Sports Review - MARCH

March began with less-than-ideal results for the county’s footballers and hurlers. The footballers produced their worst performance in a number of years against Longford, losing 0-14 to 0-10, putting a dampener on Westmeath’s promotion hopes. In hurling, Down’s Paul Sheehan shot the lights out to earn the Mournemen a shock win in TEG Cusack Park.

As the month progressed however, the hurlers regained their composure and registered a 1-21 to 0-14 victory over Kildare to reach the knockouts, with Joey Boyle, Killian Doyle and Cormac Boyle among the scorers. The following week, Westmeath hosted Kerry at home in the league semi-final, and crucial goals from Niall Mitchell and Davy Glennon secured them passage to the Division 2A final.

The footballers, meanwhile, had mixed results and finished the month empty-handed. The defeat to Longford was followed by a fruitful trip to Limerick, where 1-3 from Luke Loughlin was the difference between the sides, but they recorded a frustrating defeat to Fermanagh at home the following week. This loss all but scotched their promotion hopes, and although John Heslin starred in a subsequent win over Antrim, results elsewhere went against Westmeath in the final shake-up.

Football silverware, however, was delivered by Damien Gavin’s U20 charges in March, when a late Peter Pierson goal saw Westmeath edge Sligo in the final of the Philly McGuinness Cup at the Connacht GAA Air Dome in Bekan on St Patrick’s Day. Killucan’s Devin Hill, Tubberclair’s Matthew Whittaker and Caulry’s Senan Baker had 3-6 between them in an impressive display. At minor level, Westmeath were defeated by Laois in their Leinster championship opener, while a classy display from Joe Mulvaney ensured the minor hurlers drew with Meath in their first outing. Defeat against Antrim followed, however.

On the ladies’ GAA front, there was disappointment for Westmeath. In the Ladies’ NFL, further heavy defeats at the hands of Galway and Waterford saw the Lake County relegated to Division 2. In camogie, Westmeath lost at home to Kilkenny but on score difference, avoided the relegation scrap but remained in Division 2. Despite escaping the drop, manager Albert Kelly stepped down at the end of the month after just five months in the job.

Elsewhere in GAA, Moate CS’s ladies eased past Loreto College, Cavan to reach their first ever All-Ireland senior ‘A’ post-primary schools final; Westmeath’s U14 girls were unlucky to lose out to Dublin in their Leinster final; a goal from Alex Elaurza secured minor ‘B’ shield camogie success for Westmeath; and seven Westmeath acts reached the Leinster Scór na nÓg finals, with The Downs winning club of the year at the county finals.

In soccer, Tralee side St Brendan’s Park got the better of Mullingar Athletic’s U16s in their SFAI Cup last 16 match. Mullingar Athletic reached the fourth round of the Combined Counties Cup with a thrilling 5-3 win over Abbeyleix Athletic, with Efe Siode and Dano Whelan each netting a brace. Meanwhile, former Athletic clubman Aidan Keena hit form for Sligo Rovers, bagging four goals in two games including a stunning hat-trick against Finn Harps.

In athletics, Mullingar Harriers organised a hugely successful ‘Run for Ukraine’ fundraiser. Harriers’ Jamie Wallace secured international selection at the All-Ireland Schools’ Cross Country finals, and later went on to earn a bronze medal with the Irish team at the SIAB International Schools Cross Country in Wales, where Caoimhe Kilmurray also featured. In boxing, Olympic BC, Mullingar quartet Calvin Doyle, Alfie Jordan, Niamh Keogh and Patsy Joyce won All-Ireland Junior titles.

The month in rugby saw Mullingar’s 1st XV put aside their league woes to fashion their best run in Leinster Rugby’s Provincial Towns Cup in many years. The run started with an impressive 34-15 victory away to Enniscorthy, and a late try from Daryl Quinn earned Mullingar a narrow 20-16 win against Tullamore in the second round to reach the last eight for the first time in 14 years. In the quarter-final on March 28, the Westmeath side took on Clondalkin and prevailed 23-14, having done much of the work in the first half with tries from Conall Fagan and Alan Brabazon. Ashbourne awaited in the semi-finals on April 4.

Elsewhere, Mullingar Hockey Club’s men’s team enjoyed a thrilling 7-4 Leinster League Division 2 win over Naas, with Marc Watters pulling the strings; Niall Heffernan won the Westmeath Intermediate Snooker Championship for the third time; Lakeside Wheelers launched their Couch to 50km in 6 Weeks initiative; American football club Westmeath Minotaurs enjoyed a win over visiting side Philadelphia Blue Flame in a charity game; and in rugby, Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham won the Fr Godfrey Plate.

Finally, in handball, Robbie McCarthy Jnr reached another All-Ireland senior 40x20 final with a win over Clare’s Colm Crehan, but he was beaten in the final by another Banner man, Diarmuid Nash. However, there was Leinster ‘A’ Masters doubles success for Robbie McCarthy Snr and Mick Naughton in March, after they defeated Kilkenny opposition.