Armagh sharp shooter Stevie McDonnell on top form against Westmeath

National Football LeagueWestmeath senior footballer's played the second round of this year's Div 2 National League last Sunday away to Armagh, in what was another poor display with Armagh sharp shooter Stevie McDonnell on top form.The hunger and desire inherent in McDonnell's performance was evident from the start when he carved an opening and scored the first point of the game after just 22 seconds.At half-time, with Armagh leading by 1-9 to 0-5, Westmeath brought on three subs - James Durkan for Damien Healy, Ronan Doolin for Tommy Warburton, and Francis Boyle for O'Donoghue. For the first seven minutes of that second half, Westmeath had Armagh pinned in their own half, but they failed to capitalise on that and once Ryan Henderson raised the siege with a break-away point after 44 minutes, the Westmeath resistance broke into scrappy and disorganised play.Late in the game McDonnell was denied his second, and Armagh's third goal by a fine near-post save by Gary Connaughton. There wasn't much Westmeath manager Brendan Hackett could take from that display. Once McDonnell finished off a fine move to score Armagh's first goal after six minutes, the trend of the game was set. It's a matter of putting it down to a bad day at the office for Westmeath and moving on.Kehoe Cup hurlingWestmeath senior hurlers claimed their second Kehoe Cup title in two years when they defeated a strong Kildare side last weekend. While it was good to win this competition again the performance on the day left a lot to be desired. The defence coped well especially Mc Cormack at full back and Mitchell at centre back while up front Carthy and Mc Nicholas led the way with the latter clocking up 1-04 from play, but the work rate of the team was sorely lacking. The dismissal of Enda Loughlin early in the second half did little to help and in truth Kildare had enough chances to win this tie but failed to convert many of them.National Hurling LeagueWestmeath Hurlers make their debut in this year's National hurling League when they take on Wexford next weekend in Cusack Park. This will be a hard battle with both sides looking for league points, ironically the last game between these sides was a very close encounter with Wexford gaining the upper hand late on in the game. On paper Wexford would look the stronger side and will probably feel they will be in the shake up for promotion, but another committed performance from the Westmeath lads who will be on a high after winning their second Kehoe Cup in two years could mean things might not go as planned.Minor Board NotesStart of Underage GamesIt is proposed to commence the Underage season on Saturday 27th February 2010. The first competition will be Féile Péil na nÓg and the draw for this competition will take place on next Wednesday 10th February, at a meeting of the Minor C.C.C, at 7 pm in the Greville Arms Hotel Mullingar (before the meeting of Club Chairman/Secretaries).Clubs Minor Committee delegates, and anyone else interested in Underage teams, are most welcome to attend the draw.Challenge GamesReminder to Clubs that is necessary to have proper authorisation from County Secretary, Pat Lynagh, to organise/play challenge games. At least three days' notice for games within Leinster must be given whilst for games involving team's outside Leinster seven days' notice must be given. Also Clubs must name the referee who will officiate at the challenge game.Groupings for 2010The groupings for the various Leagues for 2010 are presently being finalised and will be advised to Clubs shortly.Membership databaseAs it is now time for clubs to start registering their players and members for 2010 please make sure to do so on the new GAA Membership Database as this is now the Official method of registration for the GAA.ReminderI would ask all clubs toplease deal with the issue of Garda vetting for all coaches and mentors within their clubs as soon as possible as the start of the new season is almost upon us once again. To date there has been a poor response to the return of Garda Vetting Forms so I appeal to all clubs to commence the process as soon as possible.Referees' meetingLiam McDaniel - Westmeath Referee's Co-Ordinator advises that the second introduction night course for New Referees will take place on Thursday next the 18th February at 7.30pm in Cusack Park Mullingar.As there is a severe shortage of referees, especially in South Westmeath and in Hurling, all Clubs are requested to have at least one person complete the introduction course.This particular night may suit any second level students in your club as they are on mid-term break.Further details with regards to the course can be obtained from Liam McDaniel at 086-8386388.GAA Oral History ProjectThe GAA Oral History Project which started in 2008 aims to collect the social history of the GAA from the grassroots through carrying out oral history interviews and collecting old photographs, documents etc. It aims to record the personal stories of club members, supporters, tea makers, drivers and anyone who has had any involvement through the years. Last year the project produced The GAA - A People's History, and this year they are going around the country, county by county, to try and ensure that each club's history is represented in the archive which will be handed over to the GAA Museum in 2012. There is more detailed information and samples of what has been collected so far on the website www.gaahistory.comAt the end of March - beginning of April, this project will be focusing on Westmeath. This project depends on people with local knowledge and people who are interested in preserving their club/county history for it's success. We are appealing to people in the county to get behind this project so that their county's GAA history will be preserved and so that they will be appropriately represented in our archive.The Westmeath clubs can help us in the following ways:· By filling in a questionnaire· By spreading awareness of the project through your own networks.· By nominating a volunteer/volunteers from our clubs to lead the project in your county and to attend a training seminar on how to conduct the project.· By recommending people who we should interview to represent the broad spectrum of the GAA in Westmeath.This is really to get the ball rolling for the project in Westmeath and hope that it leads to the collection of a rich archive to represent Westmeath in the GAA Museum. We would greatly appreciate any support you can give us in this endeavour.Westmeath GAADevelopmpent LottoThere was no jackpot winner on February 9. Numbers drawn were 4, 10, 12 and 13. Next week's jackpot is €3,100. The nine match three winners who each receive €38 were: Gareth O'Brien C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; David Horgan C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Rosie Leonard C/O Delvin GAA; Lucia Maguire C/O Delvin GAA; Christina Keenan C/O Loughnavalley GAA; Sheila Purcell C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Brendan Cocoman C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Michael Mooney C/O St. Oliver Plunketts GAA; Barry, Claire Williams C/O Delvin GAA.Results for week ending 07.02.10ACFL Div 1: Tyrrellspass 0-11, St. Loman's Mulingar 0-09; Castledaly 0-14, Garrycastle 2-07; Bunbrosna 0-18, Coralstown/Kinnegad 1-09; Maryland 1-08, Mullingar Shamrocks 1-06; The Downs 2-10, Athlone 0-07.ACFL Div 2: Killucan 1-08, Ballymore 0-09; Shandonagh 1-11, Milltownpass 2-07; Tubberclair 3-11, Ballynacarrgy 0-07; Caulry 2-08, St. Malachy's 0-11; Castletown Finea/Coole/Whitehall 2-09, Tang 1-11.ACFL Div 3: St. Mary's Rochfortbridge 3-07, Milltown 2-07; Kilbeggan Shamrocks 2-11, St. Pauls 1-12; Moate All Whites 0-11, Loughnavalley 0-06; Rosemount 2-11, Tyrrellspass 1-07; St. Fintans Multy 3-06, Ballinagore 1-08.ACFL Div 4: St. Joseph's 2-06, Ballycomoyle 1-05.WebsitesSenior: http://www.westmeathgaa.ie/Minor: http://coistenanog.westmeath.gaa.ieI can be contacted by phone on 044 9666476, 087 2777987 or by email on pro.westmeath@gaa.ie