Westmeath GAA notes
January 23, 2012BORD NA MONA WALSH CUP
Westmeath hurlers started off the year on a good note when they defeated neighbours Offaly in the first round of the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup played in Kinnegad last Sunday. The game which was played in front of a crowd of approx. 500 was a well contested affair with little or nothing between the teams at any stage, right from the throw in it was plain to be seen that this was going to be so as within the first minute Carlow referee Paud Dwyer dismissed two players (Aonghus Clarke Westmeath and Shane Kelly Offaly) on straight Red Cards for an off the ball incident, a decision which left the crowd bemused a no one seemed to see what happened. Offaly were first to settle and opened up an early two point advantage thanks to the accuracy of Tullamore's Shane Dooley, before Brendan Murtagh pointed for Westmeath from a free. Offaly were getting the better of the early physical exchanges despite the best efforts of Conor Jordan and Eoin Price and a further brace of points from Dooley split by one from Paddy Dowdall for Westmeath pushed the score out to 0-05 to 0-03 with twenty six minutes on the clock. The final ten minutes of the half were all Westmeath as they outscored Offaly with points from Paul Greville, Brendan Murtagh and on the stroke of half time Murtagh netted following a long ball from Paddy Dowdall to put Westmeath two up at the break 1-05 to 0-06.
Andrew Dermody replaced Francis Boyle in the Westmeath attack for the second half but it was Offaly who were fist off the mark; that man Dooley once again, Murtagh pointed a free for Westmeath within a minute to keep daylight between the sides. Offaly sub Ger Healion closed it to a minimum with a fine long range point as at times the hurling was scrappy. In the forty fifth minute Murtagh collected a long cross field ball from Andrew Mitchell and rattled the net for the second Westmeath goal. Westmeath were now on top and looked the fitter of the two sides as they continued to trade scores but no matter how hard they tried Offaly failed to close the gap, as Westmeath pushed on with points from Mitchell, Murtagh and sub John Gilligan who was only minutes on the field when he recorded his score. In the sixty third minute Offaly's Ger Healion was dismissed on a second yellow card and Westmeath held on to win on a final score of 2-13 to 0-12, and will now play the winners of Kilkenny and NUIG away in two weeks time, while one has to acknowledge that it was only the first game of the season a win for Westmeath will definitely boost their preparations for the League.
MEETINGS
There will be a county committee meeting on Wednesday eve 25th @ 7.30pm in Cusack Park, where the main item on the agenda will be the championship draws for 2012.
REFEREE TRAINING
A training course for new referees is being scheduled for February to be held in Cusack Park, Clubs are requested to send in names of members/individuals who may wish to take up the whistle. Please send the names into Cusack Park marked F.A.O Referees coordinator Liam McDaniel.
LEINSTER U16 HURLING AND FOOTBALL LEAGUES
The Leinster under 16 hurling and football leagues begin on the 3rd March 2012. If you are interested in participating in these competitions, you must complete the application form and return the application form and a deposit cheque of £250 (made payable to Leinster Council GAA) should then be forwarded to Lester Ryan, Aras Laighean, Portlaoise Co Laois,
Places for these competitions are limited, so Clubs are advised to return the form and deposit cheque as soon as possible. On receipt of applications the Leinster Council will liaise with each County Secretary to ensure that all clubs are sanctioned to participate by their County.
For additional information click on www.leinster.gaa.ie and follow the links. Alternatively e-mail lester Ryan at [email protected]
INTRODUCTION OF TRIAL MATCH BAN SYSTEM
In accordance with a decision of Annual Congress last April, a trial system of Match Bans will operate in the Allianz Leagues and the Senior Inter County Championships in 2012. Under the system, minimum 1 and 2 game suspensions will replace the current minimum 4 and 8 week suspensions for Category II and III infractions respectively.
However, penalties for Category I, IV and V infractions will remain time-based and in the case of Categories IV and V, applicable across all levels, codes and grades of the Association as per existing rule. The new system will see Match Bans incurred in the upcoming Allianz Leagues carried over to the Senior Inter-County Championships in 2012, if applicable. Match bans incurred in the Senior Inter-County Championships in 2012 may also be carried over to the Allianz Leagues in 2013, if applicable. It should be noted, however, that in the current Provincial subsidiary competitions, all
suspensions incurred will remain time based.
WESTMEATH GAA DEVELOPMENT LOTTO: (Results 17th January 2012)
NO JACKPOT WINENER: WINNING NO'S: 9, 16, 17, 18.
NEXT WEEKS JACKPOT €6,940
5 MATCH 3 WINNERS @ €64 each
Kieran Hynes C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA
Billy Gilmore C/O Delvin GAA
Anne Heraty C/O Ballinagore GAA
Clare Heduan C/O Ballinagore GAA
Dolores McCormack C/O Westmeath Ladies GAA
NEXT DRAW DATE TUESDAY 24th January 2012
I can be contacted by phone on 044 9666476, 087 2777987 or by email on [email protected] Tweet
