Olympic gold winner Carruth

NOT many people could ever have predicted that the name Michael Carruth would be connected with Westmeath football. But such a striking combination came true last week when new Westmeath manager Brendan Hackett announced the Olympic gold medallist as part of his new backroom team. Carruth, 42, was confirmed as the Lake County's new masseur at a meeting which was attended by over 70 players in Kinnegad last Wednesday night. The Walkinstown native admits leaving the boxing ring for the football field takes him somewhat out of his ;comfort zone' but Carruth is undaunted and really looking forward to getting stuck into the task ahead. Speaking to the 'Westmeath Independent' this week, Carruth said: "I'm very happy to come on board with Westmeath and really looking forward to a massive challenge." "I originally got to know Brendan (Hackett) in the early nineties and then through his work in boxing circles. A few years ago I undertook a holistic massage course under him and went on to study and receive honours in sports therapy and injury massage, again under Brendan's guidance. Brendan then phoned me a few weeks ago about the possibility of him taking up the Westmeath manager's position and asked if I would come on board as a sports therapist. I will have other areas to concentrate on too, and look forward to helping the players in areas such as strength and conditioning, and also in dealing with pre and post match massage," continued the Dubliner. "While I won't have any input on the tactical side of things and wouldn't profess to have the adequate knowledge to do so, I think I have a lot to offer in terms of helping players in a psychological sense. I feel I have something to offer in terms of motivating lads and getting their heads up." Carruth, who memorably won gold at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, played club football with Robert Emmets and St. Kevin's in Dublin and has links with Thomas Davis where William - one of his triplet brothers - is a coach. He also still coaches at Drimnagh Boxing Club where he looks after up to 100 boxers on a weekly basis. Carruth also hopes the Westmeath public back Brendan Hackett. "It's very important everyone sings from the same hymn sheet," said Carruth. "This has to apply to supporters but also the players. Nobody wants a repeat of what happened to Westmeath last year and we need to work together to ensure things improve. In my opinion, Brendan has assembled a backroom team with loads of experience in different sporting fields and also in the world of business. They all have good confidence levels and I think that will rub off on the team. All we can hope for is that the players are the best they can be ... that they give themselves every opportunity to be the best they can. There will be a great level of professionalism in the set-up and we want to instil a winning mentality in the players," he added. Carruth also said he has committed to the Westmeath cause for a two-year period. "When I get involved in something I give absolutely everything. I expect to really begin my work within the next couple of weeks and look forward to working in the Westmeath set-up," said Carruth. Explaining his reasons for calling on one of Ireland's all-time sporting greats, former Athletics Ireland chief executive, Hackett said: "I decided to bring Mick into the set-up to give him a chance to develop his career as a sports therapist. He's very keen to get involved in the team aspect of his work and this will give him plenty of experience of that. "He will be the team masseur, but he will also be in a position to contribute in other ways. "What he achieved in the boxing ring and in the Olympic Games is bound to be an inspiration to the Westmeath players. After all, he done it at the very top."