BROWNSTOWN
T
his year sees the 20th anniversary of Brownstown's last senior hurling championship success. In 1993, they defeated Castletown Geoghegan to claim their 15th title at that level, a record that still stands today, although other clubs are closing in rapidly. However, the intervening years have not been so kind to the north Westmeath side as they now languish in the intermediate ranks and are no longer considered one of the most feared sides in the county. For the past two years, the club has failed to reached the semi finals of the second tier championship, but there is an underlying belief within the club that they can make a return to hurling's top table in the not too distant future and what better way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that last senior success than winning their third intermediate title since 2006. There is no doubt that Brownstown possess the quality to make a return to the top flight. Age is certainly on their side as only a handful of players have passed the 30 mark and indeed many of the side are closer to 20 years old. Throw in the fact that despite limited success at underage level, which has seen them amalgamate with neighbours Delvin to compete in the premier competitions, there is a steady flow of youngsters coming through the ranks on an annual basis. In the last few years, the likes of Niall Leonard, Ross Daly, James Moore and Cormac Foley have been
James Moore clears his lines against Raharney
BIG YEAR AHEAD joined by Jamie Fitzsimons, Harry Keane, Paddy Reilly and Daniel Dugdale, who are eight talented hurlers that are sure to all play for the side in 2013. Straight away that is over half the team and when you have more experienced players like Philip Gilsenan, John Fitzpatrick, Robert Dugdale, Martin Kelly, Jimmy McQuaid, Dara Brady and Maurice Gavigan in the ranks also, one wonders how the side is failing to even make the penultimate stage of
the championship. In 2012, former Meath hurler Paddy Kelly was appointed manager of the side and he added Seamus Reilly and Richie Shaw as his selectors, to make up a formidable management team. There were flashes of their true potential in some of the games but overall they were not consistent enough. Ironically, in one of the games that they played to their full potential, Brownstown were undone in
The 2011 junior B finalists. (Replay played in 2012). Front row l/r: Maurice Gavigan, Jamie Fitzsimons, James Moore, Niall Leonard, Robbie Dugdale, Emmet Cuneen, Ross Daly, Paddy Reilly, Daniel Dugdale, Joey Dugdale, Brendan O’Brien, Stephen Reilly, Michael Murphy. Back row l/r: Danny Henry, Keith Forde, John Carpenter, Willie Anderson, Leonard Higgins, Michael Travers, Gerry Kelly, Martin Kelly, Cyril Dugdale, Cormac Foley, Sean Smith, Gavin Mulvey, Kenneth Davis, Darragh Reilly, Conor Rice, Harry Keane
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