Cumann na mBunscol finals: competitive and fun

The Extra Mile

Great excitement is the abiding memory one can take from the Cumann na mBunscol festival of finals at TEG Cusack Park, over four days last week.

Memories were made, friendships enhanced, skills developed, emotions shared and effort rewarded over the course of 15 finals in football, hurling and camogie.

The superb photograph of Theo Kelly (St Colman’s NS) making a wonderful save to deny Ben Loughlin (St Tola’s) a goal in the division 2 hurling final - and breaking his hurl’ in the process - sums up the level of endeavour from the young players. In an era where debate is rife about the rights and wrongs of competition among young people in sport, the four days at TEG Cusack Park showed that when played in the correct spirit, games can be both competitive and fun.

And it’s largely the case that the people mentoring young players dictate the regime in this regard: if they’re fired up into a frenzy, it’s easy for young players to overreact, or feel dejected when defeat happens. To their great credit, the mentors involved in the Cumann na mBunscol finals were impeccably behaved on the sidelines. The GAA has many faults in this area, but there’s no denying the great role it plays in bringing pride to local communities and no better place to see that than at these finals.

The Cumann na mBunscol committee of Derek Butler (Chairman), Dara Feiritéar (Secretary) and Daithí Ó Fiaich (Treasurer) deserve great credit for such a memorable four days.

Hurlers endure a roller coaster

A week is a long time in politics, but Harold Wilson’s words could easily be applied to the Westmeath senior hurlers, who were celebrating a famous win over Wexford on May 21, but on Sunday, seven days later, lost to Antrim at TEG Cusack Park. It has been a roller coaster for them. Sunday's defeat means Westmeath are relegated from the Leinster championship and MacCarthy Cup, and they will play in the Joe McDonagh Cup again next year.

It’s a setback, of that there is no doubt and there was deep disappointment among the hurling fraternity at Westmeath headquarters on Sunday. It was there for Joe Fortune’s men to win, if they were good enough, but certainly in the second half, Antrim were much superior and full value for their win. Westmeath will lock horns with Offaly in the Joe McDonagh Cup next year after the Faithful failed to win the final last Saturday, losing out to Carlow, 2-29 to 1-31, after extra-time at Croke Park. Laois are also in the mix, so there will be a real midlands feel to the competition in 2024.

McNicholas calls time on inter county career

Best of luck to Derek McNichoals who played his final game for Westmeath last Sunday. He has been a terrific servant over nearly two decades and an outstanding hurler for his county. McNicholas won a Christy Ring Cup in the first year of the competition in 2005 and a Joe McDonagh, which restored them to the Leinster championship, in 2021. Westmeath returned to the Christy Ring for 2007 and in the 16 seasons since, they’ve been operating outside the championship top tier in six of them, so it hasn’t always been a glamour inter county career.

McNicholas was fully expecting a massive test from Antrim on Sunday and stressed the need to be wary after the heroics in Wexford Park.

“I expect they’ll come at us like animals,” he remarked ahead of the game. “They’re there fighting for their lives. They have to win. And one thing about Antrim, they don’t give up. They’ve really strong forwards. They’re a really good team.”

His words were prophetic.

Westmeath are now at a crossroads following their defeat last Sunday. They have won the McDonagh Cup already two years ago and the challenge now is to repeat that in order to return to the top flight, something which will be far from straightforward.

Tailteann Cup debate

The criticism of the GAA's promotion of the Tailteann Cup by such a high profile figure as Donal Óg Cusack was extremely disappointing and to describe it in such dismissive terms (a Grand National for disappointed also rans) does little justice to the competition. When he was challenged on his views, he ought to have responded. Then again, when you're explaining you're losing and there certainly seemed to be broad disagreement with Cusack's remarks.

Westmeath showed last Saturday against Armagh in the All-Ireland series that they have benefited from last year's great win in the competition and that has to be the aim for all counties aspiring to get to the top level.

Westmeath's fine performance last weekend certainly gives hope, but they do need to produce it again when Galway come to Mullingar on Saturday for what should be a great occasion. And when they get the chance, Dessie Dolan's men need to be ruthless enough to see it out: that will be the target. Galway are another step forward, but that's what the journey from Tailteann Cup to Sam Maguire is all about.