Jack Cooney given extension as Westmeath football manager

Jack Cooney's role as Westmeath senior football manager has been extended until at least the end of 2023.

The Coralstown/Kinnegad club man had been given an extension as manager for another two years, with the option of a third.

"It is great to have such a proud Westmeath man at the helm!" said the county board's official Twitter account in a post about Cooney's extension in the role this evening.

The decision was ratified last night (Thursday) at a meeting of Westmeath GAA’s county committee, with football committee chairman Des Maguire (Mullingar Shamrocks) proposing, and Aiden McGuire (The Downs) seconding.

The chairman said Cooney "did brilliant work over the last three years," and the county’s football fraternity was "looking forward to great things" in the coming years.

Cooney's side narrowly missed out on a spot in the Leinster SFC final in July, losing by a two-point margin to Kildare after comprehensively overcoming Laois in the previous round.

Despite some highly competitive performances, Westmeath failed to secure a win in Division Two of the National League this year and were relegated.

Also this week, the former Ballyboden St Enda's manager, Wexford's Joe Fortune, was ratified as Westmeath's new senior hurling manager, replacing Shane O'Brien.