Mahon returns to Moate as Cunningham takes Garrycastle reins

THREE local Gaelic football managerial posts in Westmeath have been filled this week. After much speculation linking Anthony Cunningham with the Garrycastle post in recent weeks, the former St Brigid"s manager has been officially installed for the coming year. Elsewhere, Moate All-Whites have concluded their search for Mossie Collins" replacement by reappointing former manager Eamonn Mahon, while near neighbours Rosemount have appointed Offaly native Gary Daly as their new manager. Speaking about the appointment of Anthony Cunningham, Garrycastle chairman Bernard Brannigan said: 'We are delighted to have Anthony on board for the coming year and feel his appointment is the correct one for the club. We thank Martin McCabe for his valuable contribution to the club over recent years and now welcome Anthony Cunningham aboard. 'We had been speaking with Anthony for a number of weeks and are delighted to finalise his appointment. Anthony had a great record with St Brigid"s in South Roscommon and that was obviously taken into consideration. Anthony is very committed to the job ahead and the club looks forward to working alongside him in the coming year.' Garrycastle were pipped to the Westmeath Senior Football Championship by neighbours Castledaly earlier this year and Cunningham - who led St Brigid"s to two county titles and a first ever Connacht crown - will be hoping to reinvigorate his new charges for another tilt at county success when they resume full team training in February. Cunningham, who resides in South Roscommon, is a former Galway hurling player and had been linked to a role in the Galway hurling management set-up, before John McIntyre took that particular post. Meanwhile, Moate All-Whites secretary Joe Whelan this week welcomed Eamonn Mahon back to the club. The Shannonbridge native previously managed Moate before departing for Padraig Pearses a couple of years ago. Mahon came within a whisker of guiding Padraig Pearses to a first ever Roscommon SFC title in 2008, before eventually losing by a single point to Castlerea St Kevin"s after a replay. Joe Whelan said: 'Everyone associated with Moate All-Whites are delighted to welcome Eamonn Mahon back to the club. Eamonn had two years, two good years, at Padraig Pearses, but it"s great to have him back at the club and hopefully things will go very well in the coming year.' Despite winning eight senior football county titles in the past - the last of which arrived in 1997 - Moate All-Whites have struggled in recent years and are now operating at intermediate level. During the last two intermediate championship campaigns, the All-Whites missed out on qualification to the knockout phase only on scoring difference. Mahon"s decision to rejoin Moate leaves means Padraig Pearses are now searching for a new manager, with an appointment expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Gary Daly from Cloghan, Co Offaly, has taken up the managerial reins at Rosemount. Daly won an All-Ireland under-21 medal with Offaly in 1998, when he lined out at wing-forward on the victorious team. In common with Moate All-Whites, Rosemount will be striving to make a better impact on the intermediate championship in 2009. The black and amber side only avoided a drop to the junior ranks by winning a play-off against Caulry at the end of the 2008 campaign. Meanwhile, South Roscommon club St Dominic"s have confirmed that Malachy Gately will continue as manager for 2009 following a recent meeting of the club. St Dominic"s will operate at intermediate level in 2009, having been relegated following a play-off against Strokestown which had to be played three times. Frank Golden and John Touhy will be Gately"s selectors for the coming year.