Moate in relegation danger as Garrycastle advance to knockout stages in SFC

Moate All-Whites are facing the prospect of the relegation play-off in the Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship unless they can defeat Milltownpass in their last group game. The All-Whites suffered another loss last Monday evening, when they were on the receiving end of a 4-6 to 1-13 defeat at the hands of St Mary's, Rochfortbridge and are now rooted to the foot of Division 1A. However, on the plus side, Moate's fate remains pretty much in their own hands because their final group match sees them play the team just above them on two points, Milltownpass, who themselves surprised many by notching a first win in the championship against Kilbeggan Shamrocks at Castletown (1-6 to 0-7). If two teams finish level in this year's championship, the pecking order will be decided by the outcome of the game between the respective sides, so basically Moate and Milltownpass are now facing a play-off to avoid the actual relegation play-off. Tang lost for the first time in four games in Division 1A last Friday when going down narrowly by a point to table toppers Ballynacargy (0-13 to 2-6). Tang remain level on six points with both Ballynacargy and St Mary's, Rochfortbridge, and meet Kilbeggan Shamrocks - who still maintain their own hopes of reaching the latter stages - in the final group game.In Division 1B, a previously unbeaten Tubberclair lost out to Ballinagore (1-9 to 0-11) at Tang last Saturday (see page 30), while Rosemount got their first win of the campaign courtesy of a 2-11 to 0-11 win over Shandonagh. In the remaining Division 1B match, Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall maintained their 100 per cent record with a 1-10 to 1-9 win over Ballymore. C-F-C/W's last group match against Tubberclair will decide who tops the division and moves straight into the semi-finals. Meanwhile, GARRYCASTLE ensured their place in the knockout stages of the Westmeath SFC with victory over Killucan in the fourth series of Division 1A group matches last weekend.However, despite winning their opening couple of matches in Division 1B, Athlone's hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages are now in some jeopardy after a somewhat unexpected defeat to The Downs.A goal from Alan Daly helped Garrycastle - who if they beat Castledaly in their final game will top the group and automatically reach the last four - to a 1-14 to 1-10 victory over Killucan at Moate on Sunday (see page 33), while last year's champions Castledaly are also back in the hunt to reach the knockout stages after a three point win over Maryland. Niall O'Neill netted Castledaly's goal during the first half but the abiding memory of this match was a near miss by Callum McCormack in the closing stages of the contest which almost earned a share of the spoils for Finbar Egan's men (see page 35). Both Castledaly and Maryland are now tied on four points apiece with a single group game remaining. Both sides have a difficult final match with Castledaly playing Garrycastle and Maryland facing second placed Mullingar Shamrocks. Mullingar Shamrocks, meanwhile, stayed level on points with Garrycastle after a 1-12 to 0-6 victory over Bunbrosna, who have now lost all four group matches. Shamrocks had little trouble disposing of Bunbrosna's challenge with Fiachra Spellman notching their goal and Darren Moore grabbing six points including two frees. In Division 1B, Coralstown-Kinnegad drew level on points at the top of the group with Tyrrellspass after beating them by 1-10 to 0-8 at Cusack Park. The main talking point from this encounter was the deployment by Coralstown-Kinnegad manager Colm Coyle of David Kilmartin as a sweeper to marshall Denis Glennon. Mark Gorman for the only goal of the game after just 13 seconds of play and Alan Giles managed to notch six points for the victors, who along with Tyrrellspass would now seem odds-on to come out of the group.St Loman's, Mullingar maintained their interest in this year's championship courtesy of an eight-point winning margin over St Malachy's (2-12 to 0-10). In a game which never reached a particularly high standard, Kieran Lynam caught the eye for St Loman's when registering 1-5. St Malachy's are now staring at the possibility of relegation after only amassing two points from four games. The Downs also have two points now after surprising Athlone and coming away with a 2-7 to 0-10 win (see page 31). Athlone and St Loman's now face a shoot-out in the final group game to see who joins, more than likely, Tyrrellspass and Coralstown-Kinnegad in the latter stages.