Garrycastle book place in Senior football final

Shay Murtagh Senior Football ChampionshipOn Sunday last, the first semi-final in the Senior Football Championship between Tyrrellspass and Garrycastle took place in Cusack Park, The game was played at a good pace in bright sunshine and even though Garrycastle had more of the play they got it hard to find the target. Tyrrellspass failed to get up to the pace of the game and as the first half wore on it became apparent that Garrycastle were not going to be beaten.Tyrrellspass really needed a goal to lift their game, but it was Garrycastle who rattled the net to seal the fate of Tyrrellspass for 2009 and progress to this year's final The final score was 1-16 to 0-6.The quarter-final replay between St. Lomans and Mullingar Shamrocks also took place last Sunday in Cusack Park. This was a lively, tempestuous battle played on the edge by both sides. The game was played at a fast pace with play switching from end to end and scores hard to come by but St. Lomans looked the sharper and took the right options in front of goal. The substitution of Shane Colleary midway through the first half was a major surprise and did nothing to help the Shamrocks cause.The pace of the second half was just as intense as the first and when Shamrocks netted their first goal the tide seemed to be turning, but true to the fighting spirit of St. Lomans they bounced back and went on to win on a final scoreline of 1-15 to 2-8.The second of this year's semi-finals will take place next weekend with Coralstown/Kinnegad taking on St. Lomans This semi-final has the making of a cracker as Coralstown/Kinnegad topped their group and St. Lomans will have benefited from the replay with Shamrocks. Coralstown/Kinnegad will be looking for big performances from Niall Kilmartin, Enda Leonard and the hard working Alan Giles to help them over the line while on the other hand St. Lomans seem to be the coming into form and will probably fancy themselves to make the final with players like Conrad Reilly, Enda Mathews, Conor lynam and the talented John Heslin in their side and their ability to play an open fast moving style of football could trouble Coralstown/Kinnegad.Slevin's Coaches inIntermediate HurlingChampionshipThe final of the Slevins Coaches Intermediate Hurling Championship takes place on Sunday next in Cusack Park between St. Brigid's and Turin. Turin will be hoping to claim their first Intermediate title while St. Brigid's will be hoping to go one better than last year when they lost out narrowly to Brownstown with the last puck of the ball. This should be a good game as both teams are evenly matched with St. Brigid's narrowly defeating neighbours Fr. Daltons in the semi final and Turin defeating neighbours, Crookedwood in their semi final. Incidentally when these two sides met in the championship earlier this year Turin came out on top. Is this an omen?Slevin's Coaches Junior Hurling ChampionshipThe second semi-final of this years Junior championship took place last Friday evening between Clonkill and Castlepollard. This was a close hard fought battle ending up in a draw with the re-play fixed for Tuesday evening, September 15. The final of this competition is fixed for Sunday next in Cusack Park with Lough Lene Gaels awaiting the winners of this re-play.New Football ManagerFollowing a meeting of the Football Board and the County Board last Tuesday evening, Mr. Brendan Hackett was ratified as manager of the Westmeath Senior County Football team for a period of three years. Mr. Hackett caries extensive knowledge with him into this position having been involved in inter county management before and more recently through his involvement with Athletics Ireland where he held the position of Chief Executive.Speaking to the local media in Cusack Park last Sunday after the senior football semi-final he outlined his goals and ambitions for Westmeath GAA over the next three years. Firstly he thanked the Westmeath County Board for giving him the honour of managing the Westmeath Senior football before going on to explain what he felt his role involved. He said his main role was to create a high performance environment in which teams playing senior football will be prepared to the highest standard. He will create a transparent system for the selection of the Senior Football Panel.His main aim is to maintain Division 2 NFL status (which he felt is crucial for the development of football within the county); Perform to the highest ability in the Leinster Senior Football Championship; win at least two games in the Qualifiers (if necessary)He also said he would like to meet with the clubs as he felt that players should play as much club football as possible.Westmeath GAA -Strategic Visionand Action Plan 2009-2115Following publication of the GAA National Strategic Vision and Action Plan 2009-2115, plans for each county are being prepared at local level. Westmeath GAA wish to examine and make recommendations in relation to all aspects of GAA activities within Westmeath and prepare a County Plan for the same time period.Areas to be addressed in the Plan include, Games Promotion and Development, Games Scheduling, Urbanisation, Volunteering and Officer Supports, Funding Opportunities and Financial Excellence, Communications, Club Culture and Integration, Refereeing and Planning.The sub-committee charged with preparing this report are in the process of consultation with interested parties and individual clubs.It was also decided that an opportunity should be afforded to any member of the public who has an interest in these matters to make submissions in this regard.Any suggestions or submissions on the scope or contents of the plan should be submitted in writing by September 18. Submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, Strategic Vision and Action Plan Committee, Westmeath County Board, Cusack Park, Mullingar.Westmeath GAADevelopment LottoThe numbers drawn last week were 3, 6, 9 and 11. There was no jackpot winner.There were twenty five Match 3 who each received €13. The winners were David Gavin C/O Mullingar Shamocks GAA; Paul Aherne C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Gerry Clinton C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Matty, Marina Buckley C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Aidan Daly C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Noreen Slevin C/O Westmeath Ladies GAA; Angela Farrelly C/O Delvin GAA; Shane Heraty C/O Ballinagore GAA; Noel Leonard C/O Delvin GAA; Aine Leonard C/O Delvin GAA; Cathal Elliffe C/O Loughnavalley GAA; Andrew Lynch C/O St. Lomans Mullingar GAA; Cyril Gillivan C/O St. Loman's, Mullingar GAA; Dermot Cooney C/O St. Loman's, Mullingar GAA; Liam Dalton C/O St. Oliver Plunketts GAA; Brendan Lyons C/O St. Oliver Plunketts GAA; Christy Doran C/O St. Oliver Plunketts GAA; Frances McCormack C/O St. Oliver Plunketts GAA x 2; John Irwin C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Rob Cornally C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Aidan Lyons C/O Westmeath Ladies GAA; Christopher Corroon C/O Ballinagore GAA; David Deegan C/O Ballinagore GAA.ResultsShay Murtagh Senior Football Championship Semi-Final: Garrycastle 1-16, Tyrrellspass 0-6.Shay Murtagh Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final Replay: St. Loman's, Mullingar 1-15, Mullingar Shamrocks 2-8.Slevins Coaches Junior Hurling Semi-Final: Clonkill 1-10, Castlepollard 1-10.Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Finals: Tubberclair 3-9, Tang 1-12; Ballynacargy 1-11, Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall 0-6.Junior B Championship Section A: Moate All Whites 0-11, Ballycomoyle 1-2; Ballymore 0-11, Ballinagore 0-7.Junior B Championship Section B: Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall 7-11, Coralstown/Kinnegad 2-6.Junior B Championship Section D: St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge 1-5, Caulry 1-12.Junior B Championship Section E: St. Malachys 1-5, Mullingar Shamrocks 1-11.WebsitesSenior: http://www.westmeathgaa.ie/Minor: http://coistenanog.westmeath.gaa.ieContactI can be contacted by phone on 044 9666476, 087 2777987 or by email on pro.westmeath@gaa.ie