WEEKEND SPORTS PREVIEW

It's another busy weekend on the local sporting front with both Westmeath and Roscommon facing pre-season tournament final clashes.
Westmeath kick off the weekend tonight when they line up against All-Ireland champions Dublin in Parnell Park in the O'Byrne Cup final (throw in at 8pm).
Also today, Marist College play St Mary's of Edenderry in the Top Oil Bosco Cup Senior Football Championship (previously known as the Leinster Schools Championship). Throw in is at St Brigid's in Kiltoom at 1pm.
Tomorrow (Saturday) there is a local derby in the same competition when Moate Community School and Athlone Community College meet in the Moate school grounds at 1pm.
And Westmeath hurlers will meet Antrim in the Bord na Mona Kehoe Cup final at Abbotstown, Dublin, on Saturday, throw in at 2pm.
Last night, the local sporting focus was in the John McCormack Hall in AIT where the annual ADSL Futsal Tournament concluded with the Stacey Cup Final.
The final eight qualifiers from 29 teams played off in an exciting atmosphere where Hodson Bay Boys prevailed to take the trophy, seeing off Ballinasloe Blue Jays in the final.

 

The Hodson Bay Boys team which triumphed in the Stacey Cup final as part of the ADSL Futsal tournament last night.

On the international front, a number of local players are likely to be in action on Saturday.
First up is the Ireland Under 19 women's team who will face Italy in an international friendly on Saturday at 10am (11am local time) in Italy.
Ireland already lost 3-1 to the home side in a first friendly on Thursday which featured local players Chloe Singleton, who started and played for the first half and Carla McManus, who came on at half time.
Singleton, who lines out with Galway Women's side, is a doubt for tomorrow's game after sustaining a knock.
Two young players, Dylan Gavin and Kyle Conway, are in Paul Osam's Ireland Under 16 squad who play in an international friendly in the FAI National Training Centre, on Saturday, kick off 1pm.
On Sunday, Roscommon face Galway in the FBD Connacht League final at Tuam Stadium, throw in at 1.30pm.
In rugby action, Buccaneers face a long trip to Ballymena as the All Ireland League returns.
It's a vital game for bottom-of-the-table Buccs, with kick off on Saturday at 2.30pm.