The Christy Ring Cup has only been in existence for three years, but already Westmeath have won it twice. While there has been much disappointment expressed at the decision to deny the Ring Cup winners promotion to the Liam McCarthy Cup, Westmeath will at least have the opportunity to test themselves against top-class opposition in this year's Leinster championship. After proving themselves to be a step above the rest in the Christy Ring Cup for the second time in three years, Westmeath should be looking forward to the prospect of playing in the Liam McCarthy Cup in 2008. But a controversial decision made at Special Congress in late 2006 means that the Lake County will once again be plying their trade in the second tier championship later this year. The decision to deny the Christy Ring Cup champions promotion to the top flight does little to promote hurling in the so-called weaker counties and it seems that even if Westmeath were to win the competition for a third time in 2008, they still wouldn't be guaranteed a place in the top flight. Former Westmeath manager Seamus Qualter who has handed over the reins to Johnny Dooley, has been scathing in his criticism of the current system, but at least Westmeath will see action in the Leinster championship after gratefully accepting an invitation from the Leinster Council to take part. When Westmeath last participated in the provincial championship in 2006, they recorded a famous victory over Dublin before going on to give creditable performances against Kilkenny and Waterford, the latter in the All-Ireland qualifiers. They were unfortunate to be relegated after losing to a revenge-hungry Dublin in a play-off, but showed they had learned from their time in the top flight by easily regaining the Christy Ring Cup at Kildare's expense last August. The victory maintained Westmeath's impressive record of having won the second tier competition on the two occasions they have participated in it. Following their demotion from the Liam McCarthy Cup, it was no surprise to see Westmeath make a sluggish start to 2007. They were well beaten by Offaly in the Walsh Cup and came within minutes of suffering a shock home defeat to Kildare in their opening game of the National League. A late point from Ronan Whelan ensured a share of the spoils with the sharper Lilywhites. In the absence of Seamus Qualter from the sideline, Offaly legend and team coach Johnny Dooley guided Westmeath to their first league victory against Kerry in Tralee. Goals from the full forward line of Daniel Carty (two), Barry Kennedy and Derek McNicholas helped the visitors to a 4-11 to 1-12 win. Westmeath continued their winning ways with a 2-19 to 0-11 victory over Mayo at Cusack Park to move into pole position in Division 2B. The sides were level on 0-10 apiece at half-time, but the home side totally dominated the second half with Derek McNicholas' goal crowning the win. Despite having to catch an early morning flight to London, Westmeath had six points to spare over the Exiles in their final divisional match which sealed their place in the semi-final. Westmeath made the most of wind advantage in the first half to build up a 1-8 to 0-2 half-time lead. But London made more of a game of it following the restart and only lost by 1-8 to 2-11 in the end. There was agony for Westmeath in their semi-final clash with Laois at O'Connor Park, Tullamore when they lost out to an injury-time point from the O'Moore County's wing forward John Brophy. It decided a tremendous contest which saw Westmeath recover from a six-point deficit in the closing stages, only to lose in the cruelest of circumstances. Westmeath made a blistering start and Paddy Dowdall's goal had them ahead by 1-2 to 0-0 inside five minutes. But Laois came storming back to lead by 2-11 to 1-10 at the interval and had extended their advantage to six points by the 50th minute. However, there was still life left in the Lake County and five points on the trot from Daniel Carty, Portumna clubman Leo Smith, Joe Clarke and Brendan Murtagh reduced the deficit to the minimum with just over 10 minutes remaining. Laois restored their three-point advantage before Ronan Whelan scored a sensational equalizing goal with three minutes to go. Brendan Murtagh and Whelan both missed chances to win the game thereafter and those misses proved costly when Brophy had the final say for the O'Moore County, who triumphed by 3-18 to 2-20. The Westmeath management team of Seamus Qualter, Johnny Dooley, Christy Murtagh and John Donoghue had two months to refocus their players for the Christy Ring Cup campaign. Their first game was against a resurgent Meath at Pairc Tailteann on June 16. There was a keen edge to the opening 20 minutes, during which time the sides were level on four occasions. Meath led by 0-6 to 0-4 after 16 minutes but failed to score again as the visitors went on to lead by 0-10 to 0-6 at the break. The Royals rallied after the restart to trail by 0-11 to 0-10 before two points each from Barry Kennedy and Andrew Mitchell gave Westmeath some breathing space. Meath scored a contentious goal to leave the minimum in it again after 50 minutes, but Westmeath responded impressively and Derek McNicholas' goal had them 1-19 to 1-14 in front with seven minutes remaining. Meath refused to wilt, however, and hit an unanswered 1-2 in the closing stages - their two points coming from Tipperary import Eoin Brislane - to salvage a 2-16 to 1-19 draw. A week later, a Down team still smarting from their heavy defeat to Antrim in the Ulster final travelled to Cusack Park in search of an opening round success. This game proved to be every bit as competitive as the Meath fixture with Westmeath just about shading the outcome on a 2-13 to 1-15 scoreline. Two first half goals from Derek McNicholas and Daniel Carty eased the home side into an eight-point lead after 21 minutes, but a run of Down scores left them just three points adrift at the interval. Down drew level when Ciaran Courtney sent a long-range free to the net and it was tit for tat thereafter, with points from Ronan Whelan, John Shaw and Daniel Carty handing Westmeath victory by the narrowest of margins. Goals from McNicholas and Ronan Whelan helped Westmeath to a comprehensive 2-14 to 0-11 victory over Mayo in their next outing at Castlebar. The visitors inflicted most of the damage on the hosts in the opening half and were well on their way to victory when leading by 2-7 to 0-5 at the interval. Westmeath confirmed their semi-final place with a 1-14 to 1-11 victory over Kerry at Cusack Park. As the scoreline suggests, this was a hard-earned win and with 10 minutes remaining, it looked as if the Kingdom would prevail when leading by 1-10 to 1-9. However, Seamus Qualter's side finished strongly and outscored their opponents by 0-5 to 0-1 in the final 10 minutes to go through. Westmeath's ability to find the net proved the decisive factor in their 4-11 to 2-15 victory over Carlow in a dramatic semi-final at Tullamore. A brace of goals from John Shaw, accompanied by a similar effort from Derek McNicholas late in the first half, gave the Lake County a commanding 3-9 to 0-7 lead at the halfway stage. But the third quarter was all about Carlow as they came storming back, with goals from Robert Foley and Craig Doyle helping them take the lead for the first time. However, they were unable to sustain the pressure and a second major from McNicholas turned the tide back in Westmeath's favour. Whereas Westmeath had entered the inaugural final against Down in 2005 as underdogs, they were firm favourites to beat a much improved Kildare team whose ranks had been bolstered by the addition of former Tipperary All-Ireland winners David Kennedy and Paddy O'Brien. The build-up to the Croke Park decider on August 5 was overshadowed by the GAA's decision to bring the throw-in time forward by nearly two hours to 12.15pm in order to accommodate the All-Ireland quarter-final replay between Waterford and Cork as well as the All-Ireland semi-final between Kilkenny and Wexford. Seamus Qualter described the early start as a "kick in the teeth" for the weaker counties, but at least the final didn't lose its live TV slot. From a neutral's perspective, the game failed to live up to expectations with Westmeath always looking the most likely winners. Showing the greater composure in the wet conditions which prevailed, Westmeath had raced into a six-point lead before goals in quick succession John Shaw and Andrew Mitchell had the Lake County perched on a 2-7 to 0-3 interval lead. Within a minute of the restart, Daniel Carty picked up from where he left off at the end of the first half with another fine point and they had increased their advantage to a whopping 13 points before a demoralised Kildare reduced the margin to eight, 2-15 to 0-13, at the final whistle. The Westmeath team that captured the Christy Ring Cup for the second time in three seasons was: Mark Briody; Noel Gavin, Paul Greville, Conor Jordan; Paddy Dowdall, Darren McCormack, Brian Connaughton; Pat Clarke, Ronan Whelan; John Shaw, Brendan Murtagh, Andrew Mitchell; Barry Kennedy, Derek McNicholas, Daniel Carty. Subs used: Enda Loughlin, Adam Price, Joe Clarke, Brian Smyth and Christo Murtagh. Tweet

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