Castletown-Geoghegan are looking to defend their title for the first time since their 3 in a row of ’56, ’57 and ’58 after last year’s 1-18 to 1-16 victory of Raharney where county star Aonghus Clarke starred, scoring 12 points.
Raharney and Clonkill will be the strongest contenders to put it up to Castletown in 2018 with Lough Lene Gaels also fancying their chances after narrowly being beaten by the eventual winners in the 2017 semi-final.
Fr.Dalton’s will also be optimistic ahead of playing in the top tier of Westmeath hurling for the first time.
An intriguing championship awaits!!!!

Group 1

Castletown-Geoghegan

Manager: Eamonn Gallagher
Captain: Liam Varley
Senior Titles: 13 (1923, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1964, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2004, 2013, 2017)
2017 Championship: Winners
2018 League: 3rd place (Division 1)
First game: v Delvin @7.30PM on Saturday in TEG Cusack Park
Odds: 3/1

Clonkill

Manager: Kevin O’Brien
Captain: Brendan Murtagh
Senior Titles: 14 (1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1969, 2001, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015)
2017 Championship: Semi-finalist
2018 League: 2nd place (Division 1 final v Raharney still to be played)
First game: v Raharney @8PM on Sunday in TEG Cusack Park
Odds: 15/8

Delvin

Manager: Jimmy O’Grady
Captain: Patrick Clune
Senior Titles: 4 (1949, 1950, 1951, 1953)
2017 Championship: Quarter-finalist
2018 League: 5th place (Division 1)
First game: v Castletown-Geoghegan @7.30PM on Saturday in TEG Cusack Park
Odds: 20/1

Lough Lene Gaels

Manager: Paddy Kelly
Captain: TBA
Senior Titles: 7 (1975, 1976, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002)
2017 Championship: Semi-finalist
2018 League: 6th place (Division 1)
First game: v Clonkill on weekend of 28/29 July
Odds: 8/1

Raharney

Manager: Nick Weir
Joint-captains: Cormac and Joey Boyle
Senior Titles: 13 (1913, 1914, 1919, 1967, 1973, 1984, 1992, 1994, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016)
2017 Championship: Runners-up
2018 League: 1st place (Division 1 final v Clonkill still to be played)
First game: v Clonkill @8PM on Sunday in TEG Cusack Park
Odds: 6/4

 

Group 2

Brownstown

Manager: Barry Kennedy
Joint-captains: Emmett Cunneen and Johnny McGuinness
Senior titles: 15 (1938, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1952, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993)
2017 Championship: 3rd place (Group 2)
2018 League: 4th place (Division 1)
First game: v St.Oliver Plunkett’s @6.30PM on Sunday in TEG Cusack Park
Odds: 50/1

Castlepollard

Manager: Alfie Devine
Captain: Andrew Dermody
Senior titles: 14 (1925,1928, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2005)
2017 Championship: 5th place (Group 1)
2018 League: 7th place (Division 1)
First game: v Fr.Dalton’s @6PM on Saturday in TEG Cusack Park
Odds: 14/1

Fr.Dalton’s

Manager: Fergus Shaw
Captain: Brian Finerty
Senior titles: First year in senior championship
2017 Championship: Intermediate winners
2018 League: 5th place (Division 2)
First game: v Castlepollard @6PM on Saturday in TEG Cusack Park
Odds: 28/1

St.Brigid’s

Manager: John Jackson
Captain: Stephen Quinn
Senior titles: 4 (1968, 1970, 1971, 1972)
2017 Championship: 4th place (Group 2)
2018 League: 8th place (Division 2)
First game: v Castlepollard on weekend of 28/29 July
Odds: 100/1

St.Oliver Plunkett’s

Manager: Martin Maher
Captain: Aaron Craig
Senior titles: 0 (Finalist in 2014)
2017 Championship: Quarter-finalist
2018 League: 3rd place (Division 2)
First game: v Brownstown @6.30PM on Sunday in TEG Cusack Park
Odds: 40/1