Let battle commence!

Castledaly aiming to defend title. So, after a most momentous achievement last year, how will Castledaly react to defending the title? Manager Padraig Farrell was at the helm last year as Castledaly dramatically squeezed out of the qualifying group before going on to win the championship. They open their Division 1A campaign against Killucan on Sunday and Farrell doesn"t believe their elevated status as champions will hamper his players. 'We have a very good group of lads. Castledaly has never been in this position before, defending the championship, so I can"t see it bothering the players at all. Obviously some people"s expectations might be higher than previous years but we take nothing for granted in our group and will just concentrate on initially getting into the knockout phase,' said Farrell, who tipped Garrycastle, Mullingar Shamrocks and Tyrrellspass to be in contention this year. Castledaly have a few injury concerns ahead of Sunday"s opener, with Alan Fitzgerald (knee) likely to miss the opening two rounds of fixtures. MJ McLoughlin (ankle) is also a major doubt for Sunday"s match against Killucan. JP Casey"s ongoing struggle with a hip injury, which saw him miss the club"s title win last year, continues to keep him sidelined from senior action, too. On the plus side though, both Tony Heavin and Ken Larkin return to the panel this year. Castledaly are also looking at blooding a couple of minor players including Justin Coughlan and Liam Fitzpatrick. Killucan finished fourth in Division 2 last year ahead of St Malachy"s and Ballinagore, with a five-point victory over The Downs last August proving the highlight of their campaign. Cunningham hoping last year"s defeat will spur on Garrycastle Garrycastle, whose campaign begins on Saturday in Cusack Park against Mullingar Shamrocks (throw-in: 5pm), are under new management after Martin McCabe relinquished control of team affairs following last year"s disappointment in the final. Former St Brigid"s (Kiltoom) manager Anthony Cunningham has taken over the reins, with Aidan Dunning and Rowan Mulvihill among his backroom team. Cunningham has been satisfied with the reaction of the Garrycastle players to his appointment and feels they will be keen to banish the heartache of losing in last year"s final. 'The lads have the ambition and drive to go one better this year. I"m confident that last year"s disappointment can spur them on,' said Cunningham. Like most clubs at this time of year, Garrycastle are carrying some injury concerns ahead of the championship, with Gary Dolan"s cheekbone injury set to keep him out of action for a lengthy period of time. 'I couldn"t put a time-scale on Gary"s return, it"s up to the medical people,' said Cunningham. Dolan"s brother, Dessie, has been a high-profile absentee from much of Westmeath"s recent NFL campaign, but Cunningham is confident Dessie will shrug off hamstring complaints to play some part against Mullingar Shamrocks. In other good news for Garrycastle, experienced midfielder David O"Shaughnessy recently returned to action and looks set to play a leading role this year. 'It"s great to have David back... he"s an experienced player and a big influence both on and off the pitch,' Cunningham said. Garrycastle face Mullingar Shamrocks on Saturday and Shamrocks, of course, exited last year"s competition in dramatic fashion, when a last-gasp goal by Tyrrellspass" Martin Flanagan sent them crashing out at the group stage and meant qualification to the knockout phase for eventual winners Castledaly. Mullingar Shamrocks are always a massive threat though, and last won the competition in 2000 with a low-scoring win over Tyrrellspass. Indeed, they showed the strength of their capabilities with an opening round victory over Castledaly in last year"s championship, and they will be ultra-determined to banish the memory of their elimination with an improved showing this year. Maryland aiming to consolidate Newly promoted Maryland have also been pitted in Division 1A and they begin the campaign against Bunbrosna at Moate on Sunday (throw-in: 3pm). Finbar Egan"s troops had a fantastic year in 2008, winning the first ever Celebrity Bainisteoir series and also the Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship, the latter success culminating in a final victory over a favoured Ballynacargy. The step-up to senior level means Maryland"s priorities need to alter this year. Last year, it was all about winning for the Drumraney boys. But this time around consolidation at senior grade is key. Egan said: 'Last year was a massive year for Maryland and showed what this group of players can achieve with hard work, dedication and focus. Our ambition for the year ahead is to survive and avoid relegation. I think we"re good enough to do that.' Egan has a long list of injury problems before the Bunbrosna match, a game which is a re-match of the 2006 intermediate final which Bunbrosna won after a replay. Hamstring victims Trevor Farrell, John Reilly and James Reynolds are counted as major doubts for this weekend, while Eoin Farrell, Stephen Martin and Aidan Reynolds are also struggling. David Reynolds looks fit enough to play despite only recently returning from a back injury. Egan added; 'Bunbrosna are very tough opposition. They hammered us in the league last year and have some excellent players like the Newmans, Peter Tormey and Andrew Whitney. We are in a very tough group.' Athlone face injury worries In Division 1B, Athlone open their championship bid in Moate on Sunday against St Malachy"s (throw-in: 1.30pm). Athlone have flattered to deceive in recent years and have failed to win the championship since 1998"s final victory over Coralstown/Kinnegad, and their form has been somewhat disappointing since last reaching the decider in 2003. Brendan Clarke remains in the hot seat after taking over during last year"s championship but faces chronic injury problems ahead of Sunday"s Division 1B opener. Dermot Bannon and Gary Quinn are definitely out through hamstring strains, as is Tom Stuart-Trainor who broke his nose in a recent league match. John Connellan (hamstring) and Mickey Greene (neck) are also doubts but could make it, according to Brendan Clarke. Declan Beirne is also missing from last year"s panel after moving to Australia but former Athlone Town soccer player Alan Kelly is back in the panel. The inspirational Rory O"Connell is also back in action after suffering from collarbone and back problems throughout 2008, and will more than likely play a part against St Malachy"s. Brendan Clarke said: 'There are a lot of top teams in our division, the likes of St Loman"s, The Downs and Tyrrellspass, but our aim is to qualify for the knockout stage.' Athlone only missed out on last year"s quarter-finals by a single point but crumbled to an anti-climatic defeat against near neighbours Garrycastle when they required victory in the final group game. The other matches in Athlone"s group this weekend sees St Loman"s face Tyrrellspass at Cusack Park on Saturday (throw-in: 6.30pm) and Coralstown/Kinnegad play The Downs at Cusack Park on Sunday (throw-in: 5pm).