HURLING TEAM OF THE YEAR 11. FRANK BOYLE (RAHARNEY): The third Raharney man to feature on our team, Frank made a successful transition from county footballer to county hurler in 2012. Now teaching in England, Raharney and Westmeath fans will be hoping the strong-running centre forward will be back to assist them once the summer holidays arrive.
12. BRENDAN MURTAGH (CLONKILL). An easy choice this one, the Clonkill talisman enjoyed another excellent season which saw him rack up 0-32 in six championship outings. Murtagh has been indispensable to Westmeath for more than a decade, but it looks as though he won’t be involved in 2013 which is a great pity. Honourable mentions: Chris Flanagan (Raharney), Alan Mangan (Castletown-Geoghegan), Patrick Farrington (Delvin).
13. DAN CARTY (LOUGH LENE GAELS): Along with Derek McNicholas, Dan has been the Gaels’ leading marksman over the past number of years. He has a great eye for a score and should be back to spearhead the Collinstown attack come the championship after undergoing surgery recently.
Honourable mentions: Alan McGrath (Clonkill), Derek McNicholas (Lough Lene Gaels), Aaron Craig (St. Oliver Plunkett’s).
14. JOHN SHAW (RAHARNEY): Now the elder statesman of the Westmeath team, John finished as top scorer in last year’s senior championship with a whopping 4-32 to his credit. The 2005 Christy Ring Cup winning captain is playing as well as ever and Raharney will look to him in their quest to regain the Examiner Cup this year. Honourable mentions: John Dooley (St. Oliver Plunkett’s), Alan Devine (Castlepollard), Johnny Orme (Crookedwood).
Honourable mentions: Alan Devine (Castlepollard), Luke Loughlin (Clonkill), Cian O’Leary (St. Oliver Plunkett’s)
15. NIALL O’BRIEN (CASTLETOWN-GEOGHEGAN): While Castletown were a major disappointment in their championship semi-final defeat to Clonkill, no Team of the Year would be complete without this teenage sensation. A nephew of new Wexford football manager Aidan O’Brien, Niall showed what a class act he is by scoring 2-7 against All-Ireland runnersup Galway in last year’s Leinster championship. Honourable mentions: Killian Murphy (Delvin), Kevin Brazil (Castlepollard), Kieran ‘Bomber’ Daly (St. Brigid’s)
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