Westmeath G A A Notes By Pat Reilly Westmeath P R O. LEINSTER CLUB HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP: The semi-final of this year's AIB Leinster Club Hurling Championship took place in Cusak park Mullingar, last Saturday between Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) and Raharney (Westmeath). On a cold but dry day with conditions ideal for hurling Raharney bowed out of this years competition to superior opposition, but not without a fight, and but for some missed chances in the early stages of the match this could have been a closer result, with Ballyhale running out winners on a scoreline of 0-26 to 0-09. There were Glorious scenes on the pitch after the match as children and adults alike thronged to get autographs from the two All Stars present (James Cha Fitzptrick and Henry Shefflin) and one could have nothing but the height of admiration for them both as they had no problems in staying as long as it took for all to be satisfied. LEINSTER CLUB FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: St. Mary's Rochfortbridge will take on Killeshin (Laois) next Sunday in Rochfortbridge @ 2.00pm in the semi final of the Junior Football Championship. This will be a tough encounter and will require nothing short of 100% effort from all players if St. Mary's are to progress to the final. LEINSTER SPECIALCLUB HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP: Fr Daltons will play their second round match in this competition next weekend in Ballymore having convincingly defeated Mattock Rangers (Louth) Last Sunday, at this time I'm not sure who they will face, so all I can do is wish them the best of luck. CO. CONVENTIONS: The Co. Convention will take place in Ballymore GAA Centre on Saturday 20th December @ 6.00pm, all delegates are requested to be on time. The Minor Board Convention will take place on Monday 15th December, time and venue will be announced later. CONGRATULATIONS: Congratulations must go to Brendan Murtagh (Clonkill) who was won the accolade of player of the tournament in this year's Christy Ring Competition, and also on winning an inter provincial medal with Leinster where he featured heavily on both occasions. Congratulations must also go to John Keane (Rosemount) on being selected at corner back on the Opel Gaelic Footballers team of the year. At a recent Minor Board meeting Ger Heavin was chosen as manager for the county minor football team with Eugene Dolan and John Gordon being chosen as selectors, while Seamus Qualter was selected as manager of the minor hurling team for a second year with John Weir, Tom Keegan, and Pat O' Brien chosen as Selectors, we wish both sets of management well for 2009. EARLY FIXTURES FOR 2009: O' BYRNE CUP SF: KEOGH CUP SH: DATES DATES 1.Longford v Athlone I.T. 04.01.2009 1. Wicklow v Trinity 11.01.2009 2. Louth v UCD 04.01.2009 2. 1 v Westmeath 3. Offaly v Dublin 04.01.2009 3. Fingal v Louth 11.01.2009 4. Wicklow v Carlow 04.01.2009 4. D.C.U. v Mayo 11.01.2009 5. Kildare v Wexford 04.01.2009 5. Meath v Down 11.01.2009 6. Meath v Westmeath 04.01.2009 6. Kildare v D.I.T. 11.01.2009 7. Laois v DCU 04.01.2009 7. Longford v Roscommon 11.01.2009 8. Kilkenny v D.I.T. 04.01.2009 8. 7 v Carlow 9. 1 v 2 11.01.2009 9. Game 2 18.01.2009 10. 3 v 4 11.01.2009 10. 3 v 4 18.01.2009 11. 5 v 6 11.01.2009 11. 5 v 6 18.01.2009 12. 7 v 8 11.01.2009 12. Game 8 18.01.2009 13. 9 v 10 18.01.2009 13. 9 v 10 25.01.2009 14. 11 v 12 18.01.2009 14. 11 v 12 25.01.2009 Craobh Final: 13 v 14 25.01.2009 Craobh Final: 13 v 14 01.02.2009 O' BYRNE CUP SF SHIELD: KEOGH CUP SH SHIELD: DATES DATES (i) Loser 1 v Loser 2 11.01.2009 (i) Loser 1 v Loser 2 18.01.2009 (ii) Loser 3 v Loser 4 11.01.2009 (ii) (i) v Loser 4 25.01.2009 (iii) Loser 5 v Loser 6 11.01.2009 (iii) Loser 5 v Loser 6 18.01.2009 (iv) Loser 7 v Loser 8 11.01.2009 (iv) (iii) v Loser 7 25.01.2009 (v) (i) v (ii) 18.01.2009 (v) (i) v (ii) 01.02.2009 (vi) (iii) v (iv) 18.01.2009 (vi) (iii) v (iv) 01.02.2009 Craobh Final: (v) V (vi) 25.01.2009 Craobh Final: (v) V (vi) 22.02.2009 Regulations for the above fixtures: . First named team has HOME VENUE in all games. EXCEPTION: College Teams/ Non Leinster Counties must travel to opponent's venue. . Extra Time Must be played if sides finish level. . The Experimental Rules Introduced at Special Congress (04/10/08) will be applied in these competitions . Teams failing to fulfill shield fixtures will face an automatic fine of ?1,000.00, which shall be added to the Accident Tournament Fund. . College Teams must submit their panels (24 Players) to Comhairle Laighean by 30/11/08, and colleges will have first call on these players for the duration of these competitions. GAA ORAL HISTORY PROJECT: The GAA is delighted to announce the commencement of the GAA Oral History project which was launched (12th November 2008) at Croke Park. This is one of the largest projects undertaken of its kind and will trace the history of the GAA through the memories of its members. The basic aim of this project, commissioned by the GAA and undertaken by Boston College, is to run a community based public history project, to celebrate 125 years of the Association by collecting, preserving and embracing the past of the GAA. "This is a project about the GAA: our games, our people, our history, our place in Irish life. No sporting organisation anywhere in the world has attempted to do what this project will do." stated President of the GAA Nickey Brennan."It is the biggest sporting history projects ever undertaken in the world and will leave a remarkable legacy for future generations. It is a unique project and we invite every GAA supporter, club, and family to be part of it and to tell their GAA story." The project will draw together every section of the GAA at a key moment in its history and it is envisaged as being a centrepiece of the 125th anniversary celebrations. It is hoped that this will excite, interest and inspire the followers of the GAA and allow everyone to become actively involved. It is not just a snapshot taken in the year of the 125th anniversary, but will be added to year-on-year as new memories are collected, it is about the future as well as about the past. A questionnaire will be made available to every club, club historian, local history society and junior cert teacher, in hard copy and via the web, to be filled out by or used to interview anyone who has ever been involved in the GAA. This will allow for the recording of the GAA's history at the most personal and local level. In its entirety the project will create a series of books, websites, radio and television programmes, as well as a searchable digital archive which will be permanently housed in the GAA museum."The material gathered will become an indispensable resource for future generations who wish to understand not only the story of the GAA, but also the story of modern Ireland. This is a project for people who live in every corner of Ireland and anybody with an interest in Ireland" stated Professor Mike Cronin, Boston College who is undertaking the research. The key to the success of this project lies in creating a sense of ownership in every parish in Ireland. The structure of the GAA at local level is the perfect vehicle to develop an oral history project. Getting every club on board will be the first objective. To take part in the project visit www.gaahistory.com, email [email protected] or call 01-6625055. For media enquiries and further information, please contact: Lisa Clancy, Director of Communications, GAA on 01-8658614, 087-2314260 (Mob) or [email protected]. WESTMEATH GAA DEVELOPMENT LOTTO: (Results 11th November) NO JACKPOT WINENER: WINNING NO'S: 10, 15, 19, 23. NEXT WEEKS JACKPOT ?2,780 9 MATCH 3 WINNERS @ ?37 EACH: Angela Nolan C/O Westmeath Ladies GAA Paddy Collins C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Jamie Foggart C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Ena Yourell C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA St. Mary's GAA Carrick on Shannon St. Mary's GAA Carrick on Shannon James & Tony C/O St. Oliver Plunketts GAA David Deegan C/O Ballinagore GAA Helen Mc Cabe C/O Loughnavalley GAA NEXT DRAW DATE: TUESDAY 18th November 2008. RESULTS FOR WEEK ENDING 16-11-08: Leinster SH Club Championship: Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-26, Raharney 0-09 Leinster Special JH Club Championship: Fr. Daltons 6-07, Mattock Rangers 2-04 Fe 21 FC 13 aside: Milltownpass 3-12, Milltown 0-04; S"B" FC: Tyrrellspass 2-12, Castledaly 2-10; J"B"FC Section D: Rosemount 5-25, Bunbrosna 0-05; ACFL Div1: The Downs 2-05, Garrycastle 0-09; ACFL Div2: Moate All Whites 1-07, Maryland 0-09; ACFL Div3: St. Josephs 0-07, Castletown Finea/C/W 1-04; Ballinagore W/O, St. Fintans Multy Scratch; JFCup S-finals: St. Pauls 3-09, Ballycomoyle 1-02; St. Mary's Rochfortbridge 1-13, Loughnavalley 0-08; JH"A"C Playoff: Lough Lene Gaels 4-19, Crookedwood 1-06; MF"A"C: Maryland/Tang 0-13, Caulry 1-09; I can be contacted by phone on 044 9666476, 087 2777987 or by email on [email protected] Tweet

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