Clonkill and Castletown look all set for Examiner Cup showdown

The widely-fancied finalists for 2020 haven’t disappointed so far, says Gerry Buckley

No matter how often RTÉ repeats its excellent ‘Reeling in the Years’ series, viewers never seem to tire of watching what is a short and snappy synopsis of bygone days. Sadly, whoever is charged in years to come with putting together the 2020 version will do well not to totally clog the half-hour with horrible Covid-19 memories.

The programme from this annus horribilis may well commence with a snapshot of Leo Varadkar on the plinth outside his office announcing the country’s lockdown in March. Events in recent days have brought a nationwide fear that his successor (and predecessor) as Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, may be on the verge of using the dreaded ‘l’ word again from the same plinth in the days ahead and, with it, further restrictions to sporting activities and spectators.

Thank God, Westmeath seems to have been fortunate with case numbers at a time when our southern neighbours have been badly hit and the powers-that-be in Lake County GAA circles deserve great credit for the smooth running of championship games so far. Naturally, the lack of big-match atmosphere which has prevailed is totally outside their remit.

It would be a huge blow if the various club competitions can’t be finished on schedule regardless of how the inter-county scene pans out. Indeed, yours truly was walking close to Croke Park last week and, frankly, found it hard to envisage a full stadium again and the wonderful sight of a thronged and colourful Jones’s Rd pre- and post-match. On a more local level, next weekend’s Wexford senior hurling final will have an attendance of just over 100, rather than anything up to 10,000 in what were very much the good old days.

The major unplanned benefit of the restrictions is the meaningful nature of all championship games and the abolition of the farcical situation which prevailed last year when Clonkill emerged as (worthy) senior hurling champions after losing their first three round robin games. One loss this year in both codes has put many clubs under immediate pressure – and rightly so, in the humble opinion of this knockout-loving traditionalist.

Last weekend’s two games in the race for the Westmeath Examiner Cup went very much as expected. Most pundits predicted a repeat of last year’s Clonkill v Castletown-Geoghegan decider before a ball was belatedly pucked in anger a few weeks back. On the evidence of their comfortable wins against Castlepollard and Delvin respectively, the men under the tutelage of the two Pats, O’Toole and O’Brien, would appear to be on course for another showdown – hopefully in front of a good-sized crowd, even if some folk fear that a ‘sport behind closed doors’ verdict may soon be announced from the dreaded aforementioned plinth.

The remaining round robin games on the weekend after next will be a last chance for redemption for the two sides widely expected to make the semi-final stage – Lough Lene Gaels and Raharney. However, on the evidence of their round one losses to Castletown and Clonkill respectively, neither club can approach their next game with even a morsel of complacency.

A draw will do the Collinstown men (minus 6) when they face Delvin (minus 12) allowing them to squeeze through on score difference. Similarly, Alfie Devine’s troops (minus 10) will make the penultimate round if they share the points with the Deelsiders (minus 11). However, the best way to get a draw is to go for a win and four proud clubs will surely go hell for leather with cherished semi-final places at stake. And thereafter, who knows? However, any deviation from a green and gold v black and amber final seems highly unlikely at this juncture.

Football takes priority next weekend and some mouth-watering and absolutely make-or-break fixtures are scheduled for a range of junior, intermediate and senior clubs. In the race for the Flanagan Cup, last year’s finalists, Garrycastle and St Loman’s, Mullingar, have cantered through their two round robin games to make the penultimate round. No great surprise there, but the other guaranteed quarter-finalists, Rosemount (two wins) and Coralstown/Kinnegad (a win and a draw), have done better than was generally expected.

Athlone should beat Caulry, but The Downs, Tyrrellspass and Mullingar Shamrocks will all need to improve significantly from their dire first round showings if they are to get their expected wins against Castledaly, Shandonagh and Killucan respectively. At least one unlikely outcome is on the cards.

Meanwhile, let us hope for the absence of a sombre-looking Taoiseach and a ‘plinth-free’ few days.