2023 – far more pluses than minuses for Westmeath hurling

The GAA’s announcement in recent days regarding their (latest) attempt to sort out the National Hurling Leagues into a more meaningful format has, ironically, already taken some of the pressure off Joe Fortune and his troops before a sliotar is pucked in 2024.

In a nutshell, Westmeath will play Division 1 hurling in 2025 regardless of how the upcoming campaign (a very daunting one) pans out. It is not meant to be negative to opine that despite the joy which Lake County folk felt – an obvious summer-ending injury to Killian Doyle apart – after our wonderful play-off win against Laois (a county we really struggled to beat for decades) in a near-deserted Semple Stadium on March 25, many of us immediately assumed we would be playing Offaly in a similar relegation battle in March 2024. Thankfully, the new system has ruled that out already.

There is a gulf between the Westmeaths of this world and the country’s elite, and it is difficult to come up with a solution to this. Tradition plays an enormous part in hurling, and until we see a plethora of young lads carrying camáns around with them in Mullingar on a daily basis, like you see in Kilkenny and the like, the gap is unlikely to be bridged. After all, in this scribe’s lifetime, except for the aforementioned Faithful County’s admirable two decades at the small ball top table, no ‘weaker’ county has really come close to making the gigantic leap to compete with the ‘big boys’.

That said, one-off matches like the truly unforgettable Leinster championship win in Wexford in May will live forever in the memories of those of us privileged to have been there. A current TV ad is highlighting that scientists are unable to distinguish between a joyful and a scared scream. Well, my (long) scream – very audible as my great pal Gerry Russell tried to wrap up events professionally for Midlands Radio Three – is a nice souvenir of what that fantastic victory meant. Sadly, of course, just a week later Antrim well and truly burst our helium balloons in TEG Cusack Park.

Unquestionably, progress in underage affairs in 2023 was highly laudable, with a lot of credit due to managers Andrew Dermody and Pat Clarke respectively at U20 and minor levels. The former will not be in charge in 2024, but his sideline enthusiasm throughout a very noteworthy five-match campaign in 2023 was infectious. The minors had one game less, but they hurled with no little skill and admirable spirit in all four, three-and-a-half of them to great effect on the scoreboard.

So, it’s back to the Joe McDonagh Cup for Westmeath next year. Three home games against Kerry, Meath and Laois beckon, as do short and long trips respectively to Offaly and Down. The top two contest the final. It will take six very consistent displays to win it – and at least four teams are genuine contenders.

Senior Hurler of the Year:

Darragh Egerton (Clonkill). Mr Consistency at corner back and wing back for a number of years now, the tigerish Clonkill defender deservedly made the Top 50 hurlers nationwide of 2023 in a prominent national daily list.

Most Improved Senior Hurler:

Eoghan Ahearn (Raharney). The Deelside corner forward finished a very progressive year in fine style with four quality points from play against Na Fianna, the new Dublin champions who went on to lose the Leinster final by a single point.

Young Hurler of the Year:

David O’Reilly (Castletown-Geoghegan). His club was unable to retain the Westmeath Examiner Cup, or even reach the decider, but the dual star again showed that he is very much one for the future in an attacking role.

Best Senior Hurling Performance:

Chadwicks Wexford Park on May 21, 2023 will forever be etched in the annals of Westmeath hurling. An astonishing second half display – the first moiety had been, frankly, poor – had us as front-page news the following day. Hardened Slaneyside scribes present could not believe their eyes.

Most Disappointing Senior Hurling Performance:

Antrim arrived in Mullingar just a week later needing a win – the men in maroon and white would have stayed in Leinster in 2024 with a draw – and the Glensmen were not flattered by their eight-point winning margin. It was a deflating afternoon for the large band of home supporters present. And it is – sadly – rare that a large crowd supports our flagship team.

Best Underage Hurling Performance:

Just three weeks before the sensational senior win against the ‘Yellow Bellies’, a talented U20 side put their Wexford counterparts to the pin of their collars in a riveting game in TEG Cusack Park. If that invaluable sporting ally, Lady Luck, had smiled the way of the home team, a memorable win could easily have been garnered.

Most Disappointing Underage Hurling Performance:

It is really only a half-disappointing performance!

The minors were only a point down after 34 minutes against Offaly (a county clearly making giant strides at underage), but the tricoloured outfit took over at that juncture and they ended up as comfortable victors.

Westmeath, league and championship results in hurling, 2023

NHL Division 1A

5/2/2023, Ennis, Clare 4-27 Westmeath 0-14

12/2/2023, TEG Cusack Park, Wexford 2-23 Westmeath 1-15

26/2/2023, Cork, Cork 2-21 Westmeath 0-21

12/3/2023, TEG Cusack Park, Limerick 1-27 Westmeath 1-15

19/3/2023, TEG Cusack Park, Galway 4-27 Westmeath 1-12

25/3/2023, Thurles, Westmeath 3-24 Laois 1-26 (relegation play-off)

Leinster SHC

22/4/2023, Kilkenny,

Kilkenny 0-29 Westmeath 0-7

29/4/2023, Parnell Park, Dublin 2-23 Westmeath 1-14

6/5/2023, TEG Cusack Park, Galway 6-33 Westmeath 0-17

21/5/2023, Wexford, Westmeath 4-18 Wexford 2-22

28/5/2023, TEG Cusack Park, Antrim 4-24 Westmeath 1-19

Leinster MHC

18/3/2023, TEG Cusack Park,

Westmeath 3-16 Meath 3-6

1/4/2023, Darver,

Westmeath 3-14 Down 0-9

7/4/2023, TEG Cusack Park, Westmeath 3-10 Carlow 0-7

16/4/2023, TEG Cusack Park, Offaly 0-17 Westmeath 0-6

Leinster U20HC

1/4/2023, Tullamore,

Offaly 2-22

Westmeath 1-17

8/4/2023, TEG Cusack Park, Westmeath 2-14 Antrim 3-8

15/4/2023, TEG Cusack Park, Westmeath 5-17 Meath 0-10

21/4/2023, Portlaoise, Westmeath 0-22 Laois 1-19 (Westmeath win on pens)

29/4/2023, TEG Cusack Park, Wexford 3-17 Westmeath 3-12