Hurlers host Laois in final league outing

National Hurling League: Westmeath hurlers play their last match in this year"s National League next Sunday with a home match against neighbours, Laois. With Division 2 status secure for next year Westmeath will be under somewhat less pressure.However, nothing less than a win will be any good as the Christy Ring Cup is only around the corner and the team could do with the morale boost. A big performance will be needed from the likes of Paul Greville, Andrew Mitchell and Brendan Murtagh who will need more help and support from the lads around them. Laois on the other hand will be looking for victory to maintain their mid table position and with players like James Young, Willie Hyland, and John Finnerty this will be a tough test for Westmeath.Leinster Under 21 A Hurling ChampionshipWestmeath Under 21 hurlers play Kildare in the semi-final of this competition next Saturday in Cusack Park. After a convincing win against Meath in the first round there is a feeling among the squad that this team can win this competition, which would be good for hurling in Westmeath as this team panel comprises mainly senior players who are preparing for the Christy Ring Cup.National Football LeagueWestmeath footballers who played their last round of the League last Sunday in Parnell Park against Dublin were on the wrong side of a twenty seven point drubbing as Dublin extracted revenge for last year"s Division 2 final defeat. This was without doubt the worst display from a Westmeath team in years with only two of the starting forwards scoring. We faired badly in most sectors of the field and when Denis Glennon"s penalty kick was blocked it wasn"t to be Westmeath"s day. The visitors weren"t up to full strength due to injuries but they still have a lot of work to do before the championship starts.Coaching and GamesNotes for ClubsI want to thank all clubs for attending the GAA Membership Data Base training nights in Athlone last week. Both nights were well attended and the courses were a huge success. Special thanks to tutors Kieran Leddy (Croke Park) and Noel Tierney (AIT) for giving the course. A number of clubs failed to turn up and we are trying to schedule another night to complete the training. (Venue and time will be confirmed later).Copyright TheftAre you aware of any company currently offering advertising to businesses in your county on a calendar/poster showing a photo of your county/club team without your permission and without any benefit to your county/Club GAA, (with the exception of the production of our Yearbook by Lynn Publications).Could you check it out with a few businesses in your area and let any member of the County Executive know.Referees AGMThe Referees" AGM will be held in Rosemount on Wednesday, April 22 at 8pm. All referees are expected to attend, even new ones who are doing Under 12 games in the county at the moment.  GAA 125 Sports History ConferenceAs part of the GAA"s 125th Anniversary celebrations, the GAA Museum, Sports History Ireland and the GAA Oral History Project, based in Boston College, Dublin, will host a one-day history conference in Croke Park on Saturday, April 25. Leading social and sporting historians from Ireland and overseas will participate in and explore the history of the GAA and its place within Irish society. Speakers will discuss a range of topics including the ancient origins of hurling, the life of Michael Cusack, the GAA in Ulster and amongst the Irish diaspora, the GAA and politics, the GAA in film and photography, the GAA and the Irish language, the socio-economic background of players and the question of the GAA"s relationship to amateurism. The conference will close with the launch by the President of the GAA, Christy Cooney, of a collection of fourteen essays, The Gaelic Athletic Association, 1884-2009 (Irish Academic Press, 2009).The essays, published by Irish Academic Press, have been edited by Mike Cronin, William Murphy and Paul Rouse. Tickets are available to purchase from the GAA Museum in Croke Park - Adult €15, Student/Senior €10. Admission price includes tea/coffee at registration. Lunch not included. Please note that booking is essential. For more information and booking please contact - Selina O"Regan, GAA Museum Education Officer - Tel - 01 819 2361 or Email - soregan@crokepark.ie or www.gaa.ie/museumNational ArchiveThe GAA Museum is currently establishing a National GAA Archive which will house the official records of the Association. Examples of these records include minute books, annual reports, financial documents, photographs, maps and plans etc.One series of record that the Archive seeks to house are match programmes. Could County Secretaries/PRO"s please ensure that three copies (one for handling, one for display and one for preservation) of each match programme within respective counties, as well as the digital copy, are sent to the Museum as they are published.This will ensure that a record of each Gaelic game played will be preserved for future researchers.  If you require any more information on the above, or on the establishment of the Archive in general, please contact Marcus MacRaghnaill/Mark Reynolds, Cartlannaí/Archivist, GAA Museum, 01 8192350, mreynolds@crokepark.ieWestmeath GAA Development LottoLast week"s numbers were: 21, 23, 24, 25. There was no jackpot winner.The following matched three numbers and received €80: Paddy Swarbrigg C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Alan Giblin C/O Loughnavalley GAA; S. Kenny C/O Ballymore GAA and Rose Corcoran C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAAResultsNational Football League: Dublin 5-22 Westmeath 0-10Leinster Minor HC: Westmeath 3-15 Kildare 2-12ACFL Division 1: Mullingar Shamrocks 1-8 Bunbrosna 0-9; Garrycastle 3-6 Athlone 0-6; St. Loman"s. Mullingar 0-6 Coralstown/Kinnegad 1-12; Tyrrellspass 1-6 The Downs 1-11; Castledaly 3-12 Ballynacargy 2-10ACFL Division 2: Killucan 2-8 Caulry 0-8; Tubberclair 2-15 Kilbeggan Shamrocks 1-13; Shandonagh 1-6 Ballymore 0-11; Maryland 2-9 St. Malachys 1-9ACFL Division 3: Rosemount 4-12 Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall 1-4; St. Mary"s, Rochfortbridge 2-8 St. Fintan"s, Multyfarnham 2-4; St. Pauls 1-10 Moate All Whites 1-8ACFL Division 4: St. Loman"s, Mullingar 6-9 Ballycomoyle 2-2; Tyrrellspass 1-11 Garrycastle 0-10; The Downs 0-13 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-5; Castledaly 3-9 Ballynacargy 1-5ACFL Division 5: Kilbeggan Shamrocks 0-9 Athlone 2-12; Ballymore 1-6 Caulry 1-2; Killucan 2-7 Bunbrosna 2-8; Shandonagh 1-3 Coralstown/Kinnegad 0-5ACFL Division 6: Rosemount 1-15 St. Malachys 0-2; Milltown 1-2 Maryland 1-14; St. Mary"s, Rochfortbridge 3-4 Tubberclair 3-10;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.net