Bulfin “totally committed” to Westmeath role says chairman
Westmeath GAA County Committee meeting
New Westmeath senior hurling manager, Seoirse Bulfin is totally committed to the role and totally driven towards improving Westmeath hurling, insisted County Committee Chairman Frank Mescall at an on-line meeting on Tuesday, July 23.
Bulfin was ratified as the new Westmeath senior manager but he faces an immediate battle to convince some hurling clubs he is the right man for the job.
Mr Bulfin has worked with Davy Fitzgerald in Clare, Waterford and Wexford, and served as senior manager with Meath before resigning in March ahead of the start of the Joe McDonagh Cup campaign.
Frank Mescall faced a barrage of questions from Lough Lene Gaels and Castlepollard, who voted against Bulfin’s appointment. However, the new manager was ratified following a vote (23-7).
The appointment is for a two-year term, to be reviewed after year one.
Fewer than half of the hurling clubs in Westmeath tuned in for the meeting and Lough Lene Gaels delegate Martin Williams strongly opposed the Limerick man for the role, saying he does not have the necessary inter county managerial experience despite a time with the Meath senior hurlers.
The new manager will have Clonkill’s David O’Reilly as his defensive coach, while Clare’s Fergal Lynch is the forwards coach and Michael Frawley, who worked with former Westmeath senior hurling manager Shane O’Brien, is the strength and conditioning coach.
Initially, a request from Martin Williams to know the names of the full backroom team was resisted, but Castlepollard’s Paddy McCabe insisted on the information being put before delegates.
Westmeath officials will work with the new manager to help complete his backroom team.
Martin Williams, who said he is involved in Meath hurling indicated he had reservations about the appointment, referring to the management of fringe players during Bulfin’s time in Meath. He said there is only a small pocket of hurling clubs in the county and said if they have concerns they will have to be addressed. Mr Williams wondered would Mr Bulfin be involved in other coaching roles while involved with Westmeath. Mr Williams said managing young players at U20 and minor will be key to the Westmeath role.
The chairman said an older cohort of Meath players were not in agreement with the standards Bulfin set as manager.
The chairman advised that Westmeath had spoken to two people in Meath before making their decision and they fully endorsed Bulfin.
He acknowledged that the Lough Lene Gaels delegate had raised a lot of questions, too many to respond to on the evening and invited him to put them in an email. He insisted that the new manager will have to give Westmeath his full attention.
Mr Williams called for the vote to be postponed until he spoke to his club executive, while Castlepollard's Paddy McCabe felt a vote should not be taken.
Marie Lynagh, Westmeath PRO, felt Mr Williams ought to have got the views of his club before the meeting, but the delegate said he only learned earlier in the day of Bulfin’s proposed appointment. The chairman felt a decision had to be made on the night, otherwise there was every chance Bulfin would be lost.
“He has a full management team and it includes video analysis and a performance coach. He has to give the Westmeath job his full attention,” said the chairman. There will be a focus on bringing through young players, he insisted.
Paddy McCabe said, “So it's a done deal?” The chairman rejected this, however. "It is not a done deal, but if you don't go with it, where do we go from here? I contacted the other three people who were not successful on Saturday and informed them. Would they be happy to come back again? I doubt it. Would you go back if you were in their shoes?" he remarked.
Tuesday’s meeting showed a poor representation of Westmeath hurling clubs, an issue raised by Paddy McCabe.
He pointed out that only Brownstown, Lough Lene Gaels, Delvin, Castlepollard and Fr Dalton’s were on the call. Although not confirmed, Crookedwood's name also showed on the screen.
Leading hurling clubs like Raharney and Castletown Geoghegan were not represented which is an obvious blow to the process and Paddy McCabe specifically pointed to the poor attendance.
“I just want that recorded,” he added.
The chairman stressed that all clubs had been notified of the meeting and he said football clubs had to be respected when it came to the vote.
“They have been involved with this too, they know what’s going on here and I would respect their views also,” he remarked.
Mr Williams felt a lack of inter county managerial experience was a concern and while the new manager has an impressive record, having worked alongside Davy Fitzgerald in Clare, Waterford and Wexford, his time in Meath left reservations.
"There's a big difference between coaching players and managing a team," he remarked, acknowledging that Bulfin is an exceptional coach.
Mr Mescall urged hurling clubs not to have “preconceived notions” and to row in behind the new manager.
“It’s not an ideal start, I am not naive, but he will be a brilliant appointment if we give him a chance,” he remarked.
He said the new manager will meet with hurling clubs, if necessary, to hear their views.
“He is a very impressive guy and will demand high standards,” added Mr Mescall, stressing the new manager comes highly qualified and is a lecturer in the area of integrating younger and more experienced players.
"It's unfortunate, the Meath thing, but before that he had huge achievements. He is totally driven and totally committed."
The chairman thanked all seven candidates who applied for the Westmeath position and said four people were interviewed. Due to a conflict of interest with one candidate from his club, the County Secretary Brendan Shaw stepped away from the selection committee and the chairman acknowledged this.
Mr Mescall said four excellent presentations were given and from those, Bulfin was the choice of the sub-committee which included Willie Murphy, Pat Reilly and former hurler Derek McNicholas.
Seoirse Bulfin is a long-time coaching partner of Clare legend Davy Fitzgerald and played at many grades for Limerick over the years.
He has been involved with Clare, Wexford, Limerick IT, and Sixmilebridge and is currently manager of Charleville, Cork.
He was part of the All-Ireland winning Clare management team in 2013. In recent years, Bulfin worked with Meath and enjoyed a couple of successful years, leading the Royals to league (Div 2B) and Christy Ring Cup success. He stepped down earlier this year, but is now set to take over from Wexford's Joe Fortune, who led Westmeath to top flight hurling during his tenure, playing some of the biggest counties in Ireland in Division 1.
Bruff native Bulfin has worked closely with Fitzgerald between 2008 and 2011. He was with Fitzgerald in Clare (2011 - ’16) and Wexford (2016 - ’21.
The new Westmeath boss was part of the Model County's management team when they captured the Leinster title in 2019. There was an opportunity for the Limerick man to work with Fitzgerald at Waterford second time round but that was an opportunity he turned down.
Fitzgibbon Cup honours with Limerick IT came in 2005 and '07.
Bulfin, a GAA Development Officer, replaces Wexford's Joe Fortune, who made a big impression during his time in Westmeath.
U20 football fixtures error
Maryland’s Kevin Dolan complained about the U20 fixtures being changed as parents were initially informed of a free week only to discover a round of fixtures are now on.
Fixtures Secretary Keith Quinn explained that round three had been sent to clubs in error, hence the reason.
The chairman apologised for the error and said there was nothing sinister involved.
Junior 2 Football Championship re-jigged
Westmeath were forced to re-jig the Junior 2 Football Championship after two clubs, Killucan and The Downs, withdrew. Injuries and insufficient player numbers were the main reasons, Fixtures Secretary Keith Quinn informed delegates.
It left six teams and the CCC are now planning for five group games, with two semi-finals. The will need to secure a deviation from Croke Park, but it should be just routine.
Enda Kelly of Castledaly asked for an explanation as to why clubs had withdrawn. Delvin’s Michael Kelly was critical. “It’s disappointing we are learning about this so late in the day; the first round has been played,” he remarked.
Mr Kelly accepted the format had to be changed. Paddy McCabe of Castlepollard supported the proposal to change the format; Bunbrosna’s JP Reynolds seconded the proposal. Frank Mescall described the situation as regrettable and said clubs should make definite decisions regarding their ability to field teams in January when competitions are being set up.
Smoke and vape free TEG Cusack Park
It was confirmed at last week’s County Committee meeting that TEG Cusack Park is now completely smoke free and vape free.
PRO Marie Lynagh advised clubs that signs are being erected in the stadium to inform members of the public. The chairman said it’s important Westmeath GAA recognises the health problems associated with both and with passive smoking and vaping. TEG Cusack Park will only be following in the footsteps of other clubs grounds in the county and it’s the appropriate thing to do considering they are promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Des Cawley, Cultural Officer, felt it’s a positive move.
It was proposed by Peter O’Halloran, Garrycastle and seconded by Karen Cunningham, Athlone. Martin Williams wondered if it will be difficult to police and the chairman said there seems to be a good level of cooperation in other grounds.
Westmeath PRO Marie Lynagh urged all clubs to submit correct team lists for patrons going to games at different venues. Clubs were asked to be prompt in supplying the detail and not to do so late on Friday evenings as this causes problems. The chairman said it adds to everyone’s enjoyment if accurate information is supplied in good time.