Bealin ratified while Hanley is returned for hurling post

Paul Bealin was ratified as Westmeath’s new senior football manager at a county board meeting last night (Wednesday).

Brian Hanley was also returned as Westmeath senior hurling manager, having been given the backing of club delegates 24-8 in a vote. However, the Athenry native’s appointment brought about some level of indecision among delegates, as 19 of the 51 delegates abstained from voting in the process.

Bealin, a 1995 All-Ireland winning midfielder for Dublin, emerged as the choice of the selection sub-committee following the interview process. Club delegates in Mullingar last night (Wednesdy) voted 35-5 in favour of his appointment.

Bealin’s name was put forward for ratification by the five-man committee charged with recommending a manager for 2014.

Outgoing manager Pat Flanagan and the former Dublin star Jack Sheedy were the other candidates in the final stages of the process.

Bealin was player-manager of Ballyboden St Enda’s when they won the Dublin SFC title in 1995. He then managed Blessington in Wicklow before guiding Mullahoran to successive Cavan SFC final appearances against Cavan Gaels in 2004 and 2005.

Bealin has also managed the Wexford and Carlow football teams and is currently in charge of the Dublin club, Parnell’s.