No Leinster championship for Westmeath ladies in 2020

Westmeath's ladies football team will not be competing in a Leinster championship this year.

The Lake County ladies were due to compete in the Leinster intermediate championship, but Leinster LGFA have announced that the provincial intermediate and junior inter-county championships have been cancelled for 2020.

For the past number of years, Westmeath and Dublin were the only two counties competing in the Leinster senior championship, but Westmeath were demoted from the senior ranks last year.

A Leinster LGFA meeting was held remotely in recent days with the intermediate and junior championships joining the U14 competitions in being cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Leinster LGFA President Dominic Leech said: “This obviously was not a decision taken lightly by our full Leinster LGFA Provincial Council. However, in reality it was felt the pressure placed upon players, clubs, mentors, county board and officials by scheduling our Leinster LGFA championships during the current climate of social distancing and government/HSE advice would be unfair."

Leech said Leinster LGFA is committed to a policy of ensuring that club action is given the priority when football eventually returns this year. And officials feel that time constraints would not facilitate the completion of adult championships at junior and intermediate level.

"As Leinster LGFA President, I am naturally disappointed that our championships will not take place but I certainly fully support the decision to safeguard our players, officials and supporters. I support making this decision at this early stage to bring clarity to all our members as early as possible.”

Leinster LGFA have made no decision regarding the U-16 and U-18 competitions, with decisions on these deferred until June 8. Furthermore, a decision regarding the Leinster club championships has been deferred until later in the year.

It's not yet clear if an All-Ireland series of the intermediate championship will be held this year.

A spokesperson for the LGFA said this week that the organisation will "continue to be guided by best practice and advice from the Government and health authorities". LGFA CEO Helen O'Rourke is a member of the GAA's Covid-19 advisory group.

Meanwhile, former Westmeath ladies football manager Stephen Maxwell has been appointed as Leinster LGFA Games Development Officer (GDO).

Maxwell, who guided Westmeath to Division 2 league success in 2017, took up his new role on Monday last.