Christy Ring Cup All roads lead to Croke Park on Sunday 14th August as the Westmeath Senior hurlers face their biggest match for many years with Down the opposition in the Christy Ring Cup final. Even though Westmeath were good winners over Down in the earlier group match it is fair to say that Down will go into the match as favourites and that Westmeath will have to be at their best to have a chance. However Westmeath's form has improved considerably in the last month or so and manager, Seamus Qualter, will have his charges prepared for the battle of their lives. In the first round of the group section Westmeath had a comfortable 4-19 to 0-11 win over Roscommon in Cusack Park. A trip to Navan and a match against neighbours, Meath, was next up. Unfortunately for the Westmeath men, Meath were dominant and ran out comfortable 3-16 to 2-10 winners. Back to Cusack Park when Derry were the visitors for round three. On that occasion Westmeath produced their most lack-lustre performance of the campaign but, nonetheless, emerged 1-14 to 2-8 winners. Finally a trip to Newry to play pace-setters, Down. Westmeath produced their best performance of the campaign to emerge with a wonderful 3-21 to 3-14 win. The semi-final draw saw Westmeath paired with Kildare and another trip to Páirc Tailteann, Navan. This time Navan was to prove a happy hunting ground and Westmeath, buoyed by three second half goals from captain, John Shaw, emerged comfortable winners by 7-14 to 1-12. In the other semi-final Down were equally comfortable winners over Carlow. The final score in their match was 4-23 to 1-11. Seamus Qualter and his selectors, John Donoghue and Liam Davitt, will hope that the more experienced Westmeath players will continue their excellent recent form. Martin Williams, Christo Murtagh, Brendan Murtagh, Darren McCormack Enda Loughlin, John Shaw, Andrew Mitchell and Barry Kennedy have been playing very well and leading from the front. The back-up received from Mark Briody, Conor Jordan, Brian Connaughton, Greg Gavin, Ronan Whelan, Killian Cosgrove, Joe Clarke and Dermot Curley has been out of the top-drawer and all will be hoping that, once again, they can rise to the occasion and produce the seventy minutes of their lives, propel themselves to the Christy Ring Cup and play in the top-tier in 2006. Best of luck to all involved on Sunday next. Let us hope that all Westmeath supporters will get behind the team on Sunday and in the run-up to the game. Let's all display and wear our colours with pride. Tickets Tickets for the Christy Ring Cup final will be on sale at Cusack Park, Mullingar from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10th. Stand Tickets and Family Tickets will be available. Lagan Cement Senior Football Championship The last round of Division 2 of the Lagan Cement Senior Football championship was played on Wednesday evening last. Castledaly's win over St. Malachy's ensured their qualification for the quarter final. St. Malachy's had already qualified. Garrycastle, whose place in the semi final was already assured had a comfortable win over Ballymore, who now face Tubberclair in the relegation play-off. Despite their win over St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge, Mullingar Shamrocks were eliminated from the championship as waw their opponents, St. Mary's. The final tables were: Division 1: P W D L Pts The Downs 5 4 0 1 8 Coralstown/Kinnegad 5 3 0 2 6 Tyrrellspass 5 2 1 2 5 Athlone 5 2 0 3 4 St. Loman's, Mullingar 5 2 0 3 4 Tubberclair 5 1 1 3 3 Division 2: P W D L Pts Garrycastle 5 5 0 0 10 Castledaly 5 3 1 1 7 St. Malachy's 5 3 0 2 6 Mullingar Shamrocks 5 2 1 2 5 St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge 5 1 0 4 2 Ballymore 5 0 0 5 0 Quarter Finals: Coralstown/Kinnegad V. St. Malachy's Tyrrellspass V. Castledaly Semi Finals: The Downs V. Tyrrellspass or Castledaly Garrycastle V. Coralstown/Kinnegad or St. Malachy's Relegation Play-Off: Tubberclair V. Ballymore Intermediate Football Championship The penultimate round of the Intermediate football championship was completed with three matches last week. Following these matches the positions are: Division 1: P W D L Pts Rosemount 5 5 0 0 10 Maryland 5 3 0 2 6 Kilbeggan Shamrocks 5 3 0 2 6 Bunbrosna 5 3 0 2 6 Tang 5 2 0 3 4 Milltownpass 5 1 0 4 2 Milltown 6 1 0 5 2 Remaining Matches: Tang V. Milltownpass (Sat. 13th), Maryland V. Kilbeggan Shamrocks, Rosemount V. Bunbrosna (both Sun. 14th). Division 2: P W D L Pts Killucan 6 4 1 1 9 Shandonagh 5 3 0 2 6 Ballynacargy 5 2 2 1 6 Moate All Whites 5 2 2 1 6 Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall 5 2 0 3 4 St. Joseph's 5 1 1 3 3 Caulry 5 1 0 4 2 Remaining Matches: Caulry V. St. Joseph's (Sat. 13th), Moate All Whites V. Shandonagh (Sun. 14th), Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall V. Ballynacargy (Thur. 18th). Junior Football Championship Ballycomoyle's win over Delvin in the Junior football championship sees them qualify for the knock-out stage where they will play a qualifier from Section B. In Section B, Division 1, Mullingar Shamrocks and St. Loman's, Mullingar have finished first and second respectively and have qualified for the knock-out stage. In Division 2, Coralstown/Kinnegad and Athlone have qualified with their final positions to be decided when they meet on Tuesday, August 9th. Junior "B" Football Championship Rosemount had a win over St. Malachy's in their Junior "B" Football championship semi final on Saturday last. Milltownpass defeated Coralstown/Kinnegad in their play-off and will travel to St. Loman's to take on the home side in the semi final. The final will be played at the home venue of the winners of the Milltownpass V. St. Loman's, Mullingar semi final. Intermediate Hurling Championship St. Brigid's enjoyed an excellent win over Southern Gaels in their recent Intermediate hurling championship and following this match, with one round to be played, the table is as follows: P W D L Pts Brownstown 4 4 0 0 8 Cullion 4 2 1 1 5 Crookedwood 4 2 0 2 4 Turin 4 1 1 2 3 Southern Gaels 4 1 0 3 2 St. Brigid's 4 1 0 3 2 Remaining matches: Brownstown V. Southern Gaels, St. Brigid's V. Turin, Crookedwood V. Cullion. Very exciting going into the final round with the top four clubs reaching the semi final. Junior Hurling Championship With one round of matches remaining in the Junior Hurling championship: Division 1: P W D L Pts Raharney 5 5 0 0 10 Clonkill 5 4 0 1 8 Lough Lene Gaels 5 4 0 1 8 Cullion 5 2 0 3 4 St. Brigid's 5 1 0 4 2 St. Oliver Plunkett's 5 1 0 4 2 Turin 6 1 0 5 2 Remaining matches: Cullion V. Lough Lene Gaels, Raharney V. Clonkill, St. Oliver Plunkett's V. St. Brigid's Division 2: P W D L Pts Castletown Geoghegan 4 3 0 1 6 Delvin 4 2 1 1 5 Crookedwood 4 2 1 1 5 Ringtown 4 2 0 2 4 Castlepollard 4 0 0 4 0 Remaining matches: Division complete. The top two teams in each division will contest the semi finals of the Junior "A" championship with 1st in one division playing second in the other. 3rd and 4th in each division contesting the Junior "B" championship semi finals, 3rd in one playing 4th in the other. Westmeath Under 15 Hurling Squad Every Saturday morning at 10.30 a.m. the Westmeath Under 15 hurling squad train in Clonkill under the management of John Weir, John Jackson and Tom Keegan. The two Johns and Tom are putting in a tremendous effort with these lads as they prepare for the upcoming Leinster Under 15 blitz. Clubs are asked to bring along players whom they consider worthy of a trial with the Under 15's. They are asked to limit the players to those who are not Under 14 this year as the Under 14 squad are also being put through their paces. Well done to all involved and to the players who are putting in a great effort each week. It is upon these little acorns that our oaks will grow. Westmeath G.A.A. Club Development Lotto There was no jackpot winner in the Westmeath G.A.A. Club Development Lotto draw held on August 2nd. Match 3 winners were: Christy Sharry c/o St. Oliver Plunkett's G.A.A. Michelle Maleady, Rathconnell, Mullingar Marian Nugent, c/o Mrs. Gavin, St. Oliver Plunkett's G.A.A. Mary Farrelly, c/o Delvin G.A.A. John Farrelly, Addinstown, Delvin Lee Hickey, Lisclogher, Delvin Gareth Ward, 108A Ashefield, Mullingar Sharon Newman, Westmeath Examiner Pauric Pierce c/o Ballinagore G.A.A. Tommie McGee, c/o St. Fintan's/Multyfarnham G.A.A. Doreen Picard, c/o Joe Martin, Ballymore Jim Cassells, c/o Joe Martin, Ballymore Aishling Farrell, c/o Daly's, Lynn Road, Mullingar Aiden Allen, Bryanmore, Maryland Mary Donegan, c/o Delvin G.A.A. Geraldine Ennis, Ballinagore, Mullingar. The jackpot for the draw on August 9th is €3,100. Minor Website There is a Minor Board website available which can be accessed at http:// westmeathminorgaa.com. Contact Again a reminder to all club P.R.O.'s that I can be contacted on 044/44567 or by e-mail to [email protected] with news and results. Tweet

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