Important win for senior footballers

Leinster Football Championship: Last Sunday in a sundrenched O"Connor Park, Tullamore Westmeath senior footballers stumbled to a narrow three point win after extra time over Wicklow in the Leinster Championship Quarter Final.This was by any standards a poor match with both sides guilty of missed chances and needless fouling. Major improvement will be required from Westmeath for the semi-final clash with Dublin.Westmeath started the brighter of the two sides and had developed a three point lead after fifteen minutes, despite a major slip in the defence forcing Boyle and Gavin between them to concede a penalty which was well saved by Conaughton. It was all of twenty minutes before Wicklow scored and this seemed to lift them as they went on to take the lead 1-3 to 0-4 at the break with the help of a late goal from corner forward, Dean Odlum.Westmeath again started the sharper on the resumption and points from Lynam (two) and Glennon brought them back into contention. The introduction ofO"Shaughnessy and Dolan improved the play for Westmeath. However, the conceding of harmless frees and some loose marking allowed Wicklow back into the match with fine scores from the boot of Tony Hannon and it looked as if the qualifiers beckoned for Westmeath as the match entered injury time but thanks to a fine score by Fergal Wilson in the 36 minute the sides finished level 0-11 to 1-8 and extra time was to follow.Westmeath seemed to look the fitter during extra time and outscored Wicklow by five points to two with the help in no small terms of fine scores from Wilson and Lynam who in my estimation was man of the match on his debut to senior Inter-County Championship football. The final score was Westmeath 0-16 Wicklow 1-10 and Westmeath now face Dublin in the semi-final in two weeks time with a lot of work to do.Coaching and GamesPlay & Stay HurlingHurling - "Play & Stay" finals day on Saturday, June 20 in Robinstown. All teams are asked to be at the venue for 10.30am sharp.Minor Hurling Semi-FinalWestmeath will play Kilkenny in the Leinster Minor Championship Semi-Final on Wednesday, June 24 in Cusack Park, Mullingar.Note: Due to above game there will be no Fé12 Hurling League games that evening. We would encourage all to bring their Underage players to the game to support the Westmeath minor hurling team.GAA Museum"S 125 Anniversary Legends ToursFollowing on from a very successful start to the GAA Museum"s 125th Anniversary Legends Tour Series the GAA museum will stage a further three Legends Tours in the coming weeks. Already Brian Mullins, Babs Keating, Jimmy Magee and Colm O"Rourke have shared their GAA highlights, memories and anecdotes on special behind-the-scenes tours of Croke Park. In the coming weeks Cyril Farrell, Joe Kernan and Liam Griffin will take centre stage on three further Legends Tours.Notes for clubsPlease note that at some venues across the country there has been an increase in the nature of thefts in dressing rooms during matches.  We ask Clubs to be vigilant during games in their grounds.GAA 125 CelebrationsAs part of our GAA 125th Year Celebrations, we are erecting a Club Wall outside the entrance to the GAA Museum in Croke Park. The role of the club forms a central part of the GAA and in recognition of this every GAA club will have their club crest represented on this wall.  The County Development Officers, together with O"Neills are currently collecting all club crests. The co-operation of every club both in Ireland and oversees is key to ensuring that the 'Falla na gClubanna' truly represents all GAA clubs, and in this regard I would ask clubs to work with your County Development Officer - Paddy Collins, to ensure club crests is included.The deadline for the collection of crests is June 30. Please have your club crest with Paddy before this date.SympathyWestmeath Co. Board would like to extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of the late Christy Whelehan (The Downs) who passed away last week. Christy was an avid supporter of Westmeath GAA all his life and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hainm d"ilis.:Westmeath GAA Development LottoThere was no jackpot winner in last week"s draw. The winning numbers were 7, 16, 18 and 28. There were seven winners who each received €46. The winners were:John FitzSimons C/O St. Lomans Mullingar GAA; Margo Egan C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA; Bernie Molloy C/O Ballymore GAA; Sheila Lyster C/O Westmeath Ladies GAA (2); Joanne Mullen C/O Westmeath Ladies GAA; Noel Burke C/O Westmeath Ladies GAA.ResultsLSFC Quarter-Final: Westmeath 0-16 Wicklow 1-10 AETIHC: Fr Daltons 0-9 Crookedwood 1-10; St. Oliver Plunketts 0-14 Delvin 2-5; Southern Gaels 2-7 St. Brigids 1-18; Turin 2-9 Cullion 1-5JHC 'A': Castletown-Geoghegan 1-6 Castlepollard 4-16; Lough Lene Gaels 0-24 Ringtown 1-9; St. Oliver Plunketts 1-17 Raharney 2-11; Clonkill 2-5 Brownstown 0-11JHC 'B': Crookedwood 2-14 Cullion 2-8; Southern Gaels 3-5 Delvin 1-14; St. Brigids 0-12 Fr. Daltons 3-8ACFL Div 1: Bunbrosna 1-9 Castledaly 2-6; The Downs 0-9 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-9; Garrycastle 0-11, St. Loman"s, Mullingar 1-9; Ballynacargy 1-10 Tyrrellspass 2-11; Athlone 1-10 Coralstown/Kinnegad 2-12ACFL Div 2: Shandonagh 1-11 Tang 1-8; Caulry 1-9 Kilbeggan Shamrocks 0-9; Tubberclair 2-8 Ballymore 1-12; Maryland 2-16 Milltownpass 0-2; Killucan 1-11 St. Malachys 0-6ACFL Div 3: St. Josephs 0-12 Milltown 1-12; Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall 2-11 St. Fintan"s, Multyfarnham 3-3; Ballinagore 0-8 Moate All Whites 2-7; Loughnavalley 3-3 Rosemount 2-6; St. Mary"s, Rochfortbridge 0-11 St. Pauls 1-12WebsitesSenior: http://www.westmeathgaa.ie/Minor: http://coistenanog.westmeath.gaa.ieContactI can be contacted by phone on 044 9666476, 087 2777987 or by email on paddreilly@eircom.net