Leinster Final Beckons!

As I write my thoughts on the Leinster Senior football final a week out from the big occasion, I realize that while the task ahead is formidable for Westmeath, it is something marvellous to look forward to. In over 120 years, Westmeath Senior football teams have so far reached the provincial final on six occasions, 1931,1949,2004 with replay,2015 and now 2016. It has been a rare occurrence for the supporters of all our games within the county and when our teams get that far, the opportunity must be grasped with both hands. Okay, so we face the most potent force in Gaelic football at the moment in Dublin who are reigning All Ireland Champions and they have ambled through the provincial series with minimal fuss so far this year. In many people's eyes, they are unbeatable! With all due respect but that is a load of Rubbish! No team is unbeatable! I know that the sensible view is that Dublin will win by whatever margin they desire next Sunday and that could well be the case if Westmeath fail to prepare for them. That is not going to happen. Westmeath this season had a dreadful league but have come through the challenges of Offaly and Kildare to reach the decider next weekend. Yes, Dublin are several steps up on the opposition that we have defeated en route but there are ways to unsettle them and to use a well known Irish soccer term 'Put them under Pressure'. In last years Quarter Final, Fermanagh showed the template that does unsettle Dublin and while they eventually lost, the margin was 2-23 to 2-15. In the opening round in Leinster on Sunday 4th June, Laois gave the Dubs plenty of food for thought when scoring two second half goals in a 2-10 to 2-21 loss to the city men. But they did expose a certain fraility in Dublin that most teams don't see. Dublin have many options but if you can run at their defence and do not allow their goalkeeper to pick his kickouts then you have a chance. Now if you look back to our game against them in 2015, we did get the defensive area fairly right but once they got two quickfire goals early in the second half, the game petered out. I'm not privy to Tom Cribbin's or his selectors thoughts but I do believe that they will have to go at Dublin and take the game to them. It has to be done otherwise you play into their hands. There are many instances of hot favourites being dumped out by unheralded opponents. The story of James J Braddock in the 1930's who won the World heavyweight boxing title against Max Baer is one that all underdogs should read for inspiration. The unheralded Braddock won the title against the previously undefeated Baer who was an unbackable favourite. Dublin will be expected to win and anything else will be seen as a seismic shock. Lets try and create that shock! Go for it Westmeath!

Leinster Final Ticket Sales:

Ticket Sales this week are in TEG Cusack Park each day from 9am to 2pm. There will also be evening sales on Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th July from 6pm to 8pm and in Pairc Ciaran on Tuesday 12th July from 7pm to 9pm.

The pricing details are as follows;

GENERAL
Stand Tickets
Hogan Stand (No Concession) - €35
Cusack Stand - €35
Davin Stand - €35
Hill 16 (No Concessions) - €20

FAMILY TICKETS:- 
1 Adult and 2 Juveniles etc.
Family Tickets are only available for Cusack and Davin Stands
Adults - €35 Juveniles - €5
You are permitted to purchase 2 Juveniles ticket with every 1 Adult Ticket purchased

Students & Senior Citziens (Cusack & Davin Stand Only):- 
Purchase full price tickets and on the day of the match they can claim a rebate of €15 when they produce appropriate I.D. at Block D, Stiles 1 to 5 in the Cusack Stand (Rebate can only be claimed on entry into the stadium via Block BLOCK D prior to ENTERING THE STADIUM)

Wheelchair Tickets:- 
The Wheelchair Ticket are free of charge and the Assistant's ticket is €35

GROUP PASSES:- GROUP PASSES (Under 16's) - DAVIN STAND ONLY
Groups Passes are provided for groups of Juveniles U-16 (you are permitted to bring 1 adult free with every ten Juveniles) any additional adults pay full price for their tickets. (SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY)

Westmeath Ladies defeated by Dublin:

Westmeath Ladies Footballers met Dublin for the second year in succession in the Leinster final but were heavily defeated by a very good Dublin side at O Moore Park Portlaoise on Sunday 10th July. The final margin of 4-23 to 0-7 as the Dubs demolished Westmeath in the second half having led by 1-11 to 0-5 at half time. Westmeath will now go into the All Ireland qualifiers and while they will be disappointed with the margin of defeat, there is plenty to play for them in this years All Ireland series.

Westmeath Camogie win over Dublin:

While the Ladies footballers had a loss to Dublin, the Westmeath Camogie team had a good win over their Dublin counterparts in the Junior Championship on Sunday at Kinnegad. The Girls were in fine form and fully deserved their 1-14 to 2-3 win.

Senior & Intermediate Hurling Round up:

A full round of fixtures took place in the Senior and Intermediate Hurling Championships over the weekend with some very good displays. Clonkill look to be a class apart at the moment as they dismantled an out of sorts Castletown Geoghegan side. Delvin got their second win with a good performance over St Brigids while Castlepollard had a little bit to spare over a game Brownstown side. In the fourth Senior fixture, Lough Lene Gaels and Raharney drew on Sunday evening. At Intermediate level, there were wins for Ringtown over Raharney, Fr Daltons over Southern Gaels, Clonkill over Cullion, Turin over Castletown Geoghegan and Crookedwood over St Oliver Plunketts. A full series of match reports are printed elsewhere in this publication.

Westmeath GAA development Lotto:

The most recent draw was held on Tuesday 5th July and the numbers drawn were 7,10,17 and 18 and there was no Jackpot winner so next weeks Prize moves on to €9500.

There were seven match three winners of €30 each and they were;

Ann Davis C/O Delvin GAA (2 Prizes)

Oliver Smyth C/O Delvin GAA

Colm Ronan Gunning C/O Loughnavalley GAA

Tom L Estrange C/O Loughnavalley GAA

Michael Mc Adden C/O Mullingar Shamrocks GAA

Our Octet C/O Westmeath Ladies GAA

Westmeath GAA Results:

Feis Cup - Caulry 1-9 St Loman's-Mullingar 4-16; 

Inter Cup - Tubberclair 0-9 Rosemount 1-8; Moate All Whites 3-9 Milltownpass 1-10; 

IHC - Raharney 1-17 Ringtown 3-13; Southern Gaels 0-12 Fr Daltons 1-19; Clonkill 2-15 Cullion 1-8; Turin 2-19 Castletown Geoghegan 1-10; Crookedwood 2-9 St Oliver Plunkett's 0-10; 

SHC - Delvin 3-13 St Bridgid's 1-10; Castlepollard 0-20 Brownstown 0-11; Clonkill 2-22 Castletown Geoghegan 0-13; Raharney 1-08 Lough Lene Gaels 0-11

I can be contacted at [email protected] or 086 3992403

 

 

 

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