Venue changes for Garrycastle and Southern Gaels games
The venue for Garrycastle's clash with Naomh Mearnóg of Dublin in the Leinster intermediate club championship semi-final has been changed.
The match will now be played at the Innisfails GAA grounds in Balgriffin tomorrow (Saturday), after it was moved from the original venue of Parnell Park, with the throw-in time still 1.30pm.
The clash with the Portmarnock outfit is the third away fixture in a row for Garrycastle in this year’s Leinster championship. The only Westmeath club to claim a Leinster senior title (a feat they achieved in 2011), Garrycastle are now one win away from a place in the provincial intermediate decider.
Interestingly, Garrycastle haven’t scored a goal in their last four games - the two instalments of the Westmeath intermediate final against Milltown and the Leinster championship wins over Fenagh (Carlow) and Clonbullogue (Offaly). If Garrycastle can end that mini drought on the goalscoring front, it could be a key factor in swinging Saturday’s game in their favour.
Having defeated Clanna Gael Fontenoy in the Dublin intermediate final, Naomh Mearnóg went on to overcome Dundalk Gaels (Louth) and Crettyard of Laois in the Leinster championship.
The other intermediate semi-final is between Kildare’s Caragh and Fethard St Mogue’s of Wexford which will be played at the same time on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the venue for the Westmeath U-20 Division 2 hurling final between Southern Gaels and Delvin has also been changed. The game was scheduled to be played in Robinstown but when this venue became unplayable, the two clubs agreed to a coin toss which was won by Delvin, meaning the northern outfit will have home advantage on Sunday.
Both teams will be keen to end the year with silverware having seen their adult teams defeated in county finals. Southern Gaels were well beaten by Brownstown in the Westmeath intermediate decider, with Cork native Brian Guerin scoring a remarkable five goals for the winners.
For their part, Devlin were narrowly edged out Fr Dalton's in the Westmeath senior 'B' hurling final.
The start time for Sunday's U20 final has been brought forward to 11.15am and this is to allow both teams and their supporters the option of attending TEG Cusack Park for the Leinster senior club hurling semi-final between Castletown Geoghegan and Kilcormac-Killoughey at 1.30pm.
Sunday's U18 Division 3 Football Championship final between Esker Gaels (a combination of Maryland/Tang and St Joseph's) and Coralstown/Kinnegad has been brought forward to 11am, with the venue still Shandonagh.
Considering the recent weather, anyone intending to travel to any of this weekend's games is advised to check for possible changes before departing.
Westmeath GAA updated fixtures
Saturday, November 23
AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship semi-final
Innisfails GAA, Balgriffin (1.30pm) Naomh Mearnóg (Dublin) v Garrycastle (Westmeath), Seamus Mulhare (Laois).
AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship semi-final
Home Instead Lakepoint Park (1.30pm) St Loman's Mullingar (Westmeath) v Ardee St Mary's (Louth), Barry Tiernan (Dublin).
Sunday, November 24
MJS Builds U18 Division 3 Football Championship final
Esker Gaels v Coralstown/Kinnegad, 11.00, Shandonagh, Vinny Cox.
Under-20 Division 2 Hurling Championship final
Delvin v Southern Gaels, 11.15, Delvin, Rob Cornally.
Junior B Football Championship quarter-finals
Caulry v Ballymore, 11.30, Caulry, Pat Fox; Kilbeggan Shamrocks v Tubberclair, 11.30, MJS Builds St James' Park, Michael Gordon.
Junior A Hurling Championship Round 3
Lough Lene Gaels v Castlepollard, 11.30, Decoteck Park, Collinstown, James McGrath.
AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship semi-final
TEG Cusack Park (1.15pm) Castletown Geoghegan (Westmeath) v Kilcormac Killoughey (Offaly), Eamonn Furlong (Wexford).