Westmeath Gain Important Win over Kildare:
The weather threatened to be a spoilsport on Sunday 1st March at St Conleths Park Newbridge as snow showers and worse looked set to scuttle the Allianz league Division 2 fixture between Westmeath and Kildare. However, the Kildare venue survived a pre match inspection and just as well it did from a maroon perspective as Westmeath gained a first ever league win over their near neighbours by 0-15 to 0-12. Tipped as relegation fodder at the start of the season, a renewed Westmeath side has now placed themselves at the top of the Division after three rounds and while nothing is certain, the omens are far better than they were in 2014.
Kildare's Fergal Conway fired over the opening point inside the opening minute to give the hosts the lead but it Westmeath soon found their rhythm in an impressive opening half display. Points from Lorcan Smith and John Heslin converted his first free of the day to put Westmeath into a lead they never surrendered.  Ger Egan blasted home a long range point and Heslin stretched the advantage. Further points from Heslin and a Paul Sharry score saw Westmeath move five ahead with 12 minutes remaining in the first half. Kildare did get in a couple of scores but Westmeath led by 0-8 to 0-5 at half time and were in good shape. Denis Glennon added to the lead early in the second half following Gary Connaughton's superb save from Paul O'Neill. Kildare did improve vastly from their first half showing and did carve out some good goal chances but the 2008 All Star was in outstanding form and steadied matters when required. Denis Glennon clipped over three second half points which were all vital and with Shane Dempsey, Heslin and Smith firing home three points in the final five minutes, the victory was sealed. Confidence will be high heading into next Saturday's encounter in Navan. Well done to all.

Leinster Under 21 Football Championship:
Westmeath face the first of two evening trips to Navan this week on Wednesday 4th March when they face Meath in the Leinster Under 21 football championship. Under  21 is a grade where both counties could do with a good championship run and certainly the midweek fixture should draw a decent crowd to Pairc Tailteain. It is always hard to gauge how teams will do at this level and there is no real form line to go on for this encounter. At Minor level three years ago, Meath defeated Westmeath in the Leinster semi final at Mullingar while in 2013, Westmeath gained revenge by defeating the Royals in Navan. Both sides will have a good scattering of players from both those teams and it will be just a matter of who settles best on the night. Meath will be favourites but Westmeath had a better pre season in the Hastings cup and have performed well in challenge games lately. They might just sneak it. The game in Navan throws in at 7-30pm.

Allianz Hurling league:
Westmeath Senior Hurlers face a long away trip for the second successive game when they travel to Tralee to play Kerry in the third round of the Allianz League Division 2A.  Westmeath were disappointed with their loss to Derry at Owenbeg on Sunday week losing by 2-15 to 3-10 in a match that they looked to have squeezed two league points from. It was a bit of a kick in the teeth to the side and it proves that all of the teams are evenly matched. The Kerry game takes on huge significance and is a must win encounter. Lose it and promotion is out of reach for another season. It wont be an easy ask but Westmeath have the craft to win this game if the desire is there to do so. The game has a 1-00pm throw in time.
Allianz Football League:
Pairc Tailteain becomes our home for football supporters this week as Westmeath face Meath for the second time in four days with the County Seniors in league action on Saturday 7th March. Meath! The ould enemy,the destroyer of many a Westmeath team down through the years are our nearest neighbour but also our greatest nemesis. The fact that we have never beaten them in Senior championship grates hugely and any win over the Royals is greated with as much enthusiasm as winning the euromillions! Looking at next weekends game logically, there won't be much to chose between the sides. Both teams have lost to Galway( Meath by 2-13 to 1-12; Westmeath by 2-13 to 2-12) and beaten Kildare (Meath by 0-13 to 0-11; Westmeath by 0-15 to 0-12) so on that form, the sides will be evenly matched. Westmeath have two points more than Meath at the moment due to our win over Laois while Meath's game against Roscommon at the weekend was postponed due to snow. The boost of Sunday's win over Kildare and the fact that Meath's game V Roscommon was postponed should leave Westmeath the sharper side. It may be enough to swing the result. Throw in on Saturday is at 7-00pm.
Master Fixtures List:
Fixtures Secretary Pat Reilly sent out the fixtures map for the season during the week to all clubs by email. The fixtures booklet with dates listed will be available within the next two weeks.
County Committee Meeting:
The next county committee meeting is on Thursday 5th March in the Cusack Park meeting rooms at 7-30pm.
I can be contacted at [email protected] or 086 3992403

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