A look back at intercounty activity

The year started optimistically for Westmeath GAA with our footballers playing in Division 1 of the League and our hurlers in Division 2.But our optimism was short lived as our footballers suffered early defeats in the O'Byrne Cup to Meath and Laois, while our hurlers recorded a good win over rivals Carlow in the Kehoe Cup. The National football league started poorly for our footballers and after defeats by Galway, Derry and Mayo the hopes of retaining Div 1 status were slowly evaporating.Our hurlers made an early trip to the North to face Antrim in the National Hurling League but due to a heavy snowfall this trip was in vain, however the return journey a couple of weeks later proved to be one of the best results of the year. Our footballers suffered further League defeats at the hands of Kerry, Tyrone, Donegal and Dublin, which meant a return to Division 2 football in 2010, while our hurlers had important wins over Kerry and Laois which secured a Division 2 spot for them in 2010 but at a cost as both Brian Smyth and Paddy Dowdall picked up broken collar bones which would weaken the side preparing for the Christy Ring Cup. Our Under 21 footballers had easy wins over Carlow and Kilkenny but lost out to a sharper Dublin side in the Leinster semi-final. The same could not be said of our Under 21hurlers who fell at the first fence to Kildare.Our county was well represented in Scór na nÓg and Kathryn Nea from St. Malachy's was defeated in the All-Ireland Final of the Solo Singing on a tie break.The provisional dates for the VHI Summer Cúl Camps were announced with a wide variety of dates available for participants in Football, Hurling and Camogie, and were well received by the general public. The GAA set aside May 10 as Lá na gClub a day when all clubs in the country would celebrate the 125th anniversary of the GAA.In April the Football Supporters Group held their Annual Draw with the first prize going to Peter Jones from Mullingar and the first rounds of this years club championship got under way with wins for Maryland, Killucan, Tyrrellspass, Athlone, Coralstown/Kinnegad, and Garrycastle and Mullingar Shamrocks drawing.Regional Coaching and Games For Under 13 FootballersSix weeks of activity revolving around coaching and games activity for Under 13 footballers in Westmeath is about to commence. For this project the County is divided into four regions with approximately six clubs in each region. For two of the sessions the focus will be on having inter regional games - this will happen in session three and on the final date. For the other four sessions, there will be coaching in the regions with different clubs hosting these sessions each week. This is an exciting new development that will significantly enhance the development of young players in Westmeath as they prepare for underage County Squads and beyond.The initiative was launchded in Cusack Park, Mullingar early this week, with county football manager, Brendan Hackett doing the honours.Regions and CoachesAthlone, Caulry, Castledaly, Moate All Whites, Rosemount and St. Josephs/Kilbeggan - Coordinator: Dermot Fox; Coaches: John Keane, TJ Dunning, Rory Byrne and Niall O'BrienGarrycastle, Tubberclair, Maryland/Tang, Millmore Gaels, Ballynacargy and Tyrrellspass - Coordinator: John Fagan; Coaches: James Duignan, Fergal Wilson, Frank Lynam, Adrian Coughlan and Liam O'Reilly.Mullingar Shamrocks, St. Malachy's/Ballinagore, Shandonagh, St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge, Milltownpass and Coralstown/Kinnegad - Coordinator: Eugene Coyle; Coaches: John Gordon, John Cooney, Emmett McDonnell.St. Loman's, Mullingar, Killucan, The Downs, St. Michaels, Bunbrosna, Multyfarnam, St. Pauls and Delvin - Coordinators: Des Doolin and Ned Flynn; Coaches: Gary Glennon, Cormac Davey, Gavin Dooley, Johnny Murray, Tommy Kelly.Details of SessionsSession 1 - Week Beginning November 2 Warm up, Skills coaching and games.Session 2 - Week Beginning November 9 Warm up, Skills coaching and games.Session 3 - Week Beginning November 16Inter regional games. Two north teams and the two south teams at the same venues (1 v. 2; 3 v. 4).Session 4 - Week Beginning November 23 Warm up, Skills coaching and games.Session 5 - Week Beginning November 30 Warm up, Skills coaching and games.Session 6 - Saturday, December 12 2pmInter regional games. All four teams at the same venue - each team plays two 15 minute a side games 1 v 3; 2 v 4; 1 v 4; 2 v 3. All players to get meaningful game time (1 full game).Guest County Player at this session to meet players etc.Project CoordinatorsCounty Coaching and Games Development Committee in conjunction with Minor BoardBilly Foley (086-2553260), Noel Delaney (087-2456147) - Coaching and Games CommitteeJohn Weir (086-8050618), Michael McHugh (087-2935504) - Minor BoardNotes for clubsI would ask all clubs to note the following issues:Garda vetting.To date there has been a poor response to the return of Garda Vetting Forms. The issue will have to be addressed as soon as possible so I appeal to all clubs to commence the process as soon as possible.MembershipSome of our clubs are still not compliant with the online membership system.We have been informed that in future if online membership system is not completely in place, then it will have consequences for our allocation.Wextmeath GAA Develoopment LottoThe winning numbers were 4, 17, 28 and 30. There was no jackpot winner. Mickey Loughlin C/O St. Oliver Plunketts GAA matched three numbers and received €640.ResultsSenior 'B' Football Championship: Maryland W/O, St. Malachys ScratchJasca Sports Junior Football Shield: Ballycomoyle 5-5, St. Josephs 1-5; Loughnavalley 4-8 Milltown 3-8Junior 'B' Football Championship Quarter-Finals: Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall 0-10 St. Loman's. Mullingar 0-8; Caulry 2-12 Mullingar Shamrocks 2-7;ACFL Division 1: Garrycastle 3-9 Coralstown-Kinnegad 0-7ACFL Division 6: Tubberclair 0-11 Maryland 1-4ACHL Division 4: Crookedwood 0-13, Delvin 1-5Fé 21 Hurling Championship First Round: Clonkill 1-10 St. Oliver Plunketts 0-8; Castlepollard W/O, Brownstown Scratch; Ringtown W/O, Castletown-Geoghegan Scratch; Raharney 2-13, Southern Gaels 2-10WebsitesSenior: 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