Cunningham linked to Westmeath post as board meeting looms
As Westmeath GAA prepares for a meeting to discuss the managerial vacancy caused by Jack Cooney's departure, Anthony Cunningham has emerged as one of the high profile names linked with the post.
The hugely respected Cooney stepped down as Westmeath manager in order to take up a full-time role with the GAA as National Player Development Lead. And the Westmeath County Board is expected to appoint a designated sub-committee to seek a new manager at its meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel tonight (Thursday).
Cunningham stepped down as Roscommon manager in early August after four seasons in charge, and now speculation has linked him with the vacancy in neighbouring Westmeath.
Many Westmeath supporters would favour the notion of Cunningham's experience at the helm, alongside members of this year's management team which included former stars Dessie Dolan, John Keane and Cathal Mullin.
This would ensure continuity with the management team which steered Westmeath to Tailteann Cup success in July.
And the fact that Dolan was a key player for Garrycastle during Cunningham's highly successful spell in charge of the club has led to speculation that they could link up together again with Westmeath.
Whether Cunningham would be interested in the Westmeath job remains to be seen, but his successful track record means he is likely to prompt interest among Westmeath GAA officials.
Cunningham led Roscommon to Connacht championship glory in 2019, when the Rossies defeated his native Galway in the final.
During his time in charge, Anthony also led Roscommon to two Allianz Football League Division 2 titles. The first was in 2020 and again this year (narrowly defeating subsequent 2022 All-Ireland finalists Galway in the league final), with promotion ensuring that Roscommon will be playing Division 1 football in 2023.
Galway reversed that league final result when the teams met in this year's Connacht final. Clare then eliminated Roscommon from the All-Ireland championship by launching a dramatic late rally in their qualifier clash.
Cunningham lives in the Kiltoom area, close to Athlone, and enjoyed managerial success with both St Brigid's and Garrycastle, leading them to senior title wins in Roscommon and Westmeath respectively.
The former Galway hurler guided Garrycastle to the Leinster senior club crown in 2011 and, ironically, his team went on to claim a famous win over St Brigid's in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final. Garrycastle then lost out to Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh in the All-Ireland final (after a replay).
Cunningham also managed Galway's hurlers to Leinster success and to All-Ireland senior final appearances on two occasions, 2012 (losing out after a replay) and 2015.
As a player, Cunningham won two All-Ireland senior hurling medals with Galway (1987 and 1988). He works in Athlone in Technological University of the Shannon (formerly Athlone Institute of Technology).