Search Results for 'John Heslin'

Westmeath’s hard-fought and unlikely win over Galway was a timely and welcome morale booster for our much maligned senior squad. Along with the u21 mid-week success it will go some way toward erasing the negativity surrounding the squad and management team for the time being at least. Let’s face it, few (outside the squad themselves) gave them a prayer against the Tribesmen. Not to take from the home side’s great win but Galway themselves must surely have expected to win.

Pat Flanagan hit back at his critics, Tom Farrell rejected misleading reports in the national media about the state of the county’s finances, and we were nicely beaten by Wicklow in a recent challenge match.

Reigning champions Garrycastle remain on track to complete their hat trick of titles as they withstood the spirited challenge of Tyrrellspass in an entertaining contest last weekend. The final scoreline of 2-17 to 2-08 is a little harsh on a game Tyrrellspass side who trailed by just three points with a little over 10 minutes remaining. Ultimately though Anthony Cunningham must have been pleased by the manner in which his troops pulled away in the end to book their place in the decider which is scheduled for October 2.

Bank holiday weekend or not, eight teams go to post in round four of the Shay Murtagh senior football championship. Garrycastle have already secured their place in the semi-final thanks to their 4-13 to 1-8 win over Bunbrosna last Sunday.

I don’t think Paddy Power has as yet offered outright odds on the Westmeath senior football championship but even if he had he would probably be paying out on Garrycastle at this stage. I felt Mullingar Shamrocks were the only side capable of stopping Anthony Cunningham’s men from completing the hat-trick. Last weekend however the reigning champions had little difficulty in seeing off the rather tame challenge of an underwhelming Shamrocks side. That they did this without the services of Dessie Dolan, Paul Dillon, and Shane Mulvihill up front is all the more noteworthy. While the sides could yet contest the decider it is difficult to see how Shamrocks could reverse the result.

Lightning isn’t supposed to strike twice but unfortunately for Westmeath footballers their dismal showing in Wexford was repeated in Casement Park last Saturday as they were put to the sword by an Antrim side.

The score line says it all. Wexford were simply in a different class to a Westmeath side which had no answer to the movement and scoring power of their opponents. With a few notable exceptions Westmeath were outclassed in almost every sector of the field.

Westmeath senior footballers will find out this weekend who their opposition will be in their opening championship game on June 4.

Deja vu. Another year, another highly rated Westmeath u21 team, another glorious opportunity gone a-begging. Not to take from Longford who well deserved their place in the provincial decider but this was a game Westmeath could have and should have won.

Westmeath u21 footballers take on Longford under lights in Pairc Tailteann, Navan next Wednesday night in the semi-final of the Leinster u21 championship. Longford had been granted home advantage but with no suitable venue under lights have opted to play in Navan. I’m sure most Longford supporters would have been happier to see the game played in St Loman’s or Athlone rather than having to make the long trip to Navan midweek. Another example of common sense GAA style.