Castlepollard hurling club is 100 years old this year. What better way to celebrate the centenary year than with a 13th senior championship success, suggests chairman Ned Flynn. One of the county's most successful and distinguished clubs celebrates its 100th birthday this year. Castlepollard hurling club was founded in 1902 and in the years since its formation, has won 12 senior championships, three junior, six under 21 and numerous underage competitions. Only Brownstown, with 15 senior titles, has achieved greater success on the hurling fields of Westmeath. To mark the centenary year, Castlepollard club officers have lined up a number of events which are eagerly awaited. Chairman Ned Flynn acknowledges that it is a special year for the blue and gold brigade but adds that it would take on even greater significance if a 13th senior championship title is to be annexed. "It would be some year if we managed to win the senior championship," he says. "What better way to celebrate the centenary than by winning the Examiner Cup? We were bitterly disappointed with the way things panned out last year but maybe we'll see a greater effort from the players this year. I'm sure they'd love to win the senior championship in the year that's in it," he adds. While no date has yet been set, a reunion night will take place later this year. The event will bring together some of the greats of Castlepollard hurling, dating back to the 1930s. The club will also publish a booklet, reflecting on 100 years of hurling in the north Westmeath town. "We have no date set for the reunion night but we'll wait and see how the senior team fares first. If they were to win the championship, we would probably have the reunion and the medals presentation night together. That would be the perfect scenario," Ned jokingly remarks. Last year, Castlepollard announced a five-year ground development plan. Unfortunately, the new pitch will not be opened before the end of this year but it will be in use from 2003 onwards. The next phase after that will involve the erection of fencing and the construction of dugouts. The final phase will see the installation of full floodlighting. "Ideally, we would like to have the pitch ready for this year. However, it's going to take another year before we have it opened. "As anyone from the area knows, the dressingrooms and the hall have already been built. Once work on the pitch is finished, we'll start on the fencing and the dugouts. Four years from now, we aim to have the floodlighting system fully operational." Castlepollard hurling club has enjoyed a highly eventful first 100 years. The junior championship of 1911 represented the club's first success. There was a lapse of 14 years before the first senior championship was annexed. The 1928 championship was awarded following an appeal. Prominent names from that era included Paddy McCabe, Gerry Burke, Paddy Boylan, Paddy Gibbons and Dan Mulligan. The 1930s proved to be the most successful era in Castlepollard's history. Four senior championships were garnered between 1933 and 1937 - missing out in '35 - as well as two Feis Cups and two league titles. In 1933, they defeated Clonkill by 4-4 to 0-2 and the following year, Castletown-Geoghegan were overcome by 7-4 to 1-1. In 1936, 'Pollard beat Clonkill by 5-2 to 4-0. The championship was retained when they defeated Ardnurcher by 7-5 to 5-3 in the 1937 decider. Many outstanding players such as Tommy Morgan, Paddy Kearney, Paddy and Jack Egan, Matt Fagan, Frank Monaghan and the Mulligan brothers were part of that great team. Following the glory years of the 1930s, Castlepollard had to endure a 24-year wait before their next senior championship success was achieved. A 2-9 to 1-4 victory over St. Patrick's in 1961 confirmed to everyone that Castlepollard were back. In the five years that followed, 'Pollard added two more senior titles as well as two Feis Cups. Following their defeat to Rickardstown in the 1963 final, the blue and golds came storming back to triumph in 1965 and '66. In '65, Castletown-Geoghegan were defeated 4-2 to 2-6 with Frank Devine and Paddy McCabe contributing all Castlepollard's scores. In '66, Pearses of Mullingar were beaten by 2-7 to 2-4. What was still a young team was devastated by emigration in 1968. Eight of them departed for Canada and England. 'Pollard did, however, reach the senior final of 1972 but were forced to give second best to St. Brigid's. The following year, there was further heartbreak when they lost to Raharney. Revenge was sweet in '74, though, when Raharney were defeated in the final by 1-8 to 1-4. In 1978, '83 and '91, 'Pollard lost senior finals to Brownstown. They also finished as runners-up to Raharney in 1994. But the tremendous success that the club achieved at underage level in the late 1980s and early 1990s finally manifested itself at senior level in 1995. A late point from Barry Kennedy gave Castlepollard a dramatic victory over Raharney and ended a 21-year wait for senior success in the process. In 1997, the blue and golds captured their 12th senior title courtesy of a replay win over Lough Lene Gaels. They last reached the final in '99 when a late Lough Lene Gaels rally denied them victory. 'Pollard seemed odds-on to reach last year's decider after victories over Brownstown, Clonkill and Castletown-Geoghegan in the group stages. But them came a shock 1-10 to 2-8 semi-final defeat to Cullion. Castlepollard were facing an uphill battle as early as the first minute when Frank Shaw's long-range effort found the net. Colin Whyte, whose father Seamus won senior championship medals with Lough Lene Gaels in 1975 and '76, added a second goal to leave Cullion sitting pretty on a 2-3 to 0-3 lead at half-time. Cullion increased their advantage to seven points early in the second half but Castlepollard roared back with points from Adrian Smyth and Robert McLoughlin and a goal from Darren McCormack. Scores from Kevin Brazil and Alfie Devine eventually brought the favourites level but Cullion had the final say when Colin Whyte held his nerve to send over the winning point from a 60 metres free. Contrary to what is generally believed, Castlepollard didn't taken Cullion for granted according to Ned Flynn. "We didn't underestimate Cullion," the popular Midlands Radio 3 GAA correspondent claims. "We prepared for the semi-final as if we were playing Lough Lene Gaels or Clonkill. We had enough chances to win but overall, you can't take anything away from Cullion. They were the better team and deserved to win." Michael Lynch has since stepped down as manager, being replaced by former Meath and Westmeath supremo John Davis. Can he inspire another glorious chapter in Castlepollard's distinguished history? "Hopefully, he'll make a difference," Ned offers. "He has an excellent track record and did particularly well with Meath. At the end of the day, however, it all boils down to the players. If they are prepared to put in the effort, they are capable of beating anyone." Tweet

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