Crunch time as local clubs aim to stay in the hunt

It’s crunch time in the Westmeath club football championships this weekend with the final round of group games taking place. Several local clubs are facing do or die assignments and this weekend’s games should provide intriguing action.

Starting with Section A of the Westmeath Senior Football Championship, Athlone and Tang will meet this weekend and both sides have a chance of advancing to the knockout stages.

Based on the form in this year’s championship, Athlone will be regarded as slight favourites, but it’s worth remembering that Tang defeated the men in blue and white last year.

Tang claimed a surprise win over Coralstown/Kinnegad in their opening game of this year’s campaign but have fallen to three successive defeats since. For their part, Athlone have drawn their last two games, having overcome Caulry in their second fixture.

Depending on the result of the match between Tyrrellspass and reigning champions St Loman’s Mullingar, a win for Athlone over Tang could even see the Shannonsiders progress straight to the semi-finals.

Also in Section A, Caulry face Coralstown/Kinnegad in Moate on Saturday evening and nothing less than a win will do for Pat Flanagan’s charges. Having lost their first three games, Caulry gave themselves a lifeline by defeating Tang in their last outing. Caulry were without Westmeath star Kevin Maguire for their first two games, but he featured in the last two matches which was a significant boost.

Coralstown/Kinnegad, defeated finalists last year, have been a real bogey team for Caulry in recent years. But the Mount Temple men will have to find a way to overcome the team who usually wear the same colours as themselves if they are to stay in the championship.

In Section B, Mullingar Shamrocks have already secured one of the two knockout places up for grabs. They will be joined by The Downs or the latter’s local rivals Killucan who meet each other this weekend. The Downs had been going well until they fell to a surprise defeat at the hands of Shamrocks.

For Moate All Whites, it’s all about getting the result they need to steer clear of relegation danger - a draw against Shandonagh would be enough for Moate to secure senior status for next year.

Turning to the Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship, Tubberclair need to beat neighbours Garrycastle in their last Section A game to be sure of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Garrycastle, Milltown and Rosemount have booked their places in the knockout phase and will be joined by either Tubberclair or Milltownpass.

Tubberclair will need to beat Garrycastle if Milltownpass overcome the already out of contention Castledaly. Having gone so close to winning the intermediate title in recent years, it would be a major disappointment for Tubberclair to miss out on the knockout stages, but that’s a prospect that hangs over the Glasson men unless they can pull off a significant victory over table toppers Garrycastle.

The final round clash between Rosemount and Milltown will be a battle for an automatic place in the semi-finals.

In Section B, Kilbeggan Shamrocks still have a chance of progressing as they prepare to meet unbeaten Multyfarnham. Kilbeggan’s main target was to stay at the intermediate grade this year so it could be said that they are now in bonus territory.

Multyfarnham are in pole position to top the group but they could still miss out on a place in the knockout stages if they fall to a surprise defeat to Kilbeggan, combined with a win for St Mary’s Rochfortbridge over already relegated Ballynacargy.

Maryland and Ballymore are safe but cannot advance to the knockout phase as they prepare to meet in a game which has been switched to Drumraney on Saturday.

Overall, it looks likely that Multy and St Mary’s - who claimed a decisive win over Kilbeggan in their last game - will be the two teams to go through from Section B.

If teams are level on points, the first criterion used to separate them is the head-to-head result between the teams. If more than two teams are level, the points garnered in the ‘mini league’ involving those teams will be used to determine placings followed, if necessary, by the scoring difference accrued in the games involving those teams.

*See upcoming Westmeath GAA fixtures, as well as the current SFC and IFC tables, in this week's paper.