Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship Explained

Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship
Irish:Craobh Chomórtais Peile Idirmheánach na hIarmhí
Code:Gaelic football
Region:Westmeath
Teams:12
Title Holders:St Mary's Rochfortbridge
Currentordinal:12
Super:th

Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association competition organised by Westmeath GAA between Gaelic football clubs in County Westmeath. The winner of the competition qualifies to represent the county in the Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship, the winner of which progresses to the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship.

The top club is promoted to the Westmeath Senior Football Championship, while the bottom club is relegated to the Westmeath Junior Football Championship.

History

In its early years, the competition was more transitional, with Caulry winning against Tyrrellspass in the 1946 IFC final and qualifying for the senior championship in the same year.[1]

The 1973 final was held at Páirc Chiaráin in Athlone, the first major championship final held there in more than two decades.[1]

Garrycastle won the 1997 final (after a replay), four years before they went on to win the senior championship.[1]

The 1999 final required three games to separate the teams.[1]

Pat Flanagan, later manager of the senior Westmeath county team, was in charge of Kilbeggan Shamrocks when they won the 2000 final.[1]

Ballinagore won the 2007 competition, following on from winning the Westmeath and Leinster junior titles of two years previously.[1]

Maryland won the 2008 final (after a replay, which went to extra-time), having earlier linked up with Marty Whelan to win Celebrity Bainisteoir.[1] Kieran Martin scored a goal in the drawn game.[1] It was Martin who scored the decisive solo goal in the inaugural Tailteann Cup final, winning that title for Westmeath fourteen years later.[2] [3] [4] Back in 2008, Maryland won an in IFC final at the tenth effort (if replays are counted) since the club last won the title in 1980.[1]

Tubberclair defeated Ballynacargy in the 2009 final, then went on to the Leinster Intermediate Football Championship final.[1]

Jack Cooney was manager of Coralstown/Kinnegad when the club won the 2011 final against Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall.[1]

Former Roscommon player Francie Grehan managed Caulry to the 2014 title.[1]

The 2017 champions were St Mary's Rochfortbridge, who had been promoted for 2008 after winning the Westmeath Junior Football Championship.

Qualification for subsequent competitions

Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship

The Westmeath IFC winner qualifies for the Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship. It is the only team from County Westmeath to qualify for this competition. The Westmeath IFC winner may enter the Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship at either the preliminary round or the quarter-final stage.

All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship

The Westmeath IFC winner — by winning the Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship — may qualify for the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship, at which it would enter at the __ stage, providing it hasn't been drawn to face the British champions in the quarter-finals.

Roll of honour (incomplete)

See here

References

Notes and References

  1. News: Looking back on Westmeath intermediate finals past. 24 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201006153359/https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2020/09/24/looking-back-on-westmeath-intermediate-finals-past/. 6 October 2020.
  2. News: Late Martin goal propels Westmeath to Tailteann Cup triumph. Hogan Stand. 9 July 2022.
  3. News: Kieran Martin's Goal Decisive Moment In Tailteann Cup Final. Midlands 103. 11 July 2022.
  4. News: Kieran Martin's brilliant solo goal helps Westmeath edge out Cavan in Tailteann Cup final. JOE.ie. 10 July 2022.
  5. News: Neary kicks winner as Tang are crowned champions. 13 November 2021.
  6. News: Moate set for senior ranks as Tubberclair take junior crown. 28 September 2020.
  7. News: Westmeath SFC: Caulry and Shamrocks ensure safety. 29 August 2020.
  8. News: Caulry capable of lifting intermediate football title. 5 October 2012.