Westmeath to begin league campaign with testing local derby

Westmeath will begin their 2024 Allianz Football League Division 3 campaign with a trip to Tullamore to face neighbours Offaly on Sunday, January 28.

Dessie Dolan and his management team won't need to be reminded of the desirability of a positive start to the campaign. Last year, Westmeath began with a defeat to Cavan and despite responding with an emphatic win over Longford, their promotion bid fell away in disappointing fashion.

A defeat away to Fermanagh, following an insipid display, ended Westmeath's promotion hopes and the last round game against Tipperary was a dead rubber.

Offaly are now managed by 2021 All-Ireland U-20 winning boss Declan Kelly, who is very familiar with the Westmeath scene from his successful spell in charge of St Loman's, Mullingar.

Though Westmeath have had an edge on Offaly in recent football clashes, the Lake men have only won one of the last four league meetings between the counties in Tullamore.

In their league clash at TEG Cusack early this year, Westmeath had to come from behind to claim victory, with a goal from Maryland stalwart Kieran Martin proving pivotal to the outcome.

After the clash against Offaly, Westmeath will host Clare who were relegated in 2023 after a lengthy stint in Division 2. A clash away to Leinster championship opponents Wicklow follows, and Westmeath will host Limerick in the fourth round.

Two fixtures against Ulster opposition then await - a trip to Belfast to face Antrim, before a clash with Down (opponents whom Westmeath have only managed to beat four times out of 16 league meetings).

Westmeath's programme of games will conclude with a trip to Markievicz Park to face Sligo, who were promoted from Division 4 in the last campaign.

All of Westmeath's league fixtures are listed for Sundays. Westmeath are slated to have four away games and three at home - a split which will make their promotion ambition more difficult to achieve.

Following the conclusion of their league campaign, Westmeath will take on Wicklow in the Leinster SFC first round on Sunday, April 7. The winners of that game will face a Leinster quarter-final against Kildare a week later.

In advance of the Allianz Football League, Westmeath will meet Longford in the O'Byrne Cup on Saturday, January 6. This game will give Dessie Dolan and his backroom team a chance to give new players a chance to impress before the serious business begins on the last weekend in January. Westmeath's senior football fixtures for 2024 are listed below.

2024 O'Byrne Cup quarter-final

Saturday, January 6: Longford v Westmeath (Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford).

2024 Allianz Football League Division 3

Round 1 - Sunday, January 28: Glenisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore (2pm) Offaly v Westmeath.

Round 2 - Sunday, February 4: TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar (2pm) Westmeath v Clare.

Round 3 - Sunday, February 18: Echelon Park, Aughrim (2pm) Wicklow v Westmeath.

Round 4 - Sunday, February 25: TEG Cusack Park (2pm) Westmeath v Limerick.

Round 5 - Sunday, March 3: Corrigan Park, Belfast (2pm) Antrim v Westmeath.

Round 6 - Sunday, March 17: TEG Cusack Park (2pm) Westmeath v Down.

Round 7 - Sunday, March 24: Markievicz Park, Sligo (2pm) Sligo v Westmeath.

Leinster SFC first round

Sunday, April 7: Westmeath v Wicklow - venue to be confirmed.