Intermediate Championship kick-off
THE 2009 Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship begins this coming weekend, with Rosemount and Tubberclair in Division 1B. Also in action during the opening weekend of the intermediate championship over the course of the weekend are Moate All-Whites and Tang, with the former facing a potentially very tough opener against last year"s runners-up Ballynacargy at Ballymore on Friday evening (7pm). Tang, meanwhile, face Milltown pass in their opening fixture at Páirc Chiaráin on Saturday (6.30pm). St Rynagh"s club man Gary Daly is the new man in charge at Rosemount and has major selection problems ahead of Saturday"s meeting with Tubberclair. In a major blow to the club, well liked trio Cathal Keane, Tom King and Martin Loddick have announced their retirements, while full-forward David Mullin and young wing back Richie O"Brien are definitely out with long-term injuries. Wing-forward Anthony Kelly has also moved to America and county minor player James Geoghegan has so far not featured for Rosemount in this year"s league and looks unlikely to play much part, if any, in this year"s championship, according to Gary Daly. Daly said: 'Our main priority this year has been trying to get out of Division 3 in the league. Hopefully we can consolidate our status in the intermediate championship, too.' Daly, who has Michael Hanniffy, David Fox and Niall O"Brien in his back room, described Saturday"s match against Tubberclair as a 'baptism of fire' for his young side. Tubberclair will be among the favourites to do well in this year"s intermediate championship and have slight injury worries themselves ahead of the weekend. James Martin and Francis Spollen both have knocks but Tom Lennon is confident both will be fine to play against Rosemount. Westmeath forward Fergal Wilson has also had well documented injury problems of late and has been absent from the county side in recent months. Lennon said: 'It"s well known Fergal has been struggling with a groin complaint since late last year. However, his commitment and attitude are unquestionable; he"s been at the pitch for training as much as possible. The young lads at the club also look up to him. Fergal has had a few run-outs recently but it"s difficult to say whether or not he will feature against Rosemount. I"d like to think he can play a significant role in this year"s intermediate championship for Tubberclair.' In the Westmeath IFC Division 1A, former Padraig Pearses manager Eamonn Mahon has taken over at Moate All-Whites but faces a testing task on the opening weekend of fixtures against Ballynacargy, who only narrowly lost last year"s final to Maryland following a replay. Mahon, who is supported by John Joe Claffey and Nick Linnane, said: 'Ballynacargy were unlucky to lose last year"s final, so we expect a reallt difficult encounter on Friday evening. I firmly believe intermediate football is very strong in Westmeasth and difficult to predict. Ballynacargy and Tubberclair, for me, will be difficult stop.' Moate"s efforts will be made extra difficult without the injured duo of Nigel Adamson and Stephen Byrne, both of whom have knee injuries at present. Lar Gillivan is also rated extremely doubtful because of an ankle injury but Mahon remains more hopeful on Gillivan"s chances. 'I"m very happy with the reaction of the players since I took over and we"re working well. We have to take each game as it comes and hopefully we"ll be good enough to scrape through the group stage,' said Mahon. Tang"s campaign begins with a clash against Milltownpass in Athlone on Saturday. Sean Burke controls team affairs at Tang for a third year running and is looking for a win to kickstart this year"s championship. A nasty shoulder injury to Niall Bannon, which could sideline him for two or three months, doesn"t help Tang"s cause, while Ciaran Duncan could also struggle to make Saturday"s game. Burke said: 'We have managed to reach the knockout stages over the last couple of years but hopefully we can go even further this time.'