This weekend is a huge weekend for our underage club as we head for the U14 Feile na nGael being held this year in Tipperary and Waterford. We are being hosted by the famous Waterford city club, Ballygunner, whose famous sons include Paul Flynn and Fergal Hartely as well as current players Stephen O'Keefe and the O'Mahony brothers. We had to undertake a lot of fundraising drives to finance the trip but we hope all the effort will be worth it and our players, families and mentors will have an unforgettable experience in a hurling-mad part of the country. We wish to thank everyone who took part or contributed to our sponsored walk and bag-packing in Dunnes Stores, particularly Frances Sheahan and Carol Murray for organising these initiatives. Very well done to Íarlaith Dolan who represented our club and county with honour at the Hurling Skills Star Challenge in Abbottstown on Saturday. Many congrats also to Slashers football representatives who were both placed in their chosen disciplines. The County U12 Development Squad continues to make great strides in the Westmeath Hurling League having won four out of five matches to date and there is a strong Slashers contingent involved with this team.

Last Friday week our seniors played Roscommon Gaels for the Donal Sheahan Perpetual trophy and won by a point after a high-scoring, high-octane contest: 4-16 to 6-9. Special thanks to the Sheahan family for their continued patronage as well as to Joe McDermott for refereeing the match. The presentation took place afterwards in Kavanagh's Bar and this was proceeded by our fundraising Race Night. There was food, drink, craic and prizes galore. Huge credit to Liam Kavanagh and especially to Carol Murray and her team of helpers for all the work that went into the night. Thanks also to celebrity couple Johnny Casey and Caroline Doyle for adding some glamour to the occasion. Special mention to all who sponsored races, bought horses & donated prizes for the night.