Big weekend ahead for clubs in provincial competitions

The Extra Mile, with Westmeath Examiner sports editor Damien Maher

The Westmeath clubs are facing a key weekend in the Leinster club competitions and things will step up a level from the first round. Senior football champions St Loman’s, Mullingar must find a way to win in Pearse Park (Sunday, 2pm) when they take on Killoe Emmet Óg, who are of course managed by former Blues boss Luke Dempsey.

Midfielders Paddy Kiernan and Ronan Keogh, and attackers such as Cian Farrelly, Mickey Quinn, Daniel Mimnagh and Mark Hughes will make the Longford side stubborn opponents. Quinn is quite a versatile player and his years of experience will be a major factor.

St Loman’s, Mullingar didn’t fire on all cylinders and must do so on Sunday if they are to remain involved, one suspects. They cannot afford to concede anything soft and their defence will need to be tighter and more assured. John Heslin, Ronan O’Toole and TJ Cox provide real quality but it will require a strong team performance, so Paddy Dowdall’s men, as a collective group, need to step things up.

It will be the same for Kilbeggan Shamrocks in the junior and St Malachy’s in the intermediate. St Malachy’s meet Johnny Doyle’s team, Allenwoood (Kildare), on Saturday at 2pm in Hawkfield, while Kilbeggan Shamrocks have a home game against Ballymore (Longford) in The Downs at 2pm on Saturday.

Hurling takes centre stage the following weekend, with Raharney meeting the Dublin champions Na Fianna in TEG Cusack Park.