Westmeath G A A Notes By Pat Reilly Westmeath P R O. O' BYRNE CUP FOOTBALL: Westmeath senior footballers recorded their first win of the 2010 season last weekend in the O' Byrne Cup shield albeit at the expense of Kilkenny who would not be a traditional strong football side. The selected team bore some resemblance to what one might expect with certain players back in their more customary positions, with the defence fairing well but midfield and the attack still needs some work but it's early in the season yet. They now Wexford away in the shield Semi-final next weekend which will further help in the preparation for the first round of the National League on the 7th Feb in Cusack Park. KEOGH CUP HURLING: The senior hurlers under new manager Kevin Martin start their year off next Sunday with a very interesting away fixture against Down, Having retained Div 2 status for this year it is imperative that they get off to a winning start. This will by no means be an easy fixture and the team will probably have some new faces as the manager plans and builds for the upcoming league and Christy Ring Cup. While Down will have the benefit of a convincing win over Longford last weekend training for the lads has been going well since the start of the New Year and the team has performed well in a number of challenge matches losing out narrowly to Offaly in a high scoring game 2-24 to 1-22, while it might not be expected don't be surprised if we claim a victory in this one. WESTMEATH GAA STRATEGIC PLAN: The proposed date - January 25th for the launch of our Strategic Plan is now postponed until Wednesday February 3rd in the Mullingar Park Hotel. It is also intended to hold the next County Committee meeting featuring draws on that night also. As this is a very important function for Westmeath GAA all clubs are requested to have at least six club members present on the night. TICKETING - SEASON TICKET: Westmeath GAA would like to remind members and supporters that Season Tickets are available for the 2010 season. These tickets offer excellent value. Further information is available from and purchases can be made through www.tickets.gaa.ie HURLING HELMETS: The time has arrived. The compulsory use of approved hurling helmets, complete with face guards came into effect on January 1. Hurlers of all ages and grades will be obliged to comply once they have a hurley in their hands whether in training or a match. Match officials will stop play in a situation where a player removes a helmet or attempts to enter the field of play without one. Posters outlining this initiative can be downloaded from http://www.gaa.ie/page/hurling_helmets.html. GAA MEMBERSHIP DATABASE: As it is now time for clubs to start registering their players and members for 2010 please make sure to do so on the new GAA Membership Database as this is now the Official method of registration for the GAA. MEMBERSHIP DATABASE SUPPORT: Please see below the support email and phone details for users of the Online Registration System. Queries relating to usernames and passwords and queries in relation to using the system should be directed to the email and/or phone numbers below. Please pass these details to the person charged with completing the registrations in your clubs. Email support [email protected] Phone support: 048 9031 3845, +44 7990 930 009, +44 7990 930 009 * for out of hours support, you may be required to leave a short message and we will call you back as soon as a Support Engineer becomes free ALL IRELAND TALENT SHOW: There is big local interest in the All Ireland Talent Show on RTE television at the moment, and Kathryn Nea from Castletown Geoghegan, and Niall Kelly from Ballinagore are competing in the event on Sunday 31st January 2010. The winning act in this years show will once again walk away with an incredible 50,000. As all Westmeath Scór followers know, Kathryn was one of our best performers over the past number of years. They are asking everyone to please vote for them on Sunday 31st. You can do so by text or phone. PLEASE DONT FORGET. MINOR BOARD METING: The January meeting of the Coiste na nÓg Iarmhi will take place on Tuesday 26th. January 2010 at 7.30pm in the meeting room Cusack Park Mullingar. Clar. (1) Ratification of Football & Hurling Planning Reports 2010.(Attached please find copy of the reports). (2) Election of two (2) people to Coiste na nÓg C.C.C.for 2010.(Nominations to be with Secretary, Coiste na nÓg on or before Monday next 25th January 2010. (3) Election of Public Relations Officer (P.R.O.) for Coiste na nÓg for 2010. This position was not filled at A.G.M. Nominations to be with Secretary, Coiste na nÓg on or before Monday next 25th January 2010. REFEREES COURSE: As previously advised, Liam McDaniel County Referee's Co-ordinator,is organising a course for potential new referee's. The course-Introduction to Refereeing- will take place on next Thursday night 28th. January 2010 at 7.30pm in the meeting room in Cusack Park Mullingar. Please bring this notice to attention of all Club members who have expressed an interest in becoming a referee, also the Referee's Committee make a special appeal to all Clubs who at present do not have a referee to try and get a Club member to complete the new course. WESTMEATH REFEREES ASSOCATION AGM: Successful course held Over the last two weeks, football and hurling referees in Westmeath have participated in a compulsory one-night course on the different rules of Gaelic games. Set in a very practical manner, the course succeeded in getting the participants actively involved and the general feeling was that it was very beneficial to all referees. The two tutors, supplied by Croke Park, were Aidan Shields (Dublin) and Joe Harlin (Drogheda) and the course was organised by Westmeath GAA's Referee Coordinator, Liam McDaniel. There was a good attendance on both nights and for any referee who was unable to attend, they will have to undertake the course in Longford or another neighbouring county in the near future. AGM The Annual General Meeting of the association will take place on Thursday, February 4, at 7.30pm in St Loman's GAA Club House. All referees are urged to attend on the night. REMINDER FOR ALL CLUBS: I would ask all clubs to PLEASE deal with the issue of Garda vetting for all coaches and mentors within their clubs as soon as possible as the start of the new season is almost upon us once again. To date there has been a poor response to the return of Garda Vetting Forms so I appeal to all clubs to commence the process as soon as possible. WESTMEATH GAA DEVELOPMENT LOTTO: (Results 19th January) NO JACKPOT WINENER: WINNING NO'S: 11, 20, 22, 29 NEXT WEEKS JACKPOT 2,140 2 MATCH 3 WINNERS @ 160: Andy Donoghue C/O Ballymore GAA Gemma Rowan C/O Loughnavalley GAA NEXT DRAW DATE: TUESDAY 26th January 2010. RESULTS FOR WEEK ENDING 24-01-10: O' Byrne Cup Shield: Westmeath 2-17, Kilkenny 0-6; Junior Football Shield Final: Ballycomoyle 1-09, Loughnavalley 0-11; Fe 21 Football Championship 15 aside: Mullingar Shamrocks 1-10, Rosemount 0-8; St Lomans Mullingar 2-17, Athlone 0-3; I can be contacted by phone on 044 9666476, 087 2777987 or by email on [email protected] Tweet

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