Pat Casserly: nominated for the role of Westmeath County Board chairman

Casserly undecided on westmeath gaa chairman position

December 21 is the shortest day of the year, but it could be a long night for current members of Westmeath GAA's county board, with at least one top official expected to face a challenge.

St Loman's, Mullingar have nominated former inter-county referee Pat Casserly for the role of chairman, with incumbent Sean Sheridan under intense pressure after a difficult few months in the hot seat.

Although Tyrrellspass man Sheridan - who defeated Mullingar Shamrocks' Des Maguire in a contest for the chair in 2012 - still has three years of his tenure to run, there are rumblings that the fractious and sometimes farcical process to appoint a new senior football manager has encouraged a move against the top table.

Casserly, a native of Newtowncashel, Co. Longford, has no shortage of experience in GAA administration, having sat on and chaired various Leinster Council and Croke Park committees since he retired from refereeing in 1998.

Recently, he stepped down from referees' administration with Leinster Council, and admitted to the Westmeath Examiner that he is "enjoying the break".

Furthermore, he would not be drawn on whether or not he will go forward for the Westmeath role when the county convention takes place in Brownstown next month.

"I was surprised to see it [the nomination], as I had pretty much retired from front line GAA work," said Casserly. "I hadn't given it a thought, but I will, and will get back to [county board secretary] James Savage with my decision over the next couple of days."

The former St Loman's chairman said that he was also surprised that a move against the incumbent chairman was afoot. "Sean is a good friend of mine, and as far as I could see he was doing a good job," he remarked.

"But it's a nice gesture to be nominated by my club, and I'll have a think about it over the next couple of days."

The forthcoming convention could also see the return to action of former chairman Tom Farrell - now a Fine Gael county councillor - who has been nominated for the Central Council position, which will be vacated by Seamus Ó Faoláin under the five-year rule.

The uncertainty hanging over the top table is hardly the ideal start to the reign of Tom Cribbin, who recently replaced Paul Bealin as senior football manager.

Cribbin has, however, pressed ahead with selecting his backroom team, with Kildare man John Doran confirmed as his strength and conditioning coach, and Portlaoise's Mark Kavanagh on board as a selector. Also, Mullingar motivational speaker and Ironman Gerry Duffy is expected to come on board in some capacity.

Former minor football manager Tom Carr, meanwhile, has joined the setup as manager of the U21 footballers.

Carr steered Westmeath to a Leinster MFC final last year, and his appointment gives Cribbin the opportunity to focus solely on the senior panel before the O'Byrne Cup kicks off in January.