The weekend that was in local sport ...
WESTMEATH began life in Division 1 of the Allianz National Football League with an eight-point defeat to Cork last Sunday.
Despite drawing at half-time, Paul Bealin’s side - for whom St Loman’s John Heslin top-scored with four points - eventually lost the match, 0-18 to 0-10.
Athlone’s Ray Connellan was brought on as a substitute and had a very positive impact on proceedings, scoring a point along the way, while Garrycastle’s Dessie Dolan was also introduced to the fray as a substitute.
Matters are hardly going to get any easier for Westmeath when they entertain the All-Ireland champions Dublin in the second series of league matches this Sunday at Cusack Park (2pm).
Roscommon, meanwhile, will be hoping to build on their opening day victory in Division 3 when they face Wexford in Kiltoom this Sunday (2pm).
John Evans’ side had a 0-13 to 0-10 win against Longford at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park last Sunday, with St Brigid’s marksman Senan Kilbride notching four points. Clann na nGael’s Donie Shine was also among the Rossies’ point-scorers.
In the second round of the 2014 Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ Championship, the Marist College progressed to the quarter-finals with a 0-14 to 1-3 win against Castleknock Community College last Saturday.
Athlone Community College exited the competition after a 3-9 to 2-3 defeat to Wicklow Schools, while Moate Community School’s fixture against St Pat’s, Navan, was postponed and moved to this coming Wednesday at 7pm in Navan.
Elsewhere, the Ireland U20 rugby team began their Six Nations campaign with an emphatic victory over Scotland at a wet and windy Dubarry Park, Athlone, last Friday night.
*See this week's Westmeath Independent for reports on the above mentioned games.