Minor Hurlers bounce Back.

Westmeath Minor Hurlers qualified for a Leinster Quarter final clash with Offaly by virtue of a useful 1-17 to 0-15 win over Meath at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday 23rd April. While the result against Wexford was disappointing, there was much more to enthuse about in this game on Saturday. Granted, the standard of opposition was different but it was an important game to win as it leaves Westmeath in Tier 2 of the Leinster Championship for next year at the very worst. The home side showed their mettle early on by racing into a four point lead within the first five minutes, all scores coming from the stick of wing forward Sean Kenny. Meath hit back well with two points but Westmeath finished the opening half well to lead by 0-10 to 0-5 at half time. The lead was extended to six early in the second half but Meath had a good third quarter and levelled the game at 0-12 apiece as the game headed into its final phase. The turning point came when Brian Mc Hugh pulled off a good save and this was followed by the only goal of the game from Marcus Kennedy. It broke Meath's momentum and like in the opening half, Westmeath finished well to win by five at the finish. The next task is a quarter final encounter against Offaly next weekend. The Offaly men lost to Kilkenny by 3-25 to 1-13 on Saturday but will be seen as a serious step up for Westmeath. But this win will bring Westmeath on well and progression to the Leinster semi final would represent serious progress. The decision on time and venue will be announced on Monday but it would make sense to have the game as a curtain raiser to the Westmeath V Offaly Senior Championship encounter next Sunday.

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship V Offaly:

Clashes between Westmeath & Offaly were once common place with twenty previous encounters in the past but surprisingly next Sunday's Leinster Championship game is the first meeting in 40 years with the last game on 6th June 1976 in Croke Park. Both counties went on different roads over the past four decades with Offaly having a golden age during the 1980's and 90's while remaining generally a step ahead of Westmeath over the past twenty odd years but not at the level of their glory years. Time change and while the visitors will be favourites next Sunday, they will not be overwhelming favourites. Offaly had an average spring in Division 1B of the Allianz league reaching the league quarter finals but suffering many heavy losses including one to Kerry who have generally been similar in standard to Westmeath. Westmeath collected the Division 2A crown but missed out on promotion by losing to Laois in the promotion/relegation play off. That was a disappointment. But Westmeath have improved and need to be confident that they can take an important scalp next weekend. The Lake county are well organised under Michael Ryan's guidance and the meanness of their defence is noteworthy being the only team in the entire league not to concede a goal. The one area of worry is in attack. Our strike rate so far this season has not been good enough to take teams of the calibre of Offaly. The Laois game showed that when on form, our forwards are as good as those of many of the teams in Division 1B but to win next Sunday, we will need 20 plus points with the addition of one or two green flags to take Offaly. I expect the game to be keenly contested and Westmeath can win but need to be very good on the day to do so. The game is down for a 3-30pm throw in at TEG Cusack Park on Sunday 1st May.

Celtic Challenge 2016:

The Celtic Challenge is a competition for players, aged 16 and 17 years old, who are not participating in State Examinations during May and June 2016. 38 teams will participate in the competition.  It will run from Wednesday 4th May to Saturday 18th June 2016 - more information on http://www.gaa.ie/my-gaa/getting-involved/the-celtic-challenge 

 

As part of the competition and in order to help promote it during the months of May and June, a number of people have put their name forward through the Games Development & Research Department to help promote their County. The Westmeath coordinator is James Flynn who is contactable at 087 3148388.

 

Feile Peil na nÓg:

 

The playing pitches of most clubs were busy over the weekend with the various rounds of the Feile Peil na nÓg competition taking place. The winners will participate in the National Feile finals later in the year and we hope that all the young footballers enjoyed their participation in the local round this year.

 

Westmeath GAA Development Lotto:

 

The most recent draw was held on Tuesday 19th April with the Jackpot not being won so next weeks draw on 26th April sees the Jackpot rise to €7300. The numbers drawn last week were 4,6,14 and 17 and there were six match three winners of €35 each. The lucky winners were;

John & Florrie Kelly C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA

Caulry Ladies Syndicate C/O Westmeath Ladies GAA

Tomás Mc Inerney C/O Delvin GAA

Liam Dalton C/O St Oliver Plunketts GAA

Kathleen Molloy C/O St Oliver Plunketts GAA

Up The Blues C/O St Lomans Mullingar GAA

 

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

 

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