Search begins for new Westmeath hurling boss
Westmeath GAA will hold a crisis meeting with the hurling clubs of the county on Monday to determine the next steps after Kevin O’Brien’s term as senior hurling manager came to an abrupt end on Thursday.
It is understood that the 15 hurling clubs will play a central role in the process to appoint a new manager. It is believed players will also meet and those who were not considered for this year’s panel will no longer be ruled out.
When contacted today, Westmeath GAA chairman Paddy Wallace was not in a position to discuss the situation.
There are major challenges in finding a new manager at this belated stage. Johnny Greville is the obvious choice internally, but he is in charge of Raharney and recently guided them to the senior hurling final in his first year back. Greville is highly regarded and with Westmeath now facing a challenge to unite the hurling clubs, his time may have come. Many believe he should have already got the nod at this stage.
Adrian Moran, who managed the Westmeath U21s to that famous win over Kilkenny ten years ago, is another potential candidate, while Castletown Geoghegan manager Alan Mangan could also feature on the shortlist.
Castlepollard’s Darren McCormack was Moran’s assistant manager when Westmeath toppled Kilkenny in TEG Cusack Park on that famous night in 2016.
Eddie Brennan was recently announced as part of the O’Brien coaching team, but aside from that there is no obvious outside candidate at this stage. Former Offaly minor All-Ireland winning manager Leo O’Connor, who was strongly linked to the position in 2025, may come into the reckoning again.
O’Brien insisted his task was made impossible and said players who were dropped from the panel began undermining his position. "It is very obvious what has happened here," he remarked.
O'Brien was in charge for just one season and he insisted there was a panel of 33 players in place ahead of next season, 17 of whom recently attended for testing.
Prior to O’Brien, Seoirse Bulfin resigned after just one season in charge, having replaced Joe Fortune. The new Westmeath senior hurling manager will be the fourth in as many years and it will be an obvious challenge to turn the situation around.
However, the general consensus among the hurling fraternity is that there are players available who can help Westmeath be more competitive in the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2027 after they recorded just one victory (against London) in the Tier 2 championship this year.