Hurling manager O'Brien brings in Comer and Baker

Newly-appointed Westmeath senior hurling manager, Kevin O’Brien has assembled a top class backroom team as he bids to revive the county’s fortunes next year.

Galway’s Damien Coleman and former Clare All-Ireland winner Ollie Baker, will be part of the set-up, while former Clonkill and Westmeath forward Brendan Murtagh will work closely with the Lake County attack.

“Damien is a top class coach and worked with Portumna in Galway, and Cushendall, Antrim. He’s director of hurling in Galway and is a very experienced coach nationally. The forwards coach is Brendan Murtagh, and Ollie Baker is coming in as a performance coach. He will work one-on-one with players,” the new manager confirmed.

Niall Stack of Offaly will work as sports psychologist with the team. He was part of the Tullamore football side that won a hat-trick of senior titles. Darren Giles, Coralstown/Kinnegad, will focus on player wellbeing.

Alan Kenna, Raharney, will be pitch coordinator, which is a key role, and O’Brien is calling on all hurling clubs to give the county’s flagship team their full support in accessing facilities for training. Barry Whelan, Castletown Geoghegan, will be involved with stats.

O’Brien is fully aware that Westmeath are facing a big challenge to recover after a disappointing season that saw them relegated to the third tier in the league and one of the big targets will be promotion. O’Brien is also likely to target an improved run in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

“We are in transition, but there is a lot of quality there and I saw that when I worked as U20 manager. There is talent in the county and unfortunately they are not hurling with Westmeath, so we need to put that right,” he remarked.

“Already I have a list of around 53 players that I’m aware of, players who I have coached, and players who have played against Clonkill in club hurling. We will be working on that. There are players coming to the end of their careers, and they had great careers, and it’s up to them to decide on their future.

“Our work begins when the club championship is over - players from clubs who are out of the championship will be our immediate focus. Collectively as a group we will set our goals. The players are the most important people and that’s why we have such a strong level of support for them.”

O'Brien led Clonkill to senior glory as a club manager and has managed the county's U20 hurlers, while he gained great experience under the likes of Kilkenny's Michael Fennelly and Tipperary's Ken Hogan.

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