Westmeath and Roscommon GAA seek new sponsors

There is growing speculation that a new flagship sponsor of the Westmeath senior football and hurling teams could be unveiled this weekend. The issue of sponsorship will be among the main items discussed at this Saturday's 2011 Westmeath GAA convention, which takes place at Rosemount Community Centre. The annual Westmeath GAA accounts show that the county board is to write off some €80,000 in outstanding sponsorship debts. Notes to Westmeath GAA's accounts state that "it is not considered likely that this sponsorship will be received", and that it will be "written off" this year. Falling gate receipts is also likely to provoke debate on Saturday night - the annual accounts reveal that income from gate receipts has fallen by in excess of €50,000 from 2010 figures. The accounts - which will be presented by treasurer Denis Coyne to club delegates on Saturday night - show that while a gate income of €182,260 was recorded in 2010, income at the turnstiles has fallen to a low of €131,722. The convention - the penultimate annual meeting to be presided over by the current county board - will be preceded at Cusack Park on Thursday night by the football and hurling board AGMs. Among the main items of interest at the convention will be the contest between Sean Sheridan (Tyrrellspass) and Des Maguire (Mullingar Shamrocks), for the position of vice-chairman of the county board, which is being vacated by Liam Davitt. Notable motions tabled by clubs prior to the convention include one by Bunbrosna calling for inter-county footballers to be made available to clubs "for at least three rounds of the league", while Lough Lene Gaels will propose that no club fixtures of any code be fixed on All-Ireland senior final days. Clonkill - in a motion that is bound to stir up some controversy - has proposed that the county's senior hurling championship be confined to the top six teams who finished this year's competition. The Clonkill delegates will call for the SHC to be played on a league basis, with the top four qualifying for the semi-final, and the bottom team relegated. Saturday's convention kicks off at 7pm in Rosemount, preceded by Mass at 6pm. County Board chairman Farrell will make his penultimate address in the Westmeath hot seat, before he steps down after his five year tenure ends in 2012. He is expected to brief delegates on forthcoming upgrades to Cusack Park. Meanwhile, Roscommon GAA is on the look-out for a new sponsor after Sierra Support Services Group informed the county board that they will not be continuing their sponsorship of the senior and junior football teams for the 2012 season. A Roscommon County Board statement said: "The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank Sierra for their contribution to football in the county. Their association with Roscommon began with the sponsorship of the minor team in 2004 and in 2009 they became sponsors of the senior and junior football Teams. "The success achieved by all three teams in capturing an All-Ireland Minor Championship and Connacht titles at Minor, Junior and Senior levels during those periods would not have been possible without the support of Sierra. The board has now begun the search for a suitable sponsor to succeed the group."