The Westmeath Under 14 hurlers completed their schedule of fixtures for the year this past weekend, the county’s two teams claiming five wins and two pieces of silverware in Abbotstown.
The Dublin versions of both the Forrestal and Walsh Cups were secured in impressive but contrasting manners. The Forrestal Cup team overcame Meath by 6-20 to 1-6 in the semi final to qualify for a final against Antrim. The Lake County maintained their level of performance to record a comfortable win by 7-12 to 0-8, with Dara Geary (3-1 ), Cillian Clarke (2-0 ) and Conor Williams (1-2 ) leading the scoring charge. Following the game, captain Dean Kelly (St Brigids ) proudly lifted the cup.
Running concurrently, the Walsh Cup team opened with a 6-19 to 3-7 win over Wicklow. Next up was a much tighter affair with Kildare, where the Lake County came out on top by 4-11 to 4-10, meaning the team topped the group and qualified for the final. Antrim were also the opposition in this, and the Glensmen made use of wind advantage to lead by 2-4 to 0-3 at half time. A determined Westmeath outfit dominated the second period however, outscoring the opposition 1-6 to 0-1 to secure a second piece of silverware by 1-9 to 2-5. Aaron Connaire (1-3 ) and MJ Long (0-4 ) were the chief protagonists and captain Cian McKeogh (Raharney ) was delighted to have the honour of accepting the cup afterwards on behalf of the team.
Mentors Ger Behan, Fintan Clarke, Greg Gavin, Martin Geary and Martin Egan can reflect proudly on a good day’s work, indicating the huge effort they have put in with this group of players.
Forrestal Cup Panel: Alex Cybula (Cullion ), Cian Kennedy (St. Vincents ), Cian McGee (Raharney ), Oisin Gavin (St. Oliver Plunketts ), Cian Matthews (Cullion ), Tomas Brennan (Cullion ), Jack Connaughton (Cullion ), Dean Kelly (St. Brigids ), Andy Sinnott (Cullion ), Hugo Corroon (St. Oliver Plunketts ), Eoghan Beehan (Cullion ), Aidan Doyle (Cullion ), Cillian Clarke (Castletown-Geoghegan ), Conor Williams (Na Piarsaigh ), Dara Geary (Southern Gaels ), Eoghan Goldrick (St. Vincents ), Tom Shaw (Raharney ), Dylan Gaffney (Clann na Gael ), Liam Weblin (St. Brigids ).
Walsh Cup Panel: Cayden Sheppard (Clann na Gael ), Eamonn Gannon (Cullion ), Shane Murray (Na Piarsaigh ), Ryan McNamee (St. Oliver Plunketts ), Harry Tilson (St. Oliver Plunketts ), Aaron Connaire (Clonkill ), Shane O’Mara (St. Vincents ), Cian McKeogh (Raharney ), Oisin Scally (Cullion ), Rhys Brady (St. Vincents ), MJ Long (Clonkill ), Conor Cleary (Clonkill ), Dylan Ward (Castletown-Geoghegan ), Thomas Wrafter (Castletown-Geoghegan ), Oisin Egan (Clann na Gael ), Padraig O’Neill (Southern Gaels ), Ronan Smyth (Raharney ), Jack Devine (Cullion ), Eoghan Daly (Clonkill ), Josh McGauran (Raharney ).
