It's a measure of the high standards Westmeath have set for themselves that there was bitter disappointment at the county's failure to win an All-Ireland Scor na nOg title at the recent finals in Castlebar.

Westmeath failed to add to their long list of All-Ireland Scor na nOg champions at the TF Royal Hotel & Theatre in Castlebar on February 19 last.
For a county accustomed to Scor success, it was a major disappointment for Westmeath not to produce an All-Ireland Scor na nOg winner this year. Mind you, The Downs' Novelty Act must have come very close after a superb performance at the Co. Mayo venue. Despite the disappointment of missing out, their group consisting of Aoife Rowan, Mary Lynam, Dean Daly, Ciara Thornton, Caoimhe McCarthy, Darragh Carroll and Niall Mitchell - who were mentored by Noel Lynam and Anthony Rowan - can still feel proud of their achievements in winning county and Leinster titles.
Indeed, they were the only Westmeath Scor na nOg act to capture a Leinster title in 2011 and thereby qualify for the All-Ireland final.
"You can't win them all," Leinster Scor chairman and Streamstown man Aidan Walsh quips.
"Last year, The Downs set dancers and Moate's Ballad Group won All-Ireland titles. We always have high expectations in Westmeath Scor, but it wasn't to be this year. But I've no doubt that we'll have new acts challenging for Leinster and All-Ireland titles next year."
The Scor na nOg season began in earnest in late October when first rounds were held in Rosemount, Coole, Ballymore and The Downs. These were followed by the staging of the county semi-finals in Ballymore and The Downs on November 19 and 20 respectively. The semi-final winners progressed to the county finals, which also took place in the Ballymore Community Centre on November 27.
Hundreds of Scor enthusiasts braved the freezing weather conditions that prevailed at the time to witness a great evening's entertainment which was of the highest standard. While there could only be eight winners, each and every one of the youthful acts were excellent, proving that Scor is alive and well, and has a bright future, in the Lake County.
The Bean an Ti for the event was local girl Niamh Keena. The adjudicators hailed from Dublin, Offaly, Armagh and Westmeath and, as ever, had some very tough calls to make. As it transpired, it proved to be a very good night for The Downs who won four of the eight titles on offer. Ballycomoyle collected two, with St. Malachy's and Mullingar Shamrocks winning one each.
The first county title of the evening went to The Downs figure dancers. With four-in-a-row winners St. Mary's not participating, new champions were set to be crowned, and represented by Mary Lynam, Amy Dagg, Rebecca Kelly, Aine Swaine, Serena Wynnt, Clara Thornton, Aoife Rowan and Lorraine Kelly, Na Dunta saw off the challenge of three very good groups from Mullingar Shamrocks, St. Malachy's and Ballymore.
Ballycomoyle's Sarah Fagan retained her Solo Singing title, getting the adjudicators' vote ahead of Amy Fagan from Rosemount, Ballynacargy's Kerrie Penrose and Rebecca Doolin of Mullingar Shamrocks.
The Instrumental Music title was also retained by The Downs. Second on stage after St. Malachy's and before Ballycomoyle, the reigning champions - who were represented by Cillian Kennedy, Michael McLoughlin, Grainne Donlon, Mark Swaine and Jack Kennedy - gave an accomplished performance to put titles back-to-back.
There was an upset in the Recitation/Storytelling discipline where St. Malachy's Shane Ward ousted reigning county and Leinster champion Shane Dalton from The Downs. Niamh Glynn from Fr Dalton's and Thomas Pettit of St. Joseph's also contributed enormously to a great competition.
With reigning All-Ireland champions Moate All-Whites, who had won the previous four county titles, not competing, Mullingar Shamrocks regained the Ballad Group crown. Represented by Michaela Hogg, Rebecca Doolin, Niamh Gilmartin, Billy Gilleran and Shane Barden, they needed to be at their best to get the better of acts from Ballycomoyle and Ballynacargy.
The Downs secured their third title when they overcame groups from Delvin, Ballycomoyle ladies and the holders St. Malachy's to win the Novelty Act. It wouldn't be the last we would hear from their winning act which comprised Aoife Rowan, Mary Lynam, Caoimhe McCarthy, Clara Thornton, Niall Mitchell, Darragh Carroll and Dean Daly.
Dethroned by Delvin last year, Ballycomoyle won back their Question Time title after outscoring teams from Bunbrosna, Rosemount and Cullion. The north county club was represented by Peter McKenna, Andrew Leahy and Killian Daly.
The Set Dancing title was The Downs' fourth of the night. Maintaining their proud tradition in this discipline, they claimed the Moira Barden Memorial Cup for a remarkable seventh successive year. Dancing the "Roscommon Lancer", the reigning Leinster champions, who were represented by Mary Lynam, Aoife Rowan, Fiona Flynn, Leanne Duncan, Shane Murray, Dylan Kennedy, Cian Hanahoe and Mark Swaine, got the better of St. Malachy's, St. Joseph's and Ballynacargy in a high-quality competition.
A memorable night for Na Dunta was crowned by their achievement in being named Club of the Year for the second year running. Few could argue with the awarding of the prestigious Tom McHale Memorial Shield to them after they took half of the county titles on offer.
All eight winning acts progressed to the Leinster finals after coming through the semi-finals in Ballymore on January 8. But only The Downs Novelty Act went a step further by taking provincial honours at the same venue seven days later.
In a change from recent years, the All-Ireland finals were moved from the Count John McCormack Hall in Athlone to the TF Royal Hotel & Theatre in Castlebar. The Lake County's hopes rested on The Downs, but despite producing the performance of their young lives, they came up just short. Tweet

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