Coaching and Games Update!

Each of the football development squads have played their first games of the year over the last pair of weekends. The U14s travelled to Faithful Fields two weeks ago to take on Offaly in what was a debut game for each player. 44 players played in two games against their counterparts from their midland neighbours, with some playing against fellow students from their schools.

The U15 footballers travelled down to Portlaoise on the same weekend to play Laois prior to the National Football League game between Westmeath and Laois. Our U16 footballers were glad to get into action last weekend after previous fixtures went by the wayside with weather conditions, playing Offaly in a challenge game in Marist College.

The squads are continuing their preparations with a gym session during the week and pitch sessions at the weekends. The dates for each team’s competitions will be as follows-

Westmeath are one of four counties taking part in an U19 football development competition in the coming weeks. Similar to the U19 hurling competition started in Leinster last year, Westmeath, along with Carlow, Laois and Offaly, will play out a group tournament which will conclude with a final and shield final from mid-March to mid-April. The competition is designed to bridge the gap from minor to U20 for players, with fixtures scheduled to avoid disrupting club fixtures. Micheal Burke (Mullingar Shamrocks) will mentor the squad along with Liam Reilly and Kieran Martin, and anyone looking for fixture details can check the county social media channels for more information.

Staff members Robbie Forde and Alan Mullen are currently conducting activities and games for children from Ardnagrath, Streamstown, Rosemount and Mount Temple Nationals Schools in Moate CS. The Transition Year students from Moate CS taking part in the Future Leaders Programme are helping with running the sessions, gaining invaluable experience to complement their learning from the Future Leaders. Thanks to all the schools for taking part in this and well done to the prospective coaches helping out to make this a success.

Westmeath GAA would like to welcome the two newest members of our coaching games staff, Jason Daly and Philomena Kennedy.

Philomena has taken over as the Athlone Area GDC, working specifically with Southern Gaels and Garrycastle. Philomena has worked in Meath over the last number of years, and has been highly involved with her home club of Killucan, gaining experience in a variety of club settings.

Jason is working as a Participation Officer with Tubberclair and Moate All Whites and comes with plenty of experience from working in Meath over the past year, in addition to his vast playing experience with St. Loman’s and Westmeath.