Pat Flanagan appointed as interim football manager

County Board meetingAt the County Board meeting held in Cusack Park last Wednesday night, Pat Flanagan was appointed to the position of interim football manager until the end of the 2010 championship season. Pat is a native of Clara and has links with Westmeath GAA having served as a selector with Tomás Ó Flatharta and also guided Tyrrellspass to a Leinster Club Final.The County Chairman, Tom Farrell thanked Brendan Hackett for his time and dedication to Westmeath GAA and for the manner in which he dealt with the situation which had arisen over the previous week.Mr. Farrell welcomed Seamus Whelan back onto the Westmeath county executive where he replaces Liam Martin as Central Council delegate.Congratulations were extended to Aoife McCarthy on winning the All-Ireland Junior 'B' handball title.Billy Foley, Coaching and Games Officer, updated the meeting in relation to senior and junior level Puc Fada competitions, which will be held during the Mullingar sports week and said that all clubs would be notified about this in the coming week.Football SelectorsNewly appointed football manager Pat Flanagan has appointed Paul Conway and David Mitchell as his selectors for the length of his appointment.CondolencesWestmeath County Board would like to extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Jimmy Keegan (Dalystown) who sadly passed away last weekend. Jimmy was serving as secretary for St. Brigid's GAA as he has done for many years and will be sadly missed by all in the area. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dilis.Senior Football ChampionshipNext weekend sees the start of the 2010 championship in earnest with a number of ties down for decision, with Maryland already having accounted for Coralstown/Kinnegad last weekend.Reigning county champions, Garrycastle take on Tyrrellspass, with the hope of defending their title, but as we well know once at the top it's hard to remain there.Tyrrellspass will feel confident going into this fixture as they only narrowly missed out at the semi-final stage last year.The Downs will play Castledaly and with both having failed to reach the knockout stages last year this one should be evenly matched.Tubberclair will face up to Killucan who will be hoping to prove they are capable of staying at senior level having won the intermediate title last year, while Killucan will be hoping for a better run than last year having faded out towards the end and only reaching the group stages.St. Malachy's take on Mullingar Shamrocks with Shamrocks hoping to build on last year's championship run where they reached the quarter final stages and only lost out after a replay.Last year's beaten finalists St. Lomans play Athlone, this will be a close, tough encounter with both sides aiming to do better than last year. Athlone will approach this game as if their life depended on it. Having failed miserably to perform in last year's championship they know they have something to prove.St. Lomans on the other hand will be looking to put last year's disappointment behind them and will be hoping to start off with a win.Intermediate and Junior FootballNext weekend also sees the start of the intermediate championships for 2010 with an important clash between near neighbours newly promoted junior champions Caulry taking on Moate All Whites and defeated semi finalists Castletown Finea/Coole/Whitehall take on Ballymore.Ballynacargy take on Bunbrosna in what looks like being a mouthwatering tie.In the Junior championship another near neighbour clash happens between last year's beaten finalists, St. Pauls and Delvin, with other ones to look out for are the clashes between Kilbeggan Shamrocks and Shandonagh and Loughnavalley and St. Fintans Multyfarnham.Lá na gClubFollowing on from the success of Lá na gClub in 2009 the GAA plans to celebrate the importance of your club in your community this year on Sunday, May 9. Counties have been instructed to keep the morning and afternoon fixture free to enable all members to fully participate in this event.The theme for this year's day is the promotion of "Youth through Volunteerism". We would like every club to participate and to strive to match the huge success of last year's events.ScórLast week-end the All-Ireland finals of Scór took place in Killarney.Westmeath were represented in two competitions - the Novelty Act and Set Dancing by Mullingar Shamrocks and Bunbrosna respectively. Congratulations to Mullingar Shamrocks on winning the All-Ireland Scór title in the Novelty Act competition and well done to Bunbrosna on reaching the final.Westmeath Schools Juvenile Hurling TeamThe draw for the Shield Competition has been made with Westmeath scheduled to play Laois Schools - this game is provisionally fixed for next Friday, April 30 at 2pm in Castletown-Geoghegan.Under 14 Hurling DevelopmentThe Under 14 Hurling Development Squad travelled to Dunganny, Co. Meath on Saturday last, April 20 and played two very good challenges against Meath.There was a novelty factor for a lot of the Westmeath players as they all got 30 minutes on a full length astroturf pitch.They adapted well and recorded two excellent wins.Among the many players to stand out were Donal Liddy, Ciaran Fagan, Alan Kincaid, Micheal Daly, Robbie Gillen, Ronan Kelly, Warren Casserly, Liam Cassidy, Johnny Bermingham, Ian Kilcoyne, Darragh Clinton and Luke Byrne.We play two matches away to Laois on the Bank Holiday Monday, May 3 in preparation for the DJ Carey School of Hurling on July 5/8.Westmeath GAA DevelopmentLottoThe winning numbers last week were: 5, 9, 20, 29. There was no jackpot winner.Match 3 winners, who each received €80 were: Owen Heslin C/O St. Lomans Mullingar GAA; Tyrrellspass Ladies GAA C/O Westmeath Ladies GAA; Tommy Lennon C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA and Nora Keegan C/O Delvin GAA.ResultsGreville Arms SHC: Lough Lene Gaels v. St. Brigid's (P).Shay Murtagh Precast SFC Div. 1: Maryland 2-8, Coralstown/Kinnegad 0-9.KC Sports JFC Sect A: Milltown 1-7, St. Joseph's 0-7.ContactI can be contacted by phone on 044 9666476, 087 2777987 or by email on pro.westmeath@gaa.ie