Unlucky Raharney bow out in Leinster:
A crowd of 4181 passed through the gates of Cusack Park on Sunday to watch Westmeath Senior Hurling Champions Raharney take on their Offaly counterparts Kilcormac Killoughey to see who would claim a spot in this years Leinster final. With the Offaly side favoured to win, there was a general optimism within Westmeath hurling circles that Raharney could make the breakthrough. Alas it wasn't to be as Kilcormac Killoughey prevailed by 1-13 to 1-08 after a fascinating encounter which went right down to the final moments before the Offaly side claimed victory. Dan Currams goal with the final puck of the game gave Kilcormac Killoughey victory by a rather flattering five point margin but they wont mind as they await either Dublin's Kilmacud or Kilkenny's Ballyhale in the provincial final in Portlaoise on Sunday 7th December in Portlaoise. But it could have been so, so different. Indeed had Killian Doyles handpass across goals been collected by Brian Connaughton then the spoils would certainly have been Raharney's but on this occasion it was not to be. Kilcormac-Killoughey played with the advantage of a light wind in the first half and they piled on the pressure on Raharney in the opening stages. They led by two points inside the first five minutes but poor shooting cost them as the home side gradually grew into the match.  A neat point from John Shaw opened Raharney's account which was followed by an opportunistic goal from Ciaran Doyle which propelled the deelsiders into a 1-1 to 0-2 lead.  Kilcormac-Killoughey's response to this score was swift  as they reeled off the next three points to cancel out Doyle's goal, two frees from Ciaran Slevin and a Cillian Kiely point.
Peter Geraghty's sideline cut put the Offaly side back in front after Joey Boyle had tied the game up and a further Slevin score put the visitors ahaead. The Doyle twins picked off a point each to draw the sides level at the interval and certainly Raharney had plenty of momentum at this stage.
Raharney took the lead after the restart but were pegged back once more as both sides were giving their best at this stage. Tenacious Raharney defending allied to gaining confidence saw Raharney  and when Killian Doyle picked off two incredibly accurate points from the left corner, the crowd sensed that the underdogs were looking the more likely winners. However, the experience of Kilcormac Killoughey came to the fore in the final minute and the goal at the end sealed a fortunate victory for the Offaly men.
It was very hard luck on Raharney as they showed great spirit and no little skill and certainly they would have been deserving Leinster finalists but it wasn't to be. They have plenty to be proud of  and they showed Westmeath hurling in a very positive light. The Raharney line out was as follows;
Raharney: A Doyle; T Doyle, C Jordan, D Giles; G Greville, P Greville, A Sheils; N Flanagan, C Boyle; J Boyle (0-01), K Doyle (0-03, 0-01 free), R Greville; C Doyle (1-03, 0-01 free), B Smyth, J Shaw (0-01).
Subs: C Flanagan for T Doyle (35), F Boyle for Smyth (38), B Connaughton for Flanagan (47).

Garrycastle V St Vincents
Garrycastle carry the mantle for Westmeath in the AIB Leinster Club football championship when they face reigning All Ireland Club champions St Vincents at Parnell Park in Donnycarney on Sunday 23rd November.  This is the second year in succession that the Westmeath and Dublin champions have met with St Vincents narrowly defeating St Lomans Mullingar by 0-11 to 0-9 in the Leinster Quarter final last November en route to their All Ireland crown in March.  Facing the Dublin champions at any stage is a major deal and next Sundays encounter is certainly one where very few commentators will favour Garrycastle despite their own impressive pedigree in the Leinster club championship. Indeed, there will be plenty of predictions of doom for the Westmeath side but that will be far from the case. Garrycastle know they are facing a team of many talents but they have faced the best before and have always acquitted themselves excellently so next weeks game I would expect will be no different. Looking briefly at the Dublin champions, Diarmuid Connolly, Ger Brennan,Eamonn Fennell,Shane Carthy and Tomas Quinn are their stand out performers and on an open transfer market would certainly be a coveted quintet for any side. They are a very talented outfit and play attractive open football when allowed to do so but they are beatable. Last year against St Lomans, they lost their captain Ger Brennan to a red card early on and if St Lomans were slightly more streetwise then the Dublin Champions would have exited the championship in Cusack Park. In  Garrycastle, you have currently the most experienced and streetwise team from this county and perhaps within the province at the moment. They were within moments of winning the All Ireland club title in 2012 and following their narrow win over Killoe in the previous round will be well up for the challenge. Garrycastle have a strong line up from Cathal Mullin in goals, defenders such as Jack Donoghue and John Gaffey, midfielder Aidan Browne, James Dolan in the forwards and of course their talisman Dessie Dolan. They have taken Dublin club scalps before most notably St Brigids in the 2011 Leinster final and will relish the challenge ahead. The game at Parnell Park throws in at 4-00pm as the second part of a double header at the venue with the provincial senior hurling game between Kilmacud and Ballyhale on at 2-00pm.

Moate All Whites V Ballon:
Westmeath Junior Football champions Moate All Whites face Carlow side Ballon in the AIB Leinster club Junior championship semi final at Moate on Sunday 23rd November.  Moate came through the previous round with a well deserved win over Louth champions St Oliver Plunketts while Ballon defeated Daingean the Offaly champions to reach this stage. Moate have been the stand out team in the Junior grade in Westmeath championship this season going unbeaten in all their championship games to regain Intermediate status for 2015. They are a club with great potential and will see the Leinster club championship as an achievable goal. Their opponents Ballon won the Carlow Junior title on 22nd October against Pallatine by 2-11 to 2-06 in a match that they never looked like winning until the final five minutes. Six points down and a man down with less than fifteen minutes remaining, they finished strongly to take their county title and have impressed since.  They will be difficult opponents for Moate but the All Whites have home venue and supreme confidence in their own ability so they have every opportunity to advance. Throw in at Moate will be 2-00pm.

St Brigids V Shamrocks:
Sunday 23rd November also sees St Brigids play Shamrocks from Offaly in the AIB Leinster club Junior Hurling Semi final with the game set for an Offaly venue, most likely O Connor Park Tullamore. St Brigids have qualified for this stage by virtue of  a 1-22 to 1-03 win over Barndarrig of Wicklow and a 2-20 to 1-20 over the Louth Senior champions Knockbridge. Shamrocks who are based in the villages of Mucklagh and Rahan overcame Dublin champions Clontarf by 3-06 to 0-06 and at the weekend beat Carlow town by 2-19 to 1-10.  Throw in for the game will likely by 2-00pm but this will be confirmed early this week.

County Convention:
Westmeath GAA County convention this year will take place on Sunday 21st December at the new Brownstown/Archerstown Community centre. Convention is set for 3-00pm.
I can be contacted at [email protected] or 086 3992403

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