HURLERS CAUSE UPSET OF SEASON
LEINSTER HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Westmeath 0-14 Antrim 0-12
Westmeath hurlers overcame Antrim in the preliminary round of this year's Leinster Hurling Championship last weekend in Cusack Park and in doing so probably caused the shock of the season as Antrim having survived in division 1b of the league would have been hot favouites to progress. A fourteen-man Westmeath side produced a sterling second half display to came from six points behind to record the victory, Conor Jordon receiving his marching orders on a second yellow card in the thirtieth minute and Westmeath looked dead and buried.
The game which was played in front of a small crowd of approx. six hundred spectators at times lacked stylish hurling, but the passion and determination displayed by Westmeath certainly made up for this. Antrim were faster off the mark and had raced into an early three point lead before Westmeath got off the mark in the seventeenth minute with points from Neil McManus and two from Lim Watson who was causing problems for the Westmeath defence, the Westmeath score coming from Niall O'Brien free. Jordan and Watson were shown yellow cards by referee Anthony Satpleton after a small melee. McManus stretched the Antrim lead further and Shane McNaughton added further to Westmeath woes with two fine points from wide on the left, and when Jordan picked up a second yellow card on the half-hour, Westmeath appeared to be in trouble. Paul Greville mwas mover back to the full back line and his excellent defending set up a point for O'Brien, but at the break it was Antrim who led by 0-8 to 0-3.
Westmeath with the wind in their backs, started the second half brightly, but once again it was Antrim who registered the first score before the Westmeath revival began with O'Brien and Francis Boyle hitting the target, and when Aonghus Clarke swept over a stylish point, followed by O'Brien's fifth, the deficit was down to two. Antrim were rattled as Westmeath piled on the pressure and fought for every ball, with Alan McGrath and Paddy Dowdall standing tall at the center of the defence, but points from McManus and Barney McAuley kept their noses in front. O'Brien who was on fire shot over a free from 70 metres to narrow the gap to a single point midway through the second half, and it was Brendan Murtagh who brought the sides level with a long range free. Antrim went back in front through substitute Conor McCann, but only briefly, as Westmeath with Greville, Adam Price and Paul Fennell performing heroics, shut up shop at the back.
Westmeath scored the final three points of the game, going in front for the first time through John Shaw and sealing with the win with Murtagh's late strike, on a final score of 0-14 to 0-12 and secured a quarter-final clash with Galway.

HEARTBREAK FOR FOOTBALLERS

LEINSTER FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Louth 2-09 Westmeath 0-14
Westmeath footballers bowed out of this year's Leinster championship last weekend at the hands of Louth after a tough encounter where the lead changed hands on a couple of occasions. Westmeath had this game well within their grasp but missed a hatful of chances notching up a total of twelve wides. Westmeath were first off the mark with two points from midfielder John Heslin (who gave an exhibition of high fielding on the day), Darren Clarke responded with a left-sided free for Louth and soon shot over from play in response to a Ger Egan effort at the other end. Louth coughed up another free as Paddy Keenan brought down David Glennon, allowing Heslin to take his tally to 0-03. But that was quickly replied to by Crilly, who linked up well with Derek Maguire. Louth missed a goal chance when Mark Brennan shot wide after being put through by Jim McEneaney, minutes later Westmeath had a goal chance which forced Neil Gallagher into action as James Dolan's goal-bound shot was parried and the follow-up was also blocked. Both sides traded points through Ray Finnegan and Kieran Martin, before Ronan Carroll, having been put through by Brennan, fired a terrific goal past Gary Connaughton to move Louth 1-05 to 0-05 ahead. Loose marking allowed Daniel McDermott notch an immediate response for Westmeath, and although Brennan was guilty of another poor miss in front of the Westmeath goal Louth held a two point lead at the interval 1-06 to 0-07.
Westmeath were first off the mark again in the second period with a point from Paul Sharry from a 45' and really upped their work rate as Heslin levelled the game up once again followed by one from Bannon as Westmeath began to take control. David Glennon pointed off the outside of his boot and Martin fisted through for Dolan to knock over Westmeath's twelfth point. Clarke notched a free for Louth's first point of the second period, 20 minutes in, despite struggling for form, Louth dug in and a third pointed free from Clarke made it 0-12 to 1-08 on the hour mark. After a lengthy injury stoppage for David Glennon who came off worse in a challenge involving Gerard Hoey, Westmeath reopened that two-point gap thanks to a point from substitute Callum McCormack who had moments earlier crashed a rasping shot off the bar. Westmeath looked in control but could not just put Louth out of reach an deep in injury time Westmeath were rocked by the concession of a second goal from sub Danny O'Connor, who struck home after Ronan Carroll had created the chance for him. But despite having enough time to draw level, Westmeath lacked the shooting accuracy when it mattered most as Heslin who had given a man of the match performance miscued a free from just inside the 45-metre line as Louth got out of jail.

LEINSTER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Westmeath 0-10 Wicklow 0-7
Westmeath minor footballers recorded their second victory in this year's competition last weekend when they got better of a strong Wicklow side. The game really failed to spark into life and it took 7 minutes for the first score with Westmeath aided by a strong breeze first on the board. Dara Lohan levelled for Wicklow but Westmeath fired over the next 0-3 with the impressive Lorcan Dolan (2) and Ger Leech getting the points. Conor French was fielding well at full forward for Wicklow and lashed over an excellent point over his shoulder but in general the Wicklow forwards were trying to walk the ball into the net and in most cases ran out of ideas allowing Westmeath to clear. Westmeath manager Tommy Carr was not happy with Westmeath's play and replaced three players in the opening half and despite playing with a gale behind them the visitors only lead by 0-6 to 0-2 at half time. Wicklow edged back into the game with Mickey O'Connor punishing poor ill-discipline with a couple of early frees with Westmeath only offering a Ger Leech free in reply. French reduced the deficit to just 0-2 and ten minutes to go and O'Connor had the opportunity to bring the game to the minimum margin but missed the free and opportunity to put pressure on Westmeath. O'Connor did score a free with five minutes to go leaving just 0-1 in the tie but Westmeath had the composure to retain possession and punished a rushed Wicklow side with the final two points to win the game.

ASAP OFFICERS MEETING
Please note the first meeting of the year will take place on Thursday, 31st May, at 8 pm in Cusack Park, Mullingar. This will be a brief introductory meeting and will be attended by the national ASAP
Co-ordinator, Colin Regan. The role and responsibilities of each Club ASAP Officer will be outlined at this meeting. Could any clubs who have not yet forwarded on details of their ASAP officer please do so as a matter of urgency to the following email address [email protected].
A number of clubs have already sent in the names of their officers but no phone number or e-mail addresses.
Please note that the following 3 pieces of information is required- Name, Phone Number and E-Mail address

TICKET SALES ARRANGEMENTS LEINSTER HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
WESTMEATH v GALWAY
GENERAL
Stand - €20
Terrace - €10

FAMILY TICKETS
1 Adult and 2 Juveniles etc.
Family Tickets are available for Stand
Stand:- Adults €20 Juveniles €5 each

1 Adult and 2 Juveniles etc
Family Tickets are available for Terrace
Terrace:- Adults €10 Juveniles €3 each

Students (Terrace Only)
Purchase full price tickets and on the day of the match they can claim a rebate of €5 when they produce appropriate I.D. at Stile No: 19 PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO THE STADIUM.

Senior Citizens (Stand & Terrace)
Purchase full price tickets and on the day of the match they can claim a rebate (Stand €10 & Terrace €5) when they produce appropriate I.D. at Stiles No 5 & 6 (Stand) and Stile No: 19 (Terrace) PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO THE STADIUM.

Wheelchair Tickets
The Wheelchair Ticket is free of charge and the Assistant's ticket is €20

Adult Club Group Tickets
Adult Club Tickets available for €10 each to the Terrace or €15 each to the Stand (Min. Group 15 & Max. Group 50)

Group Pass (Under 16's) - (Terrace Only)
Groups Passes are provided for groups of Juveniles U-16 - €2 per Juvenile and you are permitted to bring 1 adult free with every ten Juveniles, any additional adults pay full price for their tickets.

ANNEBROOK HOUSE HOTEL SCHOOLS COLOURING COMPETITION
Congratulations to Adam Coneeley The Downs National School and Aileen Egan from Tubberclaire National school both of whom won the recent Schools colouring competition, Adam had the honour of being Mascot and leading out the Westmeath senior hurling team last weekend in Cusack Park for the Leinster Hurling championship clash over Antrim. Speaking after the match Adam was delighted to have had this opportunity and commented that he might be their "LUCKY" mascot.

ALLIANZ CUMANN NA mBUN SCOIL FINALS
Finals Schedule
Monday 21st: Camogie
3.30 p.m.: Scoil na gCeithre Máistrí v Rathwire
4.30 p.m.: St. Colman's v Whitehall
5.30 p.m.: Raharney v Loughegar

Tuesday 22nd: Hurling
3.30 p.m.: Rathwire v Tubberclare
4.30 p.m.: St. Colman's v Clonmellon
5.30 p.m.: Raharney v Ballinagore

Wednesday 23rd: Girls' Football
3.30 p.m.: Tang v Ardnagrath
4.30 p.m.: Rathwire v Kilpatrick
5.30 p.m.: St. Colman's v Gainstown

Thursday 24th: Football
3.30 p.m.: Milltownpass v Dysart
4.30 p.m.: Mount Temple v Tang
5.30 p.m.: St. Colman's v Gael Scoil an Mhuilinn

Friday 25th: Football
3.30 p.m.: Dysart v Rahugh
4.30 p.m.: Clonbonny v Mullingar Educate Together
5.30 p.m.: Kilbeggan v Gainstown

Please note the following to ensure that the day runs smoothly for everybody.
Admission charge (includes programme): €5 for adults. Children free.
Programmes will be left in dressing room for players. To assist the newspapers, children should wear numbers as listed in programme. If there are any changes please have an amended team list for the reporters.
Please leave dressing room tidy for the next team.
Please be on the pitch at least 10 minutes before starting time. A team photograph for the newspapers will be taken.
Only the teacher in charge and two other people are allowed on the sideline - these 3 people will wear bibs. Schools should notify the parents informing them that they must sit in the stand. Supporters should remain in the stand.
Substitutes should sit in the dugouts.
Teams should remain on the pitch at half time to ensure that the games keep to time. Please consider the schools participating in the games after you.
Extra time (5 mins each half) will be played in the event of a draw.
Safety:
While it is understandable that players are excited about playing in a final and want to get onto the pitch as quickly as possible they should not run from the dressing room to the pitch, as the surface on the corridor is dangerous when wearing football boots.
Players, and in particular the goalkeeper, should not swing from the crossbar.
Medals will be presented to the runners up first. To ensure that the games keep to time we would ask that both teams proceed to the presentation area after the final whistle.

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Westmeath Ladies football team who won the division 3 league final beating Leitrim and have been promoted to Div2 for 2013. This is a wonderful achievement for Westmeath ladies football having come from Div4 two years ago

WESTMEATH GAA RESULTS WEEKENDING 20-05-2012
ACFL Div 1 Tubberclair 0-10, The Downs 0-10; Castledaly 1-14 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-09; Tang 1-10, Tyrellspass 0-5; Athlone 0-12, Bunbrosna 0-11; Maryland 1-12, Garrycastle 1-09;
ACFL Div 2 St Loman's-Mullingar 1-16, Killucan 0-04; St Malachy's 4-15, Milltownpass 0-09; Caulry 3-16, Shandonagh 0-13; Coralstown-Kinnegad 2-12, Rosemount 0-08;
ACFL Div 3 Milltown 2-02, Moate All Whites 1-05; Ballymore 2-10, Ballinagore 2-05; Ballinacargy 2-12, Kilbeggan Shamrocks 1-05; Tyrellspass 2-16, Multyfarnham 1-13;

WEB SITE:
http://www.westmeathgaa.ie/
I can be contacted by phone on 044 9666476, 087 2777987 or by email on [email protected] Tweet

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