Minor football: Kevlihan ratified as new Westmeath manager

Westmeath GAA’s county committee has appointed Eoghan Kevlihan as the Lake County’s new minor football manager.

The St Loman’s, Mullingar clubman and former Clonkill hurler succeeds Rosemount’s Vinny Cox in the role.

Niall O’Brien, Westmeath GAA coaching officer, proposed Kevlihan to delegates at last night’s county board meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel on behalf of minor committee Alan Leech.

The meeting heard that Kevlihan, who is a PE teacher at Westmeath football nursery St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, has extensive experience in working with underage development squads and brings a terrific CV to the table.

Frank Mescall, Westmeath GAA chairman, agreed that the incoming minor manager “has huge experience for such a relatively young man”.

Kevlihan, a native of Old Bawn, Tallaght, played hurling and football with the Thomas Davis club in Dublin for 22 years, representing his county at minor and U21 level.

He moved to Westmeath in 2006 and joined the St Loman’s and Clonkill clubs, winning county, provincial and All-Ireland club IHC medals with the Loughegar outfit in 2008 before hanging up his boots a few years later. He is also well known as a cyclist locally, and is a member of Mullingar cycling club Lakeside Wheelers.

Since retiring as a player, Kevlihan developed his talents as a coach and has been in charge of several underage and ladies’ football teams in Dublin and Westmeath.