Back row, from left: Daniel Heavin, Darragh Coffey, Jack Murtagh, Cian Molloy, Christopher Hermbusche and Fred Kelleher. Front row: Colm O’Roarke, Enda Cully, Boidu Sayeh, Brandon Kelly and Gareth Mullaniff, at the launch of the Intermediate football championship.

Milltown, Shandonagh and Tubberclair carry most firepower

Damien Maher

Published: Thu 24 Jul 2025, 1:42 PM

Last updated: Thu 24 Jul 2025, 3:27 PM

Shay Murtagh Westmeath IFC preview

If ever there was a tight race in prospect, it’s that for the Peter Geraghty Cup as there appears to be quite a few contenders for this year’s Westmeath intermediate football title.

Won last year in impressive style by Garrycastle, they were clear front runners 12 months ago, but this year it seems a bit closer as Shandonagh, Tubberclair, Milltown and Multyfarnham lead a very open field.

It’s a conundrum and in truth, trying to predict a winner is nigh impossible at this stage, but as the rounds progress, a clearer picture will surely emerge. Perhaps Tubberclair, who reached this year’s Division 2 league final, could be the answer, although they produced an unconvincing performance when losing to Killucan.

Shandonagh will have the benefit of Division 1 football under their belt and with Ray Sheridan in his first season at the helm, the Kilpatrick men will be hoping the former Tyrrellspass manager’s experience could provide an added boost.

Milltown have shown clear progress in recent years and will be keen to go one better than last year’s final replay defeat against the former kingpins, whose senior experience told in the decider. They didn’t feature in the league final, but their first round clash against neighbours Shandonagh at the weekend will generate massive interest locally and Milltown will hope new manager Mickey Harkins can inspire another big run. The former Longford and Granard player led Colmcille to senior glory in his native county and that experience is a definite plus.

The teams play in a fiercely competitive Section ‘A’, where St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge will hope 1995 minor All-Ireland hero Damien Gavin can inspire a renewed effort. They are an efficient outfit and even if they lack the physical presence of the likes of Milltown, they are lively outsiders.

Elsewhere, Rosemount showed last year they are capable of matching most teams, though the loss of players could prove an impediment.

Of the teams in Section ‘B’, Milltownpass look a step ahead and could qualify for the knockout stages. Castledaly, Maryland, Ballymore and Kilbeggan Shamrocks are the other sides in this group.

With the indefatigable Ronan Wallace in their ranks, Multyfarnham will be looking to build on last year’s promising run and Darren Rigney and Graeme Corcoran remain at the helm. Whether they have the same fire power as the likes of Tubberclair, Milltown and Shandonagh remains to be seen, but it’s an intriguing proposition. Overall, another fascinating intermediate championship lies in store.

MEET THE TEAMS

Section ‘A’

St Mary’s Rochfortbridge

Manager: Damien Gavin. Captain: Enda Cully. Players in: None. Players out: Eddie Alford, Brendan Brady. How they fared in 2024: Failed to qualify for knock-out stages.

Tubberclair

Managers: Daniel Sammon and Keith Higgins (joint managers). Captain: Fred Kelleher. New players in: Liam Staunton, Taylor Slevin, Kealen Connell, Daire O'Connor, Paul Keegan, Tom Bourke, Tommy Farrell, Tiernan Mitchell, Caiman Dolan, Jack O'Donnell, Louis Clayburn. Players out: None.How they fared in 2024: Beaten in quarter-final on penalties vs Multyfarnham. Promoted from ACFL Division 2 in 2025.

Shandonagh

Manager: Ray Sheridan. Captain: Daniel Scahill. New players in: John Fry, Eoin Conlon, Jack Tynan. Players out: Eoin Quinn. How they fared in 2024: Relegated from senior football.

Rosemount

Manager: Karl Dermody. Captain: Boidu Sayeh. New players in: Andy Geoghegan, Eamonn Boland, Sean Pettit. Players out: Enda Boland (knee injury), Ben O’Brien (shoulder surgery), Killian Lawlor (thigh surgery), Tommy Parker (ACL injury), Liam Maxwell (ACL injury), Sean Conlon (USA), Andy McCormack (Dubai). How they fared in 2024: Semi-finalists, losing to Milltown.

Multyfarnham

Joint/Managers: Darren Rigney, Graeme Corcoran, with selector Peter Keaney. Joint captains: James Greene, Anthony McGivney. Players in: None. Players out: None. How they fared in 2024: Semi-finalists, losing to Garrycastle.

Milltown

Manager: Mickey Harkins, with Gerry Lynn as assistant. Captain: Jack Murtagh. New players in: Jarlath Boyce returns, while Conor Lynn, Aidan Maguire, Patrick Kiernan, Jack Smith and Jack Gunning step up from minor. Players out: None. How they fared in ‘24: Defeated in IFC final replay.

Section ‘B’

Milltownpass

Manager: David Martin. Captain: Brandon Kelly. New players in: Dylan Coyne, Aidan O'Brien, Luke Jackson, Emmett Brennan, Daragh Mullen, Oisin Earley. Players out: Evan Gorman, Mark Gorman. How they fared in 2024: Finished fifth out of six teams in Section ‘A’.

Kilbeggan Shamrocks

Manager: Nigel Adamson. Captain: Nigel Scally, with vice-captain Darragh Coffey. New players in: Ray Kennedy (from St Aidan's), Eoin Marsden (from Tullamore), Cillian Rochford, Jacob Browne, Conor Mullins. Players out: Cathal Finn (St Gabriel's, London), James Hanlon (ACL injury), Brendan McMahon, Josh Malone. How they fared in 2024: Won two, lost two, drew one in IFC Section ‘B’.

Ballymore

Manager: Michael Tumelty and James Galvin. Captain: Colm O’Rourke. Players in: Conor Martin, Kian Maloney. Players out: Dan Ennis, Ronan McLoughlin, Ben Maxwell, Sam Maxwell, Declan Rooney. How they fared in 2024: Finished just above Ballynacargy in Section B.

Maryland

Manager: Dean Bracken. Captains: Keith Malynn and Christy Hermbusche. New players in: Donal Hogan. However, Hogan is currently out with injury and may not see action. Players out: None. How they fared in 2024: Finished 4th in section B, retaining senior status.

Castledaly

Manager: Conor Foley, with selectors/coaches: MJ McLoughlin, Niall O'Neill, Paddy Marsh, Paddy Costello, Fergus Quinn, Enda Kelly, Jason Bradley. Joint captains: Alan Stone, Kevin Stone. New players in: Jamie Anders, Paul Henson, Benji Murray.. Players out: David Stone, Eanna Duffy, George Kearney (long term injuries); Paddy Holloway, Darragh Kelly, Justin Coughlan (retired). How they fared in 2024: Relegated from section A to B.

Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall

Managers: Gerry Seery, Paul McGerr. Captain: Glen Plunkett. Players in: None. Players out: John McCarthy, Charlie McCormack, Darren Kilcoyne, David Devine, Conor O’Grady. How they fared in 2024: Won the junior title.