Garrycastle GAA appoints new senior football manager

Garrycastle GAA has appointed John Benton as manager of the club's senior football team.

The appointment of Benton, who will be assisted by Darren Owens, was confirmed at a meeting of the Garrycastle GAA executive committee last night (Tuesday). Both Benton and Owens have plenty of experience with various teams and they will also take charge of the Garrycastle second team.

Benton has experience of the Westmeath club scene, having guided Caulry to the Westmeath intermediate football title in 2019, the Mount Temple club producing an impressive display when defeating Milltownpass in the final.

A native of Dublin, Benton has been involved with a number of St Brigid's teams and he enjoyed Roscommon minor championship success with the Kiltoom club. He also served as a selector with the St Brigid's U-20 team (reaching the 2021 county final) and the club's senior team.

Garrycastle last lifted the Flanagan Cup with Gary Dolan and John Keane at the helm in 2019, defeating St Loman's Mullingar with a dramatic comeback in the final. The same two clubs contested the 2021 decider, which St Loman's eventually won in a replay which went to extra-time.

In 2022, Garrycastle (managed by John Donnellan) narrowly missed out on a place in the Westmeath SFC knockout stages. As a consequence, Garrycastle are set to compete in Section B of the championship next year alongside Athlone, Moate All Whites, Tang, Mullingar Shamrocks and intermediate champions Shandonagh.

Garrycastle's first team will again compete in Division 1 of the Westmeath ACFL in 2023, while their second team will play in Division 3, having secured promotion from Division 4 earlier this year. In the 2022 Westmeath Junior 1 FC, Garrycastle reached the semi-finals where they lost out to Bunbrosna.

Benton has said that himself and Owens are looking forward to the challenge of managing Garrycastle next year, describing it was a "great opportunity, with a great club".