Clonkill fly Westmeath flag

It may have been the first day of winter and the weather which greeted early risers on Sunday morning last was definitely what one would expect during the forthcoming winter months.However, as the day wore on and the sun broke out if only for brief periods the long road to All Ireland Club Championship success started on a bright note for Clonkill as they overcame a stiff challenge from Clough Ballacolla of Laois in the first round of the competition at Cusack Park Mullingar.The game was fair and tough with neither side found wanting, and at times the pace was fast and the striking effective. Clough Ballacolla got off the mark first when the sharp shooting wing half forward Damien Bergin scored within the first minute, Clonkill then settled into the game and with eight minutes gone they were 1-2 to 0-3 in front thanks to a fortuitous goal from the stick of Brendan Murtagh. Its funny to think that in a high scoring game the score had changed little as the game approached half time with Clonkill still holding the slight advantage of 1-05 to 0-06.After the break Clough Ballacolla came into the game much more thanks in no small way to two goals one from the afore mentioned Bergin and the second from substitute Kevin Keyes and took the lead by two points, but the fighting spirit in Clonkill kept them in touch as after both goals the replied with a point direct from the puck out. With twenty minutes gone in the second half and both sides trading scores talk of extra time started to rumble among the approx 1300 crowd. The turning point in this match came when the extremely accurate Bergin missed a close in free and Clonkill pointed at the other end from the cleared ball, Clonkill took control of the game from here on in and un-answered points from Paddy Dowdall and Larry Donoghue helped Clonkill to a seven point win on a scoreline of 1-21 to 2-12, they now face Tullamore (Offaly champions) in the Leinster semi-final in two weeks time at home in Cusack Park.Leinster Junior Club ChampionshipSt. Brigid's made their exit from this year's Leinster Junior Hurling Championship at the hands of Longwood (Meath) on Sunday last; the game which was a home venue for St. Brigid's was switched to St. Lomans Lakepoint Park on Sunday morning due weather conditions. This was a disappointing result for St. Brigid's considering they had already emphatically defeated St. Patricks of Carlow only a week previous. St. Brigid's never really got into the game in the first period and were behind at the break by 1-7 to 0-1, eventually losing out 1-12 to 0-9.Leinster Club Football ChampionshipsNext weekend Garrycastle will start off their Leinster Club Championship campaign when they take on the Longford champions, Clonguish. Garrycastle will be hoping for a good start in this competition and maybe be in a position to contest and take a senior club title.In the Junior grade Caulry will travel to Wexford for their first round and after their emphatic victory in the junior grade in the county they will be hoping to progress to the next round.In the Intermediate football Tubberclair will play Dunlavin (Wicklow) on Saturday at home in a re-fixture of last week's cancelled match and if they reproduce their championship final form they should progress to they next round. Please come out and support all our local teams.GAA 125TH AnniversaryCelebrationsOn Thursday, November 5, the GAA museum will stage a very special evening event in conjunction with the GAA Oral History Project focusing on material collected by the project so far. The GAA Oral History Project recently published The GAA - A People's History which is now available to buy at the GAA Museum.  Finally on Sunday, November 22 the museum will remember the events of the Bloody Sunday 1920 on special commemorative tours.Coaching and GamesDevelopmentIn order to develop underage hurling in Westmeath (and to raise the standard of club hurling) we intend commence a Westmeath U 15 development squad during the months of November and December.Each hurling club in Westmeath has been asked to nominate five players who the club feel would benefit most from taking part in the U 15 development squad.The only restriction on the nominations is that the child is born between the dates 1/1/94- 31/12/94. However, each player must be interested in taking part, must have his own helmet and hurley, and agree to make good use of the coaching provided. No player chosen to go forward will be 'dropped' from the panel unless he wishes to leave of his own accord or for disciplinary reasons.Each hurling club in Westmeath are being asked to make full use of this initiative and to nominate a number of U 15 players who fall into the category as defined above.The following preliminary coaching sessions have been planned for November 2009Week starting 2nd Nov. Coaching session with Dinny Cahill on Astro Turf AthloneWeek starting 9th November wall ball session in Castletown and CullionWeek starting 16th November Indoor hurling in Rochtfortbridge( St Brigids) and ?Week starting 23rd November Outdoor hurling in Joristown (Raharney)/KinnegadWeek starting 30th November blitz matches South Westmeath venueWeek starting 7th December blitz matches North Westmeath venueAll parents will be contacted via text messages on their mobile phones with details etc. closer to the dates.Westmeath GAA Development LottoLast week's winning numbers were 3, 13, 16 and 29.There were ten Match 3 winners who received €32. They were Stephanie McNamee C/O St. Oliver Plunketts GAA; Padraig Keogh C/O Westmeath Ladies GAA, Pat Keegan C/O Ballinagore GAA, Kelvin Reilly C/O St. Lomans Mullingar GAA, Bernadette Byrne C/O Ballinagore GAA, Rose Leech C/O Delvin GAA, Larry Murtagh C/O St. Oliver Plunketts GAA, Rita Blundell C/O St. Lomans Mullingar GAA, Susan Brennan C/O St. Lomans Mullingar GAA, Liam Martin C/O St. Lomans Mullingar GAA.ResultsLeinster Senior Hurling Club Championship: Clonkill (Westmeath) 1-21, Clough Ballacolla (Laois) 2-12.Leinster Junior Hurling Club Championship: Longwood (Meath) 1-12, St. Brigid's (Westmeath) 0-9.ACFL Division 6: Tubberclair 2-10, Rosemount 0-7.Fé 21 Football Championship 13-a-side: Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall 4-9, Tyrrellspass 2-10; Bunbrosna 7-10 Milltown 2-4.Fé 21 Hurling Championship First Round: Crookedwood 8-8, St Brigids 2-5.WebsitesSenior: http://www.westmeathgaa.ie/Minor: http://coistenanog.westmeath.gaa.ieContactI can be contacted by phone on 044 9666476, 087 2777987 or by email on pro.westmeath@gaa.ie