A former Leinster and Munster senior hurling title winner has emerged as a candidate for the vacant position as Westmeath senior hurling manager.
BY SHANE STAPLETON
Ryan OโDwyer has emerged as a candidate for the vacant position as Westmeath senior hurling manager.
The Cashel King Cormacs native, who recently transferred home after spending several seasons with Kilmacud Crokes in Dublin, is vying for the job with Clonkill native Kevin OโBrien.
OโDwyer has coaching experience with Longwood of Meath and Fingallians in Dublin, and as a player won both Munster and Leinster senior hurling titles.
OโBrien led Clonkill to back-to-back Westmeath SHC titles in recent seasons, and also has experience with the countyโs Under-20 hurlers, as well as Offaly senior outfit Ballinamere.
โThere is nothing definite, no,โ says Westmeath chairman Frank Mescall. โWe are still looking and talking to people.
โYes, we would have talked to them alright,โ he adds of OโDwyer and OโBrien.
โThere would be other people as well that we are talking to. When exactly we will make the decision, I donโt know.
โItโs a work-in-progress. Naturally enough, we would be looking to get it done as soon as possible.
โIt has taken us a little longer than we thought, but itโs about getting the right person and getting the right management team in place.
โOur hurlers are ambitious and they want to go places so we have to try to do that for them.โ
Westmeath will play in the Leinster SHC for 2022 after beating Kerry in the Joe McDonagh final during the summer.
Manager Shane OโBrien stepped down at the end of the season after a successful two-year tenure, though his last game in charge was the delayed League relegation play-off defeat against Laois, which sees Westmeath drop to Division 2A in 2022.
The Lake County and Galway are the only remaining Liam MacCarthy teams who currently don’t have a manager in place for next season.
