By Aidan Walsh (County PRO)
National Hurling League Final:
There was disappointment for all Westmeath GAA supporters in Tullamore on Sunday 14th April as the County Senior Hurlers failed to gain promotion to Division 1B of the National Hurling league following a very poor display against Laois. There were high hopes that Westmeath could do the double on Laois and make the jump to a higher Division for 2014 but unfortunately, Brian Hanley's side never got out of the starting blocks and The O Moore men were full value for their 3-14 to 1-9 win. Westmeath did make the brighter start with Derek Mc Nicholas on the mark with a pointed free inside the opening minute but that lead was short lived as John Brophy pounced for the first goal after four minutes. The same player claimed a second goal six minutes later and Seamus Plunketts side held a 2-07 to 0-06 half time lead. The second half saw Laois in control for the majority of the time though Brendan Murtagh's goal did offer a glimmer of hope midway through the half. Despite some valiant work by Peter Collins and Adam Price in defence, the scoring threat on Sunday just did not function with only one point from play being garnered over the course of the seventy minutes. This wasn't the result we wanted and will mean that there is a lot of hard work to be done for the first round of the Leinster Championship on Saturday 5th May against Antrim. The Saffrons held on to Division 1B status with a narrow win over Carlow on Sunday which will certainly give them a boost. Westmeath are far better than they showed last Sunday so hopefully the players can lift themselves for the challenges that lie ahead. They are more than capable of surmounting Antrim in three weeks time, once the belief is there.
Leinster Minor Football Championship:
Tommy Carr's Westmeath Minor footballers had to do it the hard way when overcoming Wexford in the opening round of the Leinster Minor Football championship at Cusack Park on Saturday 13th April. Trailing for the majority of the game, Westmeath came good with a strong finish to take the spoils on a 1-10 to 0-10 scoreline. This is a huge boost to the team and team management as they never had a full hand to deal from in the recent Leinster Minor league and were not at full strength on Saturday due to a number of injuries to panel members.As stated, Wexford led from the first minute until the 58th minute when Luke Loughlin brought Westmeath level before giving them the lead with a terrific point from 40 metres. Straight from Dylan Cloke's poorly-struck kick-out, the Lake County won possession again and substitute Kieran Shanley fired home the only goal to complete the comeback.
Pat O'Rourke's Wexford team dominated possession in the first half, but their accuracy let them down as they led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break.
The Slaneysiders had extended their lead to 0-9 to 0-5 before Westmeath finally came to life in the final quarter. Substitute Robert Hickey made a big impact, but it was Loughlin who led the comeback with some well-taken scores. When The Downs clubman made it 0-9 each, the momentum had switched decisively to the home team. Westmeath scored 1-5 without reply to lead by 1-10 to 0-9 in injury-time before the shell-shocked visitors managed a late consolation score. Wexford now face Carlow in the first round of the losers' group on 24th April while Westmeath will await winners from the round robin section with the Leinster Quarter final pencilled in for the weekend of 11th May.
Local Championships begin
Next weekend sees the commencement of the Senior,Intermediate and Junior Football Championship with games commencing on Friday 19th April and covering all of next weekend. The race for the Flanagan, Geraghty and Daniels cups starts with a full round of fixtures covering all 32 football clubs in the county.
The Senior Championship sees some very interesting pairings indeed. In Section A of the SFC, Maryland and The Downs have the honour of kicking off proceedings with Neighbours Killucan and Kinnegad following on in a double header in Cusack Park on Saturday 20th April. Tyrrellspass and St Lomans from Section B open proceedings at HQ on Sunday 21st April with Bunbrosna and Mullingar Shamrocks from Section A completing the double header at Cusack Park. Athlone and last years Intermediate champions CFCW travel cross country to Kinnegad on Sunday 21st April for a unique encounter while Tubberclair host Garrycastle and Castledaly also on Sunday 21st April in a local derby. The Intermediate championship which is always very competitive sees six games in total covering Saturday and Sunday with Ballymore V Tuberclair, St Malachy's V Shandonagh and Kilbeggan Shamrocks V Ballynacargy being the games in Section A. Section B sees Milltownpass V Rosemount, St Mary's Rochfortbriodge V Ballinagore and Caulry V Tang make up the first round in this years championship. At Junior level, Section A comprising the sole Junior clubs sees Devlin V Moate All Whites and Multyfarnam V St Joseph's on Friday 19th April with Loughnavalley V St Pauls and Milltown V Ballycomoyle completing the programme on Saturday 20th April. Section B of the JFC sees 10 teams in action and this section comprises the second teams of a number of Senior and Intermediate clubs. The pairings are Athlone V St Marys Rochfortbridge; Garrycastle V Coralstown/Kinnegad; St Lomans Mullingar V Caulry; The Downs V Mullingar Shamrocks and Tubberclair V Killucan with all matches on Friday 19th April. Westmeath club football has provided strong competition over the past number of years and there is certainly plenty of fare on offer next weekend. It is a long road until the respective finals in October 2013 and while there may be some obvious favourites in each grade, there is always the prospect of a surprise of two along the way. Whatever your team is, do go along and support them next weekend, who knows they may be County champions in the autumn in their respective grade.
Autism Awareness Month:
April is Autism Awareness month and Irish Autism Action who are based in Multyfarnham are seeking the support of the public for assistance. A number of businesses in the midlands are fully supporting the charity and if any club or individual wishes to make a donation or volunteer to help Irish Autism Action, please contact;
Niall Murphy
Irish Autism Action,
Coole Road,
Multyfarnham,
Mullingar,
Co. Westmeath
Tel/Fax: 044 93 71680 ext 109
Mobile: 087-230 5566
E-mail niall@autismireland.ie
The charity would appreciate any assistance that they can get during April
World Mini Games:
The World Mini Games 2013, has this week launched a competition to Design the Mascot for this years Games. The competition is open to everyone, and whether a rough representation in crayon, or a computer drawn intricate design, all will have a chance of winning as the Games organisers are looking for inspiration more than anything else. The winning entry will not only see their design come to life, but will also win an iPad for themselves and a €1000 sports voucher for the Club, School, College or Organisation of their choice. There will be 2 qualifiers picked each Friday for the next 3 weeks, and the winner will be chosen on Friday, 26th of April, and there is no limit on the number of entries, so get drawing.
The World Mini Games, featuring over 30 adult sports, the 2nd Irish Sports Summit in Cork City Hall, a Sport and Lifestyle Expo in Cork County Hall, and fantastic family programme on Corks Carrigrohane Road, is set to welcome thousands of visitors to Cork from the 23rd to the 25th of August. And entry to all the sports events is open to participants of every level and ability.
To find out more details about entering the competition, or for more information on the Games please visit wwwWorldMiniGames2013.com
Westmeath Local Results for week ending 14-4-2013
ACFL Div 1
Mullingar Shamrocks 2-6 Garrycastle 4-12;
IHC
Fr Daltons 1-6 St Bridgid's 1-9;
JHC A
St Oliver Plunkett's 2-11 Raharney 0-13;
ACFL Div 7
Milltown 4-4 St Loman's-Mullingar 4-6;
ACFL Div 5
Brownstown 0-20 Turin 2-17;
I can be contacted at 086 3992403 or by email on pro.westmeath@gaa.ie
www.westmeathgaa.ie