Garrycastle advance despite defeat as Castledaly face play-off with sky blues
By Kieran Galvin
Despite their surprise defeat to Coralstown/Kinnegad yesterday evening, Garrycastle have progressed to the Westmeath SFC quarter-finals - while Castledaly and Tyrrellspass will face other in a play-off for a place in the knockout stages.
There has been a great deal of confusion as to how the teams who finish level on points are separated, so we will try to clarify matters here.
St Loman's top Section B on eight points and therefore go straight into the semi-finals, while Garrycastle, Tyrrellspass and Castledaly all finished on six points. Although Tyrrellspass have the superior scoring difference of the three teams, Garrycastle take second place on the basis of their head-to-head record against the other two teams with six points. Garrycastle defeated both Tyrrellspass and Castledaly and therefore go through in second place.
A new rule was introduced earlier this year - as voted for by a majority of Westmeath club delegates - which ordained that clubs can't be eliminated from a championship on the basis of a head-to-head record or scoring difference. Therefore, a play-off between Tyrrellspass and Castledaly will be needed to decide who takes the remaining place in the knockout stages. That game is listed to take place this Wednesday night with Lakepoint Park or Kinnegad the venue.
Similarly in the Westmeath IFC, a play-off is needed between Tubberclair and Shandonagh to decide who takes the third qualifying spot in Section A. That play-off is also due to played on Wednesday night (venue is Pairc Chiarain, Athlone, throw-in: 8pm).
Westmeath SFC Update
Quarter-finals
Garrycastle v Athlone
The Downs v Tyrrellspass/Castledaly
Semi-Finals
Mullingar Shamrocks v Garrycastle/Athlone
St Loman's, Mullingar v Tyrrellspass/Castledaly
Westmeath IFC Update
Quarter-finals
Caulry v Tubberclair/Shandonagh
St Malachy's v Tang
Semi-Finals
Milltownpass v St Malachy's/Tang
Ballynacargy v Caulry/Tubberclair/Shandonagh