Minor Hurlers off to a flyer:
Westmeath Minor hurlers made a winning start to the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship when they easily disposed of Wicklow on Saturday 11th April at the Wicklow Centre of excellence at Rathdrum. The winning score of 5-19 to 0-4 was as comprehensive as it looks as Westmeath were never in any trouble against a very limited home side.  Goals by Paddy Doody and Ciaran Doyle eased the visitors into a 2-13 to 0-1 half time lead. The second half was very similar to the opening half as Westmeath dictated the pace to add a further 3-6 conceding only three points to set up a next round game against Carlow. That game will be in Netwatch Dr Cullen Park on Saturday 25th April.  As the Leinster Minor Hurling championship is set up in a tiered approach; Westmeath due to recent years results were listed in Tier 3 so they meet Carlow who were in Tier 2 but lost to Offaly last Saturday by 1-19 to 0-10. Should Westmeath overcome that hurdle, then they meet either Laois of Meath.
Minor Footballers face Wexford:
It is the turn of the County Minor Footballers next Weekend as they make the long trip to Innovate Wexford Park to take on the model county in the opening round of the Leinster Championship.  It's never the easiest place to go looking for a result but certainly Westmeath are quite capable of overcoming Wexford in this game. The Leinster leagues from earlier in the season were mixed for both counties with Westmeath defeating Limerick and losing to both Offaly and Ath Cliath while Wexford defeated Wicklow but lost to Cork and Carlow in their group. So both sides have had very similar form to date and it may be a case of whoever settles better will win. The last meeting between the counties at Minor level was just two years ago when Westmeath had a narrow 1-10 to 0-10 win in Cusack Park en route to the Leinster final. A similar result next Saturday would do very nicely indeed. The game has a throw in time of 3-00pm on Saturday 18 April.
Senior & Intermediate Hurling Championships commence:
The Slevin Coaches Senior and Intermediate Hurling Championships commence next weekend with a full round of fixtures covering both Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April with a number of interesting fixtures to whet the appetite of Westmeath hurling supporters.  It's an earlier than usual start to the Hurling Championship but it is a long road to the county final and the road has to start at some stage so next weekend is as good as any.  So who will succeed Raharney and St Brigids for the respective championship titles this season?  At Senior level, the reigning champions Raharney along with Clonkill and Castletown Geoghegan will be among the favourites and last years beaten finalists Castlepollard must also be in with a shout.  Lough Lene Gaels, St Oliver Plunketts,Delvin and St Brigids will obviously have something to say about the destination of the Examiner cup but it is hard to look outside the champions of the past three seasons for ultimate honours. Two double headers start the Senior championship with St Brigids V St Oliver Plunketts and Clonkill V Raharney on Saturday 18 April and Lough Lene Gaels V Delvin and Castletown Geoghegan V Castlepollard on Sunday 19 April.  The Intermediate Championship see's fixtures on Friday,Saturday and Sunday and is much harder to gauge especially in the early stages. The Second string teams of Raharney,Clonkill and Castletown Geoghegan will be expected to push for knock out places but that is dependent on how their first teams do in the Senior Championship.  The sole Intermediate clubs consist of Ringtown,Southern Gaels,Fr Daltons,Turin,Cullion,Crookedwood and Brownstown. All of the latter will have ambitions to regain Senior Status with possibly Crookedwood being the best placed to compete with the Senior second strings though again it is too early to make any sort of a call and there will be many hurdles to cross before the end of the season.
Joristown Re-opening:
Raharney GAA are having the official reopening of their Joristown pitch on Sunday 19 April at 1-30pm with new GAA President Aogan O Fearail being the very welcome guest of honour.
Rule Changes come into effect:
A number of rule changes in hurling and football were adopted at Congress 2015 in Cavan. They will come into effect this weekend and are applicable to all games played on or after Saturday, April 11. 
HURLING
A Yellow Card does not carry into extra-time.
Referee may consult with a neutral linesman concerning the validity of a score.
Penalty - One defending player on the goal-line who may not move towards the 20m line until the ball has actually been struck. The player taking the penalty may place it up to 7m back from the 20m line and within the arc but must strike the ball on or outside the 20m line.
For free pucks for Technical Fouls committed inside the large rectangle and awarded on the centre point of the 20m line, a maximum of five players may stand on the goal-line and may not move forward until the ball has been struck. The player taking the free puck may place the ball up to 7m back from the 20m line and within the arc but must strike it on or outside the 20m line.
For a 20m free puck awarded for a foul committed outside the large rectangle, all players shall stand a minimum of 20m from the point of award of the free and may not move closer to that point until the ball has been struck.
Rule 2.4 and 4.16 - If a defending player(s) fouls before the ball is struck and a goal does not result, the referee shall give the penalty taker/free taker the option of re-taking the Penalty Puck/Free Puck or of having a point scored to stand.
If a player taking a Penalty Puck or other Free Puck awarded on the 20m line fails to lift the ball at the first attempt or fails to strike it with the hurley, even if the action causes it to marginally cross the 20m line, he shall be allowed to strike the ball on the ground without delay.
Advantage - Referee may allow the play to continue for up to 5 seconds after a foul; if no advantage accrues during that 5 seconds he may subsequently award a free puck for the foul.*
(*This is the same rule that has been in place in football for the past year; no advantage accruing would include such instances of a pass going astray, another player moving in to tackle as soon as the fouled player gets away from the initial foul, a shot taken within the five seconds which goes wide, a shot taken within the 5 seconds which is saved by the goalkeeper etc; in these instances the referee should come back and award the original free. If a player/team who had been awarded an advantage commits a foul within the 5 second period then the free shall be awarded against him for the subsequent foul)
FOOTBALL
A Yellow Card does not carry into extra-time.
Referee may consult with a neutral linesman concerning the validity of a score.
Rule 2.3 and 4.16 - If a defending player(s) fouls at a Penalty Kick situation before the ball is kicked and a goal does not result, the referee shall give the penalty taker the option of re-taking the Penalty Kick or of having a point scored to stand.

Westmeath GAA Golf Classic:
Club Iarmhí are organising a Golf Classic in New Forest Golf Club on 26th June 2015. This will be the second successive year that Westmeath will host a Golf Classic at the Tyrrellspass Golf club and full details will be announced in the near future.
County Committee Meeting:
The next County Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 15 April at 7-00pm in the Annebrook Hotel. This is the Annual club officers meeting
Westmeath GAA Club Development Lotto:
The most recent draw was on Tuesday 7 April saw the Jackpot not being won with the next draw on Tuesday 14th April having a Jackpot of €8540. The numbers drawn at last weeks draw were 5,8,19 and 21 with seven match three winners of €46 each. The winners were Martin Daly C/O Delvin GAA,Lauren Gavin C/O St Oliver Plunketts,Kit Sharry C/O St Oliver Plunketts,Cathy Morley C/O Ballinagore GAA,Paula Ennis C/O Ballinagore GAA,Gerry Claffey C/O Ballinagore GAA,Shane Heraty C/O Ballinagore GAA

Tweet

Most Read Stories