

Senior hurling a very tight affair

Reflecting on the senior ‘A’ hurling draw, Pat O’Brien, former manager of Castletown Geoghegan, said all clubs will be looking to hit the ground running.

“It’s a very tight competition, especially with just one team making it through to the final, and momentum is a great thing. If you can get a win the first day, it sets you up very well,” he observed.

“Fr Dalton’s are back up for the third time and they will be aiming to do well. They will be no pushover and it will be interesting to see how it pans out. Some teams may not be at full strength: players like to travel to the States during the summer, so that will be interesting.

“Raharney were unfortunate last year: a late goal by Lough Lene Gaels – a long-range shot that went all the way to the net – knocked them out of the championship. Otherwise, they would have qualified; that’s how close it was.”

Frank Mescall said four teams now have a realistic chance of outright victory in the senior ‘A’ hurling championship.

“For a long time we had just one, so it has got more competitive. My hope is that Fr Dalton’s survive; St Oliver Plunkett’s didn’t last year and it can be soul-destroying for teams to drop back immediately,” he observed.

Elsewhere, in the senior ‘B’ hurling championship, St Oliver Plunkett’s meet Crookedwood in what is arguably the highlight of the first round, with Brownstown taking on Ringtown and Cullion meeting Delvin. Pat O’Brien singled out Crookedwood’s Barry O’Mara as a player to watch.

“St Oliver Plunkett’s played well at senior; Brownstown were very good at intermediate last year. Ringtown have played well in the early stages in recent years. And you can never rule out Crookedwood, who have a lethal expert (free-taker) in Barry O’Mara, who scores from every angle – put the ball down and he knows where the posts are,” he observed.

The top team in the senior ‘B’ hurling championship reach the final, with the second and third-placed teams contesting the semi-final.

In the Junior 1 football championship, the clash of St Joseph’s and Ballynacargy in the first round is the highlight: St Joseph’s reached last year’s final and are bidding to go one better, while Ballynacargy were relegated from intermediate level.

“The second teams from the senior clubs are good. St Loman’s have a mind-boggling underage system and they have great young players who deserve a shot at a championship proper. They won’t find it all their own way – The Downs, Mullingar Shamrocks and Coralstown/Kinnegad have traditionally had good teams also,” said Frank Mescall.

“The proper junior clubs like Ballynacargy and St Joseph’s will be waiting for them in the knock-out stages and they will be hoping that the senior clubs have used up some of the better players in the senior championship. No disrespect, everyone would prefer to see the sole junior clubs winning through, but the senior clubs deserve their shot also.”

The draws were held on a remote platform making for a quiet meeting.

Ray Gavin was an excellent host accompanied by hurling analyst Pat O’Brien of Castletown Geoghegan.

GAA Championship draws in full

Shay Murtagh Senior Football Championship

Section A (Round 1)

The Downs v Coralstown/Kinnegad

St Loman’s, Mullingar v Athlone

Mullingar Shamrocks v Tyrrellspass

Section B (Round 1)

Tang v St Malachy’s

Caulry v Killucan

Garrycastle v Moate All Whites

Shay Murtagh Intermediate Football Championship

Section A (Round 1)

Shandonagh v Milltown

Multyfarnham v St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge

Tubberclair v Rosemount

Section B (Round 1)

Castletown/Finea/Coole/Whitehall v Kilbeggan Shamrocks

Castledaly v Ballymore

Milltownpass v Maryland

Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 Football Championship

Section A (Round 1)

Killucan v Athlone

Coralstown/Kinnegad v St Loman’s, Mullingar

Mullingar Shamrocks v The Downs

Section B (Round 1)

Bunbrosna v Ballycomoyle

Moate All Whites v Ballinagore

St Joseph’s v Ballynacargy

Clarke’s Bar Junior 2 Football Championship

Section A (Round 1)

Caulry v Mullingar Shamrocks

Killucan v Garrycastle

Section B (Round 1)

Tubberclair v St Paul’s

Loughnavalley v Delvin

Slevins Coaches Senior A Hurling Championship

(Round 1)

Clonkill v Castlepollard

Castletown Geoghegan v Lough Lene Gaels

Fr Dalton’s v Raharney

Slevins Coaches Senior B Hurling Championship

(Round 1)

Brownstown v Ringtown

St Oliver Plunkett’s v Crookedwood

Cullion v Delvin

Slevins Coaches Intermediate Hurling Championship

(Round 1)

St Brigid’s v Southern Gaels

Castletown Geoghegan v Clonkill

Raharney v Turin