Day of reckoning as Milltown take on Garrycastle
IFC Final preview
This Sunday, October 20, all eyes will be on TEG Cusack Park as Garrycastle and Milltown face off in the Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship final, with the coveted Peter Geraghty Memorial Cup on the line.
It’s a final that pits experience against emerging talent, with Garrycastle the strong favourites, but Milltown entering their first intermediate final full of hope and potential.
Garrycastle come into this match with a formidable reputation, having won eight senior titles in Westmeath, as well as the Leinster Senior Club Championship in 2011. Their pedigree at the highest level is almost unrivalled in the county, and their near-miss against Crossmaglen Rangers in the 2012 All-Ireland Club final – a game they could have easily won in Croke Park before losing in a replay – is a testament to their strength over the years. The team are brimming with talent and experience, led by stalwarts like James Dolan, Mark McCallon, Eoin Mulvihill, and Michael Monaghan. Add in the firepower of Conor Cosgrove and the leadership of John Gaffey and James Sheerin, and it’s clear why Garrycastle are tipped to return to senior football at the first attempt.
They last lifted the Flanagan Cup in 2019 and reached the 2021 senior final, only to fall short in a replay. Now, under the management of Gary Dolan and Karl Henson, both former players and senior title winners, they are aiming to complete their return to the top.
In contrast, Milltown are the new kids on the block, contesting their first-ever intermediate final. But this is no fluke; the team have been building for several years and finally made the breakthrough after two consecutive semi-final appearances.
With youthful exuberance and a growing sense of belief, Milltown are bubbling with potential. Manager Pete Ballesty, assisted by team trainer Seán Loughlin, has guided this young team through a solid campaign, and they will be determined to cap it off with their first intermediate title.
The heart of Milltown’s challenge lies in their dynamic midfield duo of Jack and Dylan Murtagh, two strapping athletes who have played key roles in getting their team this far. Conor Dillon, an impressive presence in the half-back line, adds further steel to a backline that has been tough to break down all season.
Up front, Ben McGauran and Daire Hynes offer scoring threat, while Jack Duncan and the Gunning brothers, Luke and Matthew, provide the attacking flair that could trouble Garrycastle’s defence.
Though Milltown are underdogs, their youthful energy and hunger could prove dangerous. Ballesty’s side have played a brand of football that keeps their forwards busy and their defence well organised, and they will be looking to unsettle their more experienced opponents on Sunday. The influence of Seán Loughlin, a former footballer with The Downs and hurler with Clonkill, has added an extra dimension to their physical preparation, ensuring Milltown won’t be outworked on the big day.
Garrycastle’s experience is undeniable, but Milltown’s momentum and hunger to write a new chapter in their history make this a fascinating contest. The Intermediate Championship has thrown up its share of surprises in recent years, and Milltown will take confidence from the fact that anything can happen on the day. Garrycastle, with all their quality, know they cannot afford to take anything for granted.
It promises to be a thrilling final, with the Peter Geraghty Cup awaiting its new home. Will Garrycastle make an immediate return to the senior ranks, or can Milltown shock the county and claim their first-ever intermediate title? All will be revealed on Sunday.