Farrell to remain at Castledaly helm

REIGNING Westmeath senior football champions Castledaly received a further boost this week when Padraig Farrell confirmed his position as manager for another year. Earlier this year, the Tubber native guided Castledaly to a historic first ever Westmeath SFC title and although they later suffered a heavy defeat in their opening Leinster championship fixture to a strong Navan O"Mahony"s side, Farrell"s impact at Castledaly this year has been exceptional. It"s believed that various other Midlands clubs contacted Farrell in recent weeks but he has now confirmed his commitment to Castledaly. Speaking to the 'Westmeath Independent', Farrell said: 'I"m very happy to remain at Castledaly. I spoke to the players and they gave me their full commitment, that was very important for me. As champions, everyone will want to beat Castledaly next year and it"s very difficult to win back-to-back county titles, but that"s our ambition for 2009.' Farrell said all this year"s county title winning squad have confirmed an intent to play on, while there"s also a possibility of a return for Ken Larkin. JP Casey"s future is less clear though, with Farrell saying: 'JP had a hip operation recently and while we are very hopeful of him returning to the panel next year, it"s very difficult to judge at the moment.' Despite being Castledaly"s chief scorer in recent years, JP Casey cruelly missed this year"s county championship success because of injury. Meanwhile, Brendan Clarke has also been confirmed as Athlone senior team manager for next year. Clarke - the last manager to guide Athlone to senior county success in 1998 - took the reins midway through this year"s championship and is generally acknowledged to have steadied the ship somewhat. However, Athlone have become known as underachievers in recent years and it was no different in 2008. Despite excellent group wins over Castledaly and Mullingar Shamrocks, Athlone again fell some way short of qualifying for the knockout stages, finishing fifth in a six-team group with just four points from five outings. Brendan Clarke, who also brought senior county success to Athlone in 1988, is not deterred though. 'I hope we can turn things around in next year"s championship,' Clarke said. 'Athlone has some very good players coming along and we will set our stall out to qualify from the group stage. Athlone have underachieved in recent weeks, I would agree with that, but they"ve also been somewhat unlucky at times. We have a decent panel of players and will give it a go,' added the Ferbane native. Confirmation of Farrell and Clarke"s appointments come in the wake of news that Pat Flanagan has joined the Westmeath senior football team management structure and has severed his ties to Tyrrellspass. Flanagan, of course, guided Tyrrellspass to two county titles in recent years and a Leinster final appearance. The Clara native fills a void left in Tomás Ó Flatharta"s backroom staff by Eamonn Gallagher, who has taken over Westmeath"s senior huirlers, and joins Tang"s Paul Conway as Ó Flatharta"s selectors. Elsewhere on the local managerial scene, intermediate outfit Tubberclair have appointed Tom Lennon as their new manager. Malachy Buckley and Gerry Walker will act as selectors. Tubberclair, who boasts county stars Gary Connaughton and Fergal Wilson among their players, had an unblemished record in last year"s intermediate championship group phase, winning all five matches and topping their section ahead of eventual finalists Ballynacargy, before exiting the competition at the hands of Maryland in the semi-finals. Tubberclair were relegated to intermediate level in 2007 and will be hoping for a return to the senior grade as quickly as possible.