Hurling semi-finals the big attraction this weekend

The quarter final of this year"s championship was played last weekend with Castletown-Geoghegan overcoming Castlepollard in a tough encounter to qualify for the final semi-final place.The semi-finals will be played next weekend with Raharney facing up to St. Oliver Plunketts, who both lost out at this stage in last year"s competition and both sides will be hoping to go one better.This should be an evenly fought contest as both sides only lost one match, with Plunketts topping the losers division. Raharney will need big displays from the Greville brothers, John Shaw, Conor Jordan and Christopher Flanagan if they are to topple Plunketts who play a fast running game. With players like the Gavins, Greg and Noel, Govinda Geoghegan, the Curleys. Dermot and Ciaran and the O"Leary brothers, Se& amp;aacute;n and Cian, don"t be surprised if a shock is on the cards.In the second semi-final, reigning champions, Clonkill will play Castletown-Geoghegan and this may be the best match up of the championship so far with both sides capable of playing fast, open stylist hurling. On paper Clonkill look to be the form team, not having lost a match in the competition to date and are probally the favourites to take another title with players like the Price brothers, Eoin and Adam, Andrew Mitchell, Paddy Dowdall and Brendan Murtagh, arguably one of the best all round hurlers ever to come from Westmeath, but Castletown-Geoghegan have improved with every game and a strong tradition of hurling runs deep among the black and ambers with players like the Clarke"s Patrick, Eamon & amp;Oacute;g and Joe, the Jacksons, Gary and Robbie, Keith Gorry and Alan Mangan. Castletown are well capable of causing an upset.Intermediate HurlingChampionshipDelvin overcame Southern Gaels to top the division in this year"s championship and in doing so will play St. Brigids in the first semi-final with Brownstown facing up to Turin in the other one which, incidentally is a carbon copy of the way the 2006 competition reached its conclusion. These semi-finals take place next weekend and while on past history it would look as if Delvin and Brownstown might reach the final no real hurling supporter would begrudge either Turin or St. Brigids as shot as senior status for 2009, as I am also secretary of one of the clubs involved I think I will be excused if I refrain from any predictions on these matches.Shay Murtagh SeniorChampionship FootballThe quarter finals of this year"s football championship took place last weekend with Castledaly defeating Coralstown/Kinnegad and Garrycastle defeating The Downs to fill the final two spots for the semi-finals which will take place on September 28.Junior FootballChampionshipThe quarter finals of this year"s championship took place last weekend with St. Pauls defeating St. Lomans and Milltown defeating St Joseph"s to fill the final two spots for the semi-finals which will take place on the weekend of September 28.Westmeath GAADevelopment LottoThe numbers drawn last week were 3, 8, 15, 27. There was no jackpot winner.There were six Match 3 winners who each received €54. They were Mary Callaghan, Delvin GAA; Thomas Daly, Ballinagore GAA; Kieran Donaghue, Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Geraldine McLoughlin, Delvin GAA;Patrick Fagan, Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Aidan Malynn, Ballymore GAA.ResultsSenior Football Championship quarter-finals: Castledaly 0-11, Coralstown/Kinnegad 0-9; Garrycastle 1-10, The Downs 0-10.Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final: Castletown-Geoghegan 2-10, Castlepollard 2-5.Intermediate Hurling Championship: Delvin 3-17, Southern Gaels 1-5.Intermediate FC Div. 2: Tubberclair 1-8, Rosemount 0-10; Ballynacargy 5-14, Milltownpass 0-9; Tang 2-9, Shandonagh 1-10.Junior B Championship quarter-finals: Milltown 2-8 St. Joseph"s 0-9; St. Paul"s 2-3, St. Loman"s, Mullingar 0-7.Junior B Championship Section A: Moate All Whites 4-14, Ballinagore 1-5.Junior B Championship Section B: The Downs 2-12, Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall 0-8.Junior B Championship Section D: St. Mary"s, Rochfortbridge 2-12, Bunbrosna 1-11.Intermediate Hurling Championship: Turin 0-15, Clonkill 1-6; Brownstown 2-21, Cullion 1-7; St. Brigid"s 4-12, St. Oliver Plunketts 2-5.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 paddreilly@eircom.netWestmeath GAA fixturesSaturday, September 20Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finalCusack Park: Delvin v. St. Brigids, J. Weir, 4.15pm.Senior HurlingChampionship semi-finalCusack Park: Raharney v. St. Oliver Plunketts, J. McGrath, 5.45pm.Minor Football Premier Championshipquarter-finalsSpringfield: Mullingar Shamrocks v. St. Patrick"s, A. Plunkett, 4pm.Rochfortbridge: Clann Bhraonain v. Shannon Gaels, M. Gordon, 4pm.Sunday, September 21Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finalClonkill: Brownstown v. Turin, Fe Brennan, 1pm.Senior HurlingChampionship semi-finalCusack Park: Clonkill v. Castletown-Geoghegan, B. Kelly, 5.45pm.Friday, September 26IntermediateFootballChampionshipquarter-finalsLakepoint Park: Kilbeggan Shamrocks v. Ballynacargy, S. Carroll, 8pm.Saturday, September 27Intermediate Football Championshiprelegation play-offCusack Park: Rosemount v. Caulry, B. Keena, 3.30pm.Intermediate Football Championshipquarter-finalCusack Park: Maryland v. Tang, B. Kelly, 5pm.Sunday, September 28Junior FootballChampionshipsemi-finalsShandonagh: Mullingar Shamrocks v. Milltown, D. Maher, 12.30pm.Shandonagh: St. Mary"s, Rochfortbridge v. St. Paul"s, M. Gordon, 2pm.Senior FootballChampionshipsemi-finalsCusack Park: Garrycastle v. St. Loman"s, Mullingar, P. Daly, 3.30pm.Cusack Park: Tyrrellspass v. Castledaly, A. McCormack, 5pm.Home Club responsible for referees expenses €40 per game.Please phone in results to 0876293048 and 0449372343.