Senior Hurling Semi Finals:
The Senior Hurling Semi finals on Sunday 15th September provided interesting and entertaining fare despite difficult weather conditions at Cusack Park. First up was the clash between Clonkill and St Oliver Plunketts with the defending champions being red hot favourites to progress to a seventh successive appearance in the final. However, the script certainly didn't go to plan for the Loughegar men as Plunketts finally overcame their semi final hoodoo to qualify for a first ever Senior final appearance for the Mullingar men. It didn't look hectic for the town side as they held a slender lead at half time. They dug in though in the second half and the 1-9 to 1-8 win saw the men in Green & White deservedly progress to the final on Sunday 20th October. Indeed it is all of 46 years since Plunketts forerunners Pearses contested a Senior final in 1967 and all of 51 years since a Hurling team based in Mullingar won the final when Pearses beat Raharney in 1962 by 2-9 to 3-5. There certainly should be plenty of excitement around Robinstown in the weeks ahead. The second semi final saw Castletown Geoghegan outline their championship credentials as they accounted for Lough Lene Gaels by 1-19 to 2-09. The Black & Ambers looked very good at times and though the Gaels did work hard, it was the south county side who always looked the more accomplished side on the day. Castletown last contested the final in 2011 when they lost by two points to Clonkill and they are looking for their first championship since 2004. The clash between St Oliver Plunketts and Castletown Geoghegan will be a unique one and certainly should whet the appetite of Hurling supporters from all around the county and further afield. The County final is set for Sunday 13th October.

Paul Bealin & Brian Hanley ratified as Managers of Senior teams for 2014.
The ratification of managers for the County Senior Football and Hurling teams took place at the County Board meeting on Wednesday 11th September. There was change at the helm for the Senior Football team with Paul Bealin taking over from Pat Flanagan while Brian Hanley remains with the Senior Hurlers for 2014. Both men are wished the best in their tasks for the coming season.

Football Championships Next Weekend:
Saturday 21st September is decision day for twelve teams in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football championships with three double headers on offer in Cusack Park, Rochfortbridge and Kinnegad. In the Senior Championship, Garrycastle and The Downs meet in the Quarter final with Rochfortbridge being the venue. Garrycastle will be favourites to progress but The Downs made everyone take notice with their fine display against Mullingar Shamrocks last time out. It promises to be a fascinating encounter and is down for a 5-30pm throw in. The curtain raiser to this game is the Intermediate relegation final between neighbours Ballinagore and Kilbeggan Shamrocks. Both sides played out an exciting draw at Shandonagh a couple of weeks ago and it is likely to be very closely contested again this time out. In Cusack Park, both semi finals of the Intermediate championship take place with four very evenly matched sides looking for a place in the County final. St Malachys and Milltownpass open proceedings at 4-00pm while Ballynacargy and Caulry contest the second game at 5-30pm. All four teams have shown flashes of brilliance during the league stages and all four teams have also shown a level of inconsistency in their results also. So where will the victors come from? Its very hard to call with perhaps St Malachys and Ballynacargy showing maybe slightly better form than Milltownpass and Caulry at this stage. However, I certainly wouldn't stand over that prediction in any way as they are all very capable outfits indeed and the reverse is as likely to happen. In Kinnegad, the two Junior semi finals take centre stage with Moate All Whites playing Mullingar Shamrocks at 4pm and St Pauls playing St Lomans Mullingar at 5-30pm. Moate will be looking for revenge here as Mullingar surprisingly beat them at this stage last year. That may be the motivation they need to reach the final. In the second semi final, St Pauls who have been there or thereabouts over the past number of years will be hoping to make the final after a two year gap. They will have it difficult against St Lomans Mullingar who were impressive winners over Milltown in the Quarter final but I will plump for Moate and St Pauls to make the final, narrowly.

County Final Dates:
The dates for the County finals in the various grades of Football and Hurling are as follows;
Saturday 5th October: Intermediate Hurling Final
Sunday 6th October: Junior Football Final
Sunday 6th October: Intermediate Football final
Sunday 13th October: Senior Hurling Final
Sunday 20th October: Senior Football Final

Admission Charge for Under 16's
Please note that there is a €3 admission for Under 16's for County Semi finals and finals as was in place last weekends games.


Its in your Blood Initiative.
On Monday 16th September on RTE1 Nationwide are ran a full programme feature on blood donation in Ireland.
 
It featured the newly established relationship between the GAA and Irish Blood Transfusion Service, encouraging, educating and supporting GAA members to give blood more regularly.
 
Filmed at the Connacht Centre of Excellence in Ballyhaunis, it featured interviews with GAA players, members and donors, about the Centre, and how the relationship recently established with giveblood.ie, supports and complements GAA clubs roles in their local communities.
 
There is more information available about the initiative "It's in your Blood" on http://www.giveblood.ie/About_Us/GAA/ Westmeath GAA will be inviting a speaker from the BTSB for our County Board meeting in October.

I can be contacted at [email protected] or 086 3992403

Westmeath GAA Development Lotto
Next weeks Jackpot stands at €12700 following the draw held on Tuesday 3rd September. The numbers drawn were 2,14,24 and 25 and while there was no Jackpot winner, there were five match three winners of €64 each and they were;
Kathleen Kenny C/O Delvin GAA
Anne Mc Inerney C/O Delvin GAA
Patrick Clune C/O Delvin GAA
J O Brien C/O St Oliver Plunketts GAA
Helena Martin C/O Ballymore GAA
Next draw is on Tuesday 10th September.

I can be contacted at [email protected] or 086 3992403 Tweet

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