Few changes as GAA look to the New Year

There will be very few charges in the hierarchy of Westmeath GAA as a new year beckons. Due to the five year rule, both the Football Board and the Hurling Board will see some changes but essentially the County Board will retain the status quo when the Conventions take place later this week.At time of going to press the administrative end of Westmeath GAA is set to tackle the wintry elements at a time when all playing activity has been suspended. Fixture which failed to materialise last week-end, have not been rescheduled for this coming week-end and now are unlikely to be fulfilled before the New Year.Early this week, there were doubts about the staging of the Football and Hurling Conventions, both of which were listed for the same night, tonight, Wednesday in Cusack Park and both will go ahead, despite the best efforts of the elements to call a halt to proceedings.Likewise the County Convention is expected to proceed on Saturday next, December 11 in the Community Centre in Mount Temple at 7pm. It is the first time that the Caulry club has had the honour to host this most important night in the administrative calendar of Westmeath GAA.All of the outgoing officers within the County Board have been returned unopposed but both the Football and Hurling Boards will see some changes of personnel. The Chairman of the Football Board, Mullingar Shamrocks clubman, Des Maguire is stepping down and Liam Gavin from St. Marys is the only nominee for the positiion. Mr. Maguire has been nominated for the post of Vice-Chairman, as have Seamus Browne from Maryland, Ken Eades, St. Lomans and Terry O'Dowd, Mullingar Shamrocks. It is understood that both Seamus Browne and Ken Eades have indicated they are unlikely to contest the positions. Both of the outgoing Secretaries, Tommy Glennon on the football end and Mattie Conaty, the hurling dynamo, will relinquish their posts.Mr. Glennon, from the Tyrrellspass club is unopposed for the position of Assistant Secretary with Gerry Coyne from the Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall club expected to fill his former post. Mr. Glennon's club colleague, Joe Daly has also been nominated for the post but indications early this week were that he would not be going forward, due to his commitments to the county football team.Clonkill's Vincent Kenny has been nominated for the role of Hurling Board Secretary while, in a reversal of roles, his predecessor has been nominated for the position of Treasurer, where he faces a contest with intercounty hurler, John Shaw, from the Raharney club.