Athlone vs Shamrocks clash one of the highlights in round two
The second round of the Westmeath Senior Football Championship throws up some intriguing clashes next weekend, with all eyes on the meeting of Athlone and Mullingar Shamrocks in Section ‘A’ - the stronger of the two groups - at Tang GAA grounds on Saturday evening (7pm).
Both sides made positive starts to their campaigns, though in differing fashion. Athlone produced a spirited performance to earn a share of the spoils against county kingpins St Loman’s, Mullingar in round one, and Eoin Jordan's charges will be keen to build on that showing. With county men Ray Connellan and Shane Allen leading the charge, they’ll fancy their chances of toppling Shamrocks.
Mullingar Shamrocks, for their part, were comfortable victors over Tyrrellspass in their opening fixture. That one-sided win may not have provided the toughest test ahead of what is likely to be a far more competitive battle with Athlone. Still, with Daragh Daly and Conor O'Brien forming a formidable midfield partnership and Dean Moore sharp in attack, Shamrocks appear to have the talent and physicality to mix it with any side in the county, and are certainly an up and coming team under Micheál Burke's watch.
Elsewhere in Section ‘A’, defending champions St Loman’s, Mullingar will be expected to collect their first win of the campaign when they face Coralstown/Kinnegad in the second part of Sunday’s double-header at TEG Cusack Park (5.45pm). The latter were well beaten by The Downs in round one and will need a dramatic improvement if they’re to trouble a St Loman’s outfit still brimming with experience. Even with Sam McCartan ruled out and having had a man set off, they still managed a great comeback in the first round against Athlone.
The Downs and Tyrrellspass also face off on Saturday at 7pm, this time at TEG Cusack Park. The Downs were among the most impressive sides in round one, dispatching Coralstown/Kinnegad on a 3-13 to 0-10 scoreline, with Luke Loughlin (1-5), Tom Tuite (1-3) and Niall Mitchell (1-0) hitting top form. Tyrrellspass, meanwhile, are searching for form and consistency after their heavy defeat to Shamrocks and will need to find both quickly to avoid falling further behind.
The curtain-raiser at Cusack Park on Sunday is an Intermediate Football Championship clash between Milltown and Multyfarnham (4pm). Milltown are aiming to bounce back from a narrow opening-round defeat to Shandonagh, while Multyfarnham will be hoping to carry momentum from their win over St Mary's, Rochfortbridge. The battle for the Peter Geraghty Memorial Cup is likely to throw up many upsets.
In Section ‘B’ of the Senior Championship, Killucan and Garrycastle meet on Saturday at 5.15pm at TEG Cusack Park. Both sides won their opening round fixtures - Killucan overcoming Caulry and Garrycastle defeating Moate All Whites - and a second win here would go a long way towards securing a knockout berth.
St Malachy’s take on Caulry on Saturday in Moate (7pm), with both sides looking to gain vital points. Malachy’s had the upper hand on Tang in round one, while Caulry will be seeking to bounce back from their defeat to Killucan.
Moate All Whites will aim to get their campaign back on track when they take on Tang in Tubberclair on Friday night (8pm). The All Whites fell to Garrycastle first time out, while Tang are already under pressure after a round one defeat and some notable absentees from last year’s panel.
Back in the Intermediate grade, Saturday also sees Tubberclair meet St Mary’s Rochfortbridge in Moate (5.15pm). Tubberclair impressed in their round one victory over Rosemount and will be fancied to continue that form. The final fixture of the weekend is a promising contest between Shandonagh and Rosemount on Sunday at 5.30pm in Rochfortbridge. Shandonagh left it late to snatch victory against Milltown in the opener and, as a side targeting a return to senior ranks, will be eager to build on that first round victory.