Cooney joins committee to find new football manager

Former Westmeath football supremo Jack Cooney has been drafted on to the selection committee to find a new senior football manager.

Clubs met remotely on Wednesday evening to decide on a sub-committee which will interview candidates for the vacant position. County Committee Chairman and Secretary, Frank Mescall and Brendan Shaw, will be joined by Football Committee Chairman Michael Mannion.

Jack Cooney, who managed Westmeath only two seasons ago, leading them to Tailteann Cup glory, has been added to the small committee which is now charged with a hugely significant task.

There are a number of candidates in line for the Westmeath position from both inside and outside the county. Cooney's knowledge of the scene and his experience is a major boost to the process for which no time scale has been agreed.

In what is a definite blow to the process, players of the calibre of David Lynch, Andy McCormack and James Dolan (who retired after this year’s championship) will not be available to the new manager. Lynch, a versatile player with vast experience, has departed for Australia and McCormack, who played at midfield this year, is to relocate to the Middle East for work.

Leading forward John Heslin has not confirmed whether he intends to remain on and said he will wait until he has finished club commitments with defending champions St Loman’s Mullingar before making a final decision. Kieran Martin and Jamie Gonoud are other vastly experienced players whose inter county careers are coming to an end.

Frank Mescall paid tribute to Dessie Dolan, who stood down due to the level of commitment involved. He said Dolan demanded very high standards from the players, who responded superbly and that he was a gentleman to deal with during his two years as manager.

“He has stepped down, mainly because the commitment levels are very onerous; he feels three years is enough for him at this time,” said the chairman.

“He spent a year as a selector with Jack Cooney (when Westmeath won the Tailteann Cup in 2022) and two years as manager. He was easy to deal with, like his hurling counterpart, a gentleman; very professional. He sought very high standards from his players; he had high demands, and they responded. I am saddened to see Dessie Dolan go, but I understand where is coming from.

“He had a good team behind him - it’s impossible to do it on your own. We are losing the majority of them and I thank them for their commitment also.”

The chairman set out the standard process involved and the sub-committee was ratified on the proposition of Peter O’Halloran (Garrycastle), seconded by Des Cawley (Bunbrosna).

“That committee will get working almost immediately and we will not be back to you until we have a name to put to you,” said Mr Mescall.