Westmeath Senior FC Team of the Week ...
With another round of fixtures in the Westmeath Senior Football Championship coming up this weekend, we pick our team of the week from last weekend’s action.
1. Paddy Maloney (St Malachy’s). Made two excellent saves in the first half against Garrycastle, to deny Eoin Monaghan and Alex Gardiner.
2. Killian Foley (Coralstown/Kinnegad). Had a great battle with Michael Greene and did a decent job of curbing the impact of the threatening Athlone attacker.
3. Shane Flynn (St Loman’s Mullingar). A solid presence at the edge of the square in his side’s win over Castledaly.
4. Noel Mulligan (Athlone). With his listed direct opponent in a deep role, he enjoyed the freedom to burst forward from his full-back berth. Also sent over a ‘45’ in fine style. We’ve slotted him in at corner-back.
5. Lorcan Dolan (Castledaly). Scored 1-2 which is not bad for a wing-back. His goal was described as a “stunning drive that fizzed into the top corner of the St Loman’s net”. Sounds like it was good enough to merit his inclusion.
6. David Lynch (St Malachy’s). Was an absolutely key figure in his side’s surprise win over Garrycastle – the most eye-catching result of the round.
7. Wayne Fox (Coralstown/Kinnegad). Wore the No. 14 jersey against Athlone, but was a deployed as a sweeper. Was outstanding in this role and we’ve accommodated him in the half back line.
8. Conor Jordan (Killucan). Had a fine game at midfield in the drawn clash against neighbours The Downs. This was a game Killucan could easily have won but the sending-off of Brian Smyth proved a key moment.
9. Donal O’Donoghue (Mullingar Shamrocks). His experience and football know-how were vital in the Mullingar side’s win over Maryland.
10. Shane Clavin (St Malachy’s). Had a fine game at midfield against Garrycastle and we’ve accommodated this versatile player in the half-forward line.
11. Martin Flanagan (Tyrrellspass). Despite coming on as a substitute, he was many people’s choice as man of the match in his side’s win over Bunbrosna. Tyrrellspass had trailed 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time but they ended up winning by a huge margin.
12. Fintan Finnan (Bunbrosna). Was hugely influential in the first half against Tyrrellspass as Bun’ threatened to pull off a shock. Scored 0-5 of his side’s 0-8 tally.
13. Denis Glennon (Tyrrellspass). Scored 1-5 from open play against Bunbrosna - which underlined what he’s capable of when in the mood.
14. John Heslin (St Loman’s Mullingar). The Westmeath star contributed 1-6 of St Loman’s 2-15 total against Castledaly.
15. Shane Dempsey (St Loman’s). Scored 0-4 from play for the reigning champions. Part of a forward line which contains plenty of potency.
Round-up
Perhaps the most surprising result of last weekend’s fare in the Westmeath SFC was Garrycastle’s three-point defeat to St Malachy’s. Dessie Dolan Snr’s side - who beat Athlone in their opening group match - will be desperate to recover when they face Tyrrellspass at Cusack Park, Mullingar on Saturday (7.30pm). Both sides have two points going into this weekend’s game, with Tom Coffey’s Tyrrellspass men having beaten Bunbrosna last weekend, 3-17 to 0-8. Tyrrellspass lost their opening game to Coralstown-Kinnegad, who are currently joint-top of Section B along with St Malachy’s (both on four points).
Athlone have now lost their opening two matches and need to get a result against an in-form St Malachy’s in Tang on Sunday (7.30pm). In the other Section B game this weekend, Bunbrosna face Coralstown-Kinnegad on Saturday in Cusack Park (6pm).
In Section A, Castledaly’s defeat to St Loman’s, Mullingar leaves them pointless after two games, meaning their meeting with Killucan - who have one point - on Sunday (Shandonagh, 1.30pm) is almost a must-win game.
Maryland will hoping to bounce back from their defeat to Mullingar Shamrocks with a victory against The Downs at Cusack Park on Sunday (6pm). Maryland won their opening group match, so another win this weekend will put them in a strong position to challenge for a place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, in the Intermediate Championship, Rosemount will be looking to continue their push for top-spot in Section A when they face Ballynacargy on Sunday in Cusack Park (7.30pm). Frank Lynam’s side have two wins under their belt going into this fixture but Ballynacargy, who drew with Tang last weekend, are likely to pose a stiff test. Beforehand (at 6pm), Ballymore will aim to get their campaign back on track after a poor display against Rosemount, with Gerry Walker’s side down to play Ballinagore in Cusack Park.
In Section B, Caulry’s march towards top-spot will step up a gear when they meet second-placed Shandonagh on Saturday at Moate (6pm), which will be followed at the same venue by the meeting of Tubberclair and Mullingar Shamrocks B (7.30pm). Tubberclair won their opening match but fell to a one-point defeat against Milltownpass last weekend.
Tang, meanwhile, are in action in Section A when they play Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall at The Downs on Saturday (7.30pm). Tang drew with Ballynacargy last weekend having beaten Ballinagore by a hefty margin in their opening group outing.
Westmeath GAA Fixtures
FRIDAY JULY 25
(All games 7.30pm unless stated)
New Forest Golf Club Intermediate FC section 'B’
Cusack Park: St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge v Milltownpass, 8pm, M McAdden
New Forest Golf Club Junior FC
Section 'A’
Cusack Park: Milltown v Kilbeggan Shamrocks, 6.30pm, A Coyne
Section 'B’
Tubberclair: Tubberclair v Garrycastle, S McCormack
Mount Temple: Caulry v Coralstown/Kinnegad, M Seery
Lakepoint Park: St Loman’s, Mullingar v Killucan, K Gunning
SATURDAY JULY 26
TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football championship
Birr: Clare v Westmeath, 4pm, K Delahunty (Tipperary)
Shay Murtagh Precast Senior FC Section 'B’
Cusack Park: Coralstown/Kinnegad v Bunbrosna, 6pm, S Farrell
Cusack Park: Garrycastle v Tyrrellspass, 7.30pm, B Keena
New Forest Golf Club Intermediate FC
Section 'A’
The Downs: Tang v Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall, 7.30pm, M Murtagh
Section 'B’
Moate: Caulry v Shandonagh, 6pm, D Nugent
Moate: Mullingar Shamrocks v Tubberclair, 7.30pm, A McCormack
SUNDAY JULY 27
Shay Murtagh Precast SFC
Section 'A’
Shandonagh: Killucan v Castledaly, 1.30pm, B Kelly
Cusack Park: Maryland v The Downs, 6pm
Cusack Park: Mullingar Shamrocks v St Loman’s, Mullingar, 6pm
Section 'B’
Tang: Athlone v St Malachy’s, 7.30pm, D Maher
New Forest Golf Club Intermediate FC Section 'A’
Rochfortbridge: Ballymore v Ballinagore, 1.30, M McAdden
Tang: Ballynacargy v Rosemount, 6pm, D McEnery
New Forest Golf Club Junior FC Section 'A’
Shandonagh: St Joseph’s v Delvin, 12pm, R Cornally
Rochfortbridge: Multyfarnham v Ballycomoyle, 12pm, P McGauran