Stunning Win for Under 21 Hurlers:

Wednesday 25th May 2016 will certainly live long in the memory of Westmeath Hurling Supporters as the County Under 21 team made a major statement with their fabulous 1-11 to 0-12 victory over Kilkenny at TEG Cusack Park. The fact that Westmeath defeated the Cats for the first time ever in a premier hurling championship game made not just local supporters take note but reverberated all through the Irish Sporting Spectrum. Kilkenny are the benchmark that all other teams attain to and certainly by winning in last weeks game, the good work that is being carried out by our clubs and the county squads is now starting to bear fruit. However, the stark reality is that it is just a Leinster Quarter final win and the objective now must be to move a step further at least and contest the provincial final. That in itself is another days work with Westmeath due to meet either Wexford of Dublin on Wednesday 15th June. Should it be Wexford, then the game will be in TEG Cusack Park and if it is Dublin then the match is in Parnell Park. The successful backroom team for the Under 21 team in full is Adrian Moran,Darren Mc Cormack,Michael Ryan,Michael Walsh (Management & Selectors) Maor Foirne-Denis Coen; Physios Niamh Guy and Patsie Sheerin. Stats Tomas Mount & Jason Moran. Kit men keith Quinn & David Carr. Well done to them all and keep it up!

 

Senior Hurlers face Galway:

The first of two bumper Leinster Senior Championsip Sundays at TEG Cusack Park sees Westmeath host Galway in the Quarter final of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship. The past few weeks have been progressive ones for Westmeath as they successfully overcame the obstacles of Offaly, Kerry and Carlow respectively to top the Round Robin qualifying group. Next Sunday's game is another matter entirely. Galway have for the past number of years been on the shortlist of All Ireland contenders and will feel that they should have grabbed at least one Liam Mc Carthy crown over the past five years with 2012 still a sore point for them. Indeed even in last years final against Kilkenny, they looked on course at half time but fell away in a disappointing second half to eventually lose by 1-22 to 1-18. This season, the Tribesmen had a disappointing league season dropping from Division 1A to 1B for 2017 so the form coming into next Sundays game is somewhat suspect. Saying that, they will be firm favourites to progress and anything other than a relatively comfortable victory will be the task that they will be looking for. However, Westmeath are going well and the previous encounters against Galway in 2011 and 2012 were anything but smooth for Galway at TEG Cusack Park. With a huge feel good factor in Westmeath at the moment allied to a team that is playing well plus the added bounce from the Under 21's win last week, well the prospects couldn't be much better for the home side at the moment. Remember, in the 1980's it was Westmeath who ended a year long unbeaten run by Galway in a National league match in Athenry at a time when the Tribesmen were All Ireland Champions. I expect that there will be a few twists in next Sundays game before the final result is decided and assuming the dedication is right there could be a surprise in Mullingar. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility. Next Sunday's game will throw in at 3-30pm at TEG Cusack Park. Come early as there is a big crowd expected.

 

GAA Overseas Sanctions- Important Information:

All players that will be seeking an Official GAA Sanction from Central Council to play in North America, New York or Canada for the summer are reminded that travel insurance must be arranged in Ireland before they commence their journeys. Players should note the following: Like the vast majority of travel insurance policies, the option offered by the GAA can only be purchased by individuals before they leave Ireland. Important points for players to note include: • The GAA is willing to accept alternative insurance if it is appropriate; however a Sanction will not be granted to any player that does not have a valid Travel Insurance policy in force for the duration of his trip. • Players must ensure that their Travel Insurance policies extend to cover the playing of Gaelic football and/or hurling as part of a team including the playing of matches. This is not automatically covered under the majority of standard Travel Insurance policies unless agreed in advance with Insurers. Proof of this must be explicitly stated in the copy of the insurance policy provided. • The cost of insurance will depend on the GAA OVERSEAS SANCTIONS - IMPORTANT INFORMATION duration of a player's stay in a particular country. • Players wishing to play in North America must purchase cover for a minimum of 90 days. It is the player's own responsibility to ensure they are covered for all dates of potential fixtures. • Travel insurance is not a private health insurance. It only covers players if there is a sudden and unexpected accident or if a player becomes during his trip. • Generally where doctors appointed by Insurers deem treatment in Ireland// Britain more appropriate, players will be repatriated home for treatment. • Players playing overseas are not covered under the GAA Injury Benefit Fund. The following are the steps which player's need to take to purchase the required insurance: • Go to the following link - http://www. acetravellerinsurance.ie/?afl=5781 • Choose 'Worldwide' cover 'Up to 6 months' • Members of Clubs in the 32 Counties of Ireland can purchase the insurance; please ignore the reference to the Six Counties, which states 'excluding Northern Ireland' • Choose the most accurate number of days that you will be staying in North America / New York / Canada Minimum for North America is 90 days • Please purchase the 'Standard' cover available. Budget cover is not acceptable • Please read and accept the terms and conditions of the policy and apply for the cover • Fill in all the required fields in order to obtain your documentation • Once purchased, the confirmation letter should be submitted along with the Official Sanction Form to your County Secretary who will submit it to the relevant Department in Croke Park • Once approved, all Sanctions will appear on the relevant lists on the Official GAA website

 

 

Important Notes Only the 'Standard' cover will suffice. A Sanction will not be granted if a player purchases 'Budget' cover Holders of the J1 Work and Travel Programme Visa who have purchased insurance from their travel agency may not be required to purchase GAA Travel Sanction cover. To verify that your cover is sufficient, please send a copy to [email protected] If you have further queries on the insurance, please contact ACE Travel Insurance on 1800 200 035 and use the GAA Travel Sanction cover as your reference PLAYING IN NORTH AMERICA / AUSTRALASIA / CANADA / NEW YORK / EUROPE Each year, approximately 3,000 players leave Ireland on a temporary basis and play Gaelic games whilst overseas. The rules pertaining to process for obtaining permission to play are listed below: Authorisations A Weekend Authorisation is required by any player intending to assist a Club in a game under the jurisdiction of the New York Board. The Official Authorisation must be submitted by the relevant County Secretary to Croke Park on the Wednesday before the game. An Authorisation is valid for one weekend only other than where there is a replay of the game for which the Authorisation was granted Official Sanctions A player intending to play on a longer term basis in the area governed by one of the following Boards - the New York Board, the Canadian Board must obtain an Official Sanction from Central Council. A player intending to play on a longer term basis in the area governed by the North American County Board must obtain an Official Sanction or an Official J1 Sanction from Central Council. Note - A player who has been included on an Inter-County Senior Championship list submitted to the Referee, in accordance with Rules of Specification 2.5 (ii)(a) for a game in the current year's Championship shall not be eligible to be accepted for Registration as a member of any Club in the North American County Board Jurisdiction. Exception A player who has been included on an Inter-County Senior Championship list submitted to the Referee, in accordance with Rules of Specification 2.5 (ii)(a), for a game in the current year's Championship, who holds a valid current J1 Visa or meets the eligibility requirements to obtain a J1 Visa, and who obtains an Official J1 Sanction may be accepted for registration. The J1 Visa concerned with this Exception is the J1 Work and Travel Programme Visa only - i.e. the four month Visa for 3rd Level Students. General Rules • A Sanction entitles a player to play with a Club from March 1 until the end of October • Sanctions to Canada will not be granted after July 1 • Sanctions to North America or New York will not be granted after July 20 • A player who has received a Sanction will not be able to play again with his Club in Ireland for 30 days after the date of approval of his Sanction in Croke Park • Sanctions are only available to current members of Clubs in Ireland • For more information, go to Rule 6.11 of the Official Guide. Application Forms The relevant Application Forms are attached for inclusion in the newsletter • Official Canadian Sanction Form • Official NACB Sanction Form • Official J1 Sanction Form • Official New York Sanction Form • New York Weekend Authorisation Form

 

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

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