'Westmeath GAA will rise' says underage chairman
New Coiste na nÓg Chairman, Paddy Wallace stressed Westmeath GAA is working diligently to try and find a winning formula and he called on all supporters to rally behind the county. He was speaking at the presentation of gear to development squad members by sponsors MJS Building and Development New York, in TEG Cusack Park on Friday evening.
It has been a positive season for Westmeath underage teams so far, with the minor footballers edged out by Louth in the Leinster quarter-final. He acknowledged that player development is a major challenge and urged people to be patient.
“We're here to support the clubs and obviously to support yourselves in any way we can. Do we always get it right? Possibly not. Are we always told we get it right? Definitely not. Are we told we get it wrong sometimes? Most definitely yes. But that's important too, because if we have this idea that we're getting it right all the time, we're going nowhere,” he said.
“You're the next generation,” he told the young underage development squad players. “If you stay at it, stay involved, stay committed to the game, there is no doubt that Westmeath GAA will rise. I just need to compliment some of the teams this year already. They're all doing superbly well in various competitions.
“I'd like to compliment our minor (footballers and hurlers); they were involved in the latter stages of their respective competitions. Our hurlers came up against a stiff opposition in Dublin. Our minor footballers, probably our most unlucky, came up against good opposition in Louth, in Hunterstown. They were beaten, I would say, narrowly by four points, if that makes sense.
"So, we're there as thereabouts, folks. It's important. And there was a great win for our under-20 (footballers in the All-Ireland ‘B’ final) on Wednesday night.”
He acknowledged the great support of Michael and James Stones towards the various underage development squads. MJS Building and Development New York also sponsor the underage leagues and championships in Westmeath and Michael Stones pleged their continued support for the Lake County.
It was a memorable weekend for New York, who defeated Monaghan at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday to reach the Lory Meagher Cup final - 1-29 to 2-13.