Castletown-Geoghegan have failed to win the senior hurling championship since 2004 even though they have been many people's choice to do so since then, given the level of underage success that the club has enjoyed.

However, they have learned the hard way that winning underage titles does not guarantee you success in the senior grade and club secretary Colm Geoghegan admits that 2010 was a disappointing year at adult level, but there were still plenty of positives to take from the year in general.
Castletown won their 11th senior hurling title seven years ago when they defeated Lough Lene Gaels in the county final, which was their first championship win since 1990. The club are now half way through that barren spell once again, but it would take a brave man to bet against the black and amber going that long without lifting the Westmeath Examiner Cup.
Since 2000, the club have been the driving force in Westmeath underage hurling and they have amassed an amazing tally of titles during that period. Five minor successes, four at under-16, seven under-14 plus three Feile na nGael titles at this level as well as two National Feile titles and three under-12 titles make impressive reading to say the least.
In 2010, Castletown lifted the minor title for a second successive year and they added the National feile division 3 championship to their list of accolades also. Many clubs combined wouldn't have amassed as much as in their history as Castletown Geoghegan have in little over a decade and Colm revealed that the successes just didn't come over night.
"The amount of work that has been put in at underage level has been phenomenal over the years and the many people involved deserve great credit for that. Pat O'Brien has been at the forefront of the drive in the juvenile section and this work has been ongoing for many years now," said Colm.
"Winning the minor for the second successive year was a huge boost for the club, while success at the national feile was also something special and even more so given the fact that it was our second title in four years."
Colm admitted that the club was fortunate to have good numbers at all levels, and this has been achieved by promoting hurling in the local schools and through their own coaching.
"We would have decent numbers at every grade, which is important. The kids get great coaching and this has helped improve their development and is the main reason, we have had so much success in the underage."
When asked the dreaded question of why it has been seven years since the club lifted a senior hurling title, Colm was at odds to explain the main reason for the prolonged barren spell.
"It's hard to know really, there are probably a few reasons for it. I think the main one is that Raharney and Clonkill have just progressed that bit more than the rest of the senior clubs in the county.
"Since we last won it in 2004, they have shared all the championships between them and they certainly have set the benchmark when it comes to winning titles. All the rest of the clubs like ourselves, Castlepollard, Plunketts and the Gaels seem to be on the same level.
"I also believe that it will take time for the young lads to come through and get settled on the team. Last year, we had the likes of Aonghus Clarke and Niall O'Brien come through, but it will take time for them to adjust to the pace of senior hurling. We also need a settled side, you like at the likes of Raharney and Clonkill and you can nearly rhyme off the team they will put out every day, the same cannot be said about us."
Last year saw Damien Fox in charge of the side for the second year running and following an impressive campaign in 2009 when the black and ambers reached the county semi final, there were high hopes that they could go one step better last year.
"There was definitely a feeling in the club that we could at least reach a county final, but as everyone knows that's not the way that things turned out and the campaign was a huge disappointment."
The campaign began with a 2-14 to 0-11 win over Ringtown to earn a place in the Winner's group where they would face Clonkill, Castlepollard, St Oliver Plunkett's and Lough Lene Gaels.
A nine-point loss to Plunketts was far from the ideal start, but was not the end of the world either given the format of the championship. Castletown were soon back on track with their best performance of the year when they defeated Lough Lene Gaels by 4-17 to 3-8.
Their campaign was now back on track and one more win from their two remaining matches would have guaranteed them a place in the knockout stages. Castlepollard provided the opposition in the second last match and following a great tussle, it was Pollard that came out on top by four points (1-19 to 0-18).
The last game of the group saw them pitted against Clonkill and Castletown were unable to lift their game as the Loughegar outfit ran out comfortable winners to top the group, while for the black and ambers, it was the end of their campaign.
"In fairness, the same effort wasn't put in as had been the previous year and we paid the price. It was disappointing not to even get out of the group and that is something the lads will be working on for this year."
Former player Ray Gavin has been appointed manager this year, while Castletown and sister club St Malachy's have combined for physical training under the guidance of football manager Joe Giles.
Colm is confident that with the right attitude and approach, a return to the knockout stages should be achieved at the very least. "Once the work is done, there is no reason why we can't at least reach the knockout stages this year. We definitely have the players to do well and I feel if we can improve on the fitness levels then we have a great chance of doing so."
The threat of emigration has hit Castletown like most other clubs in the county, although Colm admitted that they were fortunate not to be losing too many players this year.
"John Gallagher has had to go to England for work, while Robbie Jackson could be heading back to the states for the summer, but apart from that we should have everyone else. Joe Clarke is based in London, but he intends coming home for matches, which would be a great boost for us."
The club have developed their grounds in recent years with the addition of an astro turf pitch, while they are also building a new training pitch to cope with the demands of the many teams.
The future is certainly bright down in Castletown and there is no question that they should lift their 12th county title in the very near future. 

Intermediate Cup success 
Castletown-Geoghegan went some way towards atoning for last year's disappointing championship campaign when they defeated local rivals St. Brigid's by 0-11 to 0-7 in the delayed 2010 Intermediate Cup final on January 23 last.
As a senior club, however, it's a victory the black and ambers certainly won't be getting carried away with, although silverware of any kind is always welcome. St Brigid's started brightly and established an early two-point lead before the long-serving Derek Gallagher hit a brace of points to level for Castletown who went on to lead by 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time.
The winners extended their advantage to 0-8 to 0-5 on the restart and further scores from David Langan and Derek Gallagher ensured a winning start to Ray Gavin's tenure as manager at the expense of his home club. 
Castletown-Geoghegan's Intermediate Cup winning line-up was: Paddy Maloney; Ronan Corcoran, Emmett Dalton, Eamonn Clarke; Pat Clarke, Diarmuid Garvin, Barry Whelan; Colin O'Brien, David Langan; Derek Gallagher, Conor Daly, Davin Clarke; Mark McDermott, Gary Jackson, Luke Cassidy. Subs used: Robbie Jackson, Joe Clarke, Fintan Clarke, Jordan Cassidy and Shane Heraty.

 
 
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