Senior Hurling Final Preview:
The battle for the Westmeath Examiner cup reaches its climax next Sunday with the clash of Castlepollard and Raharney at Cusack Park.  Castlepollard are looking to claim the senior crown for the first time since 2005 while Raharney's last title was in 2010. Though both teams lie near the top of the Senior championship table (Castlepollard with 14 titles; Raharney with 11) it is all of nineteen years since they met in the championship final. On that occasion in 1995, it was Castlepollard who won by the narrowest of margins on a score of 1-10 to 2-06. Indeed next Sundays final will only be the seventh meeting of the teams in Senior Championship finals with both teams having three wins apiece over the space of 100 years. The results of those finals over the years are as follows;

1914 Raharney 5-01 Castlepollard 0-00
1925  Castlepollard 6-02 Raharney 2-00
1973 Raharney  2-11  Castlepollard 3-06
1974 Castlepollard 1-08 Raharney 1-04
1994 Raharney 1-14  Castlepollard  1-10
1995 Castlepollard 1-10 Raharney 2-06

So to next weekend's game; who will be winners come Sunday evening? Let us look at the path both teams have travelled to date. Raharney lost their opening game of the championship to reigning champions Castletown Geoghegan on 7th June but have been impressive en route to the final remaining unbeaten since then. They had two goals to spare over their opponent s on 12th July in Cusack Park winning by 2-17 to 0-17 and are in the final most peoples favourites to win the cup. Castlepollard's route to the final has seen them win four of their seven group games with losses to Raharney,St Oliver Plunketts and Clonkill. However, they recorded a double over Castletown Geoghegan dumping last years champions out in the semi final and they are certainly in the final on merit.
Looking at Castlepollard, they were not expected to reach the final this year and are perhaps ahead of schedule in their quest for a 15th County title. They have a number of young players sprinkled with some players of vast experience and are a potent force when on form. Two goals from John Mc Carthy along with accurate free taking from Alan Devine pushed them into the final and with the evergreen Darren Mc Cormack as classy as ever, they certainly have a fighting chance. In Andrew Dermody they have a fine shot stopper and defenders David Higgins and Tommy Gallagher are among the best within the county. Kevin Brazil and Derek Murray are solid at midfield and indeed the package presented by Pollard would make them very good county champions. Jody Murray and his backroom team will have them well prepared and they will not have any qualms about facing Raharney.
Raharney as mentioned earlier are most peoples favourites for the championship and they will be strongly expected to win next Sunday. They have been in great form all year and have scored freely in all their games while maintaining a tight defence.  In the semi final against Clonkill, Killian Doyle was on target with eleven points while Robbie Greville reacted sharpest when presented with a goal chance as they won by 1-15 to 2-08.  Raharney have a defence that is well marshalled by Conor Jordan at Full back and Paul Greville at centre half. Their midfield of Niall Flanagan and Cormac Boyle are mobile while the aforementioned Doyle along with Joey Boyle,Robbie Greville,Brian Smith and John Shaw are amongst the most potent forwards in Westmeath.  Going on all available form and reckoning that Raharney have a stronger panel I expect them to win but in a battle and gain their 12th County title and first in four years. They are the form side and seem to have a more balanced side than Castlepollard. However, Castlepollard are dangerous, just ask Castletown and they could well do it. It's not expected that they will but better pundits than I have been wrong about them before. Throw in on Sunday is at 3-30pm.

Shamrocks join Garrycsatle in Senior final:
Mullingar Shamrocks overcame their great rivals St Lomans Mullingar at the second attempt when they had a 1-10 to 1-9  victory over their neighbours. The meeting of the champions for the past two weeks was certainly a clash of the heavyweights and after a testy and somewhat fiery opening quarter, the game developed into a fine contest.  Mullingar Shamrocks have developed a reputation in recent weeks of being the comeback kings and again in Sundays  encounter they display that trait to haul back a three point deficit to gain ultimate victory. Lomans led by 0-4 to 0-2 as the first half edged towards a conclusion but Ciaran Curleys goal ensured that Shamrocks led by 1-3 to 0-5 at the break. St Lomans sprang from the traps in the second half with a goal by Kelvin Reilly which was soon followed by successive points putting the blues 1-7 to 1-4 ahead. However, when in arrears, Shamrocks start to play and points from Daragh Daly and Lorcan Smith levelled the game before they went on to win by the slenderest of margins. It was a sweet victory for Shamrocks as they had suffered a heavy defeat to the blues in the group stages but it will count for nothing unless the reclaim the Flanagan cup. The clash of Mullingar Shamrocks and Garrycastle is something to savour being their fourth meeting in six years in the final. It's a clash well worth looking forward to.

Brigids regain Senior Status:
It was a happy day for the hurlers around Dalystown,Rochfortbridge and Tyrrellspass when St Brigids returned to the Senior ranks for the first time since 2012 after defeating Clonkill on Sunday at Cusack Park. Clonkill who had claimed the Adrian Murray cup last year with victory over Ringtown were hoping to retain the title but Brigids had different thoughts on the matter. St Brigids led from early on and retired in front by 1-5 to 0-6 at half time after a well contested opening period. The Dalystown side won the match courtesy of a strong showing in the third quarter with Ben Gavins goal propelling them to a significant 2-9 to 0-8 lead by the mid point of the half. However, Clonkill weren't in the mood to loosen their grip on the title without a battle and a swift haul of 1-2 brought them back into contention at 1-10 to 2-9 as the game headed for its finish. In the end with some stout defending and a late point, it was Brigids who gained the spoils and return to Senior ranks for the first time since 2012.

Ryan in as County Senior Hurling Manager but no football manager yet:
Waterford's Michael Ryan was installed as Westmeath Senior Hurling Manager at the most recent County Board meeting held on Wednesday 8th October. Ryan who had a two year stint as Waterford Senior manager and a number of years as that counties Ladies Senior football manager brings great experience to the post and his appointment is seen as a highly positive one for Westmeath. At the same meeting, the ratification of the County Senior football manager was also on the agenda and while the matter of the senior hurling managers appointment was extremely smooth, the same cannot be said of the football appointment. Former Westmeath Ladies football team manager Peter Leahy was the recommended choice put to delegates at the meeting but in a wide ranging debate, his appointment was not ratified by delegates in a vote of 24 against and 19 for. As of Sunday evening when this piece was written, the post remains vacant and it is likely that any new proposal wont come before delegates until later this week at the earliest.

I can be contacted at [email protected] or 086 3992403

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