Lough Lene Gaels
Encyclopedia
Lough Lene Gaels is a Gaelic Athletic Association
club, based in Collinstown
, County Westmeath
, Ireland
.
, Fore
, Glenidan and Rickardstown hurling clubs.
Their played first match in the Westmeath Senior Hurling Championship resulted in a 5-17 to 5-1 win over Delvin
, July 1970.
First victorious honour occurred in early 1972 resulting from a postponed 1971 Junior hurling league final. Raharney
were defeated 4-10 to 2-3 on that final. First championship honour came in 1973 when the Junior title was won by defeating Castletown-Geoghegan
7-3 to 2-3.
The awaited breakthrough at senior level arrived 1975 with vanquishing Raharney
in the final. The senior title was retained in 1976 before another first was achieved in 1977 when the club won its first ever championship at underage level, namely in the U-14 grade.
Throughout the 1980s Lough Lene Gaels picked up championships titles on a regular basis in the U-21, minor, U-16 & U-14 grades. But a third senior title eluded the club during the 1980s.
The 1990s started well for the club with U-21 and U-16 titles being won followed by 3-in a row sequence of championship successes in the minor grade. 1996 was a glorious year for Lough Lene Gaels as the club won their first ever U-12 championship namely in the "A" grade. On Sunday October 13, 1996 the wait of a generation finally came to an end for Lough Lene Gaels as they won their third SHC title, defeating Castletown-Geoghegan 2-7 to 0-9 in the final at Cusack Park Mullingar
. Incidentally the club won the MHC final the same day making it a very special day for the club. In the time that has since passed Lough Lene Gaels have won further titles in the senior, U-21, minor, U-16 and U-12 grades. Lough Lene Gaels won the last SH championship of the 20th century, defeating Castlepollard
1-13 to 1-11 in an exciting final at Cusack Park on Sunday October 24, 1999. The last U-21 championship of the 20th century was also won by the Gaels on December 5, 1999 at Cusack Park
. Oliver Plunketts were defeated by 3-5 to 0-8 in that particular final. Overall the close to mid-term future looks encouraging for the Gaels as the first steps are taken in the 21st century.
Another chapter in the history of the club was completed on Sunday September 17, 2000 with the winning of the Westmeath Senior Hurling Championship for the third year in succession. In the final Lough Lene Gaels defeated their neighbours and great arch rivals Castlepollard on a 3-8 to 0-14 scoreline at Cusack Park
.
The Club won the senior championship again in 2002 defeating Castletown Geoghegan in a finish which saw them score two goals in injury time. Castletown had goaled in the last minute of normal time to take a one point lead and looked set for victory.
Lough Lene reached the Westmeath final in 2007.
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club, based in Collinstown
Collinstown
Collinstown is an expanding village in County Westmeath, situated on the R395 regional road 18 km northeast of the county town of Mullingar. Collinstown is in St Mary's parish and has a population of approaching 700.-Name:...
, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
Club history
Lough Lene Gaels was founded as a hurling club late in 1969 as a result of an amalgamation between the CollinstownCollinstown
Collinstown is an expanding village in County Westmeath, situated on the R395 regional road 18 km northeast of the county town of Mullingar. Collinstown is in St Mary's parish and has a population of approaching 700.-Name:...
, Fore
Fore, County Westmeath
Fore is a village, next to the old Benedictine Abbey ruin of Fore Abbey, situated to the north of Lough Lene in County Westmeath, in Ireland....
, Glenidan and Rickardstown hurling clubs.
Their played first match in the Westmeath Senior Hurling Championship resulted in a 5-17 to 5-1 win over Delvin
Delvin
Delvin is a small town in east County Westmeath, Ireland located on the N52 road at a junction with the N51 to Navan. The town is from Mullingar and is the setting of the book Valley of the Squinting Windows by Delvin native Brinsley MacNamara, described under the fictitious name of "Garradrimna"...
, July 1970.
First victorious honour occurred in early 1972 resulting from a postponed 1971 Junior hurling league final. Raharney
Raharney
Raharney or Raharny is a village in east County Westmeath, Ireland. It has a population of 231 .Raharney is on the R156 road about from Mullingar and 60 from Dublin...
were defeated 4-10 to 2-3 on that final. First championship honour came in 1973 when the Junior title was won by defeating Castletown-Geoghegan
Castletown-Geoghegan
Castletown Geoghegan in County Westmeath, Ireland, lies south west of Lough Ennell near the county town of Mullingar. Castletown was the seat of the Geoghegan family of the medieval Barony of Moycashel, County Westmeath. The family were descendants of the Southern Ui Neill. They were major...
7-3 to 2-3.
The awaited breakthrough at senior level arrived 1975 with vanquishing Raharney
Raharney
Raharney or Raharny is a village in east County Westmeath, Ireland. It has a population of 231 .Raharney is on the R156 road about from Mullingar and 60 from Dublin...
in the final. The senior title was retained in 1976 before another first was achieved in 1977 when the club won its first ever championship at underage level, namely in the U-14 grade.
Throughout the 1980s Lough Lene Gaels picked up championships titles on a regular basis in the U-21, minor, U-16 & U-14 grades. But a third senior title eluded the club during the 1980s.
The 1990s started well for the club with U-21 and U-16 titles being won followed by 3-in a row sequence of championship successes in the minor grade. 1996 was a glorious year for Lough Lene Gaels as the club won their first ever U-12 championship namely in the "A" grade. On Sunday October 13, 1996 the wait of a generation finally came to an end for Lough Lene Gaels as they won their third SHC title, defeating Castletown-Geoghegan 2-7 to 0-9 in the final at Cusack Park Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
. Incidentally the club won the MHC final the same day making it a very special day for the club. In the time that has since passed Lough Lene Gaels have won further titles in the senior, U-21, minor, U-16 and U-12 grades. Lough Lene Gaels won the last SH championship of the 20th century, defeating Castlepollard
Castlepollard
Castlepollard is a large village in north County Westmeath, Ireland. Located in the barony of Demifore, in the civil parish of Rathgarve, it lies west of Lough Lene and northeast of Lough Derravaragh and Mullingar.-Name:...
1-13 to 1-11 in an exciting final at Cusack Park on Sunday October 24, 1999. The last U-21 championship of the 20th century was also won by the Gaels on December 5, 1999 at Cusack Park
Cusack Park
Cusack Park may refer to:*Cusack Park , Ireland, home of Clare GAA*Cusack Park , Ireland, home of Westmeath GAA...
. Oliver Plunketts were defeated by 3-5 to 0-8 in that particular final. Overall the close to mid-term future looks encouraging for the Gaels as the first steps are taken in the 21st century.
Another chapter in the history of the club was completed on Sunday September 17, 2000 with the winning of the Westmeath Senior Hurling Championship for the third year in succession. In the final Lough Lene Gaels defeated their neighbours and great arch rivals Castlepollard on a 3-8 to 0-14 scoreline at Cusack Park
Cusack Park
Cusack Park may refer to:*Cusack Park , Ireland, home of Clare GAA*Cusack Park , Ireland, home of Westmeath GAA...
.
The Club won the senior championship again in 2002 defeating Castletown Geoghegan in a finish which saw them score two goals in injury time. Castletown had goaled in the last minute of normal time to take a one point lead and looked set for victory.
Lough Lene reached the Westmeath final in 2007.