Dillon takes minor football reins

The new Westmeath minor football manager is Mick Dillon from the Milltown club. He was formally ratified at a meeting of the County Committee in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Tuesday.

Former Westmeath goalkeeper Cathal Mullin (Garrycastle) is part of Dillon’s backroom team. It also includes Alan Mullen (Rosemount), Paddy Marsh (Castledaly) and Jason Daly (St Loman’s, Mullingar).

Dillon served as a selector under Westmeath senior football manager Dessie Dolan in 2023 and ‘24, while he was also involved in the backroom teams previously, gaining plenty of experience. He has been involved in coaching with his underage club Millmore Gaels for many years.

Westmeath enjoyed an improved run in the Leinster minor football championship last year. They lost to Meath and Kildare, 0-22 to 1-13, but bounced back with a victory over Longford in Kinnegad (3-15 to 2-9). They overcame Carlow, 2-12 to 2-9, to set up a quarter-final showdown with Louth in Haggardstown, with the Wee County fending off a spirited fight back from the visitors to win by four points in the end, 3-16 to 3-12.

While they enjoyed an improved run, Westmeath have changed the manager and, after just one season in charge, David Geoghegan of St Loman’s, Mullingar has been relieved of his duties.

Westmeath Coiste na nÓg held interviews for the position this year as last year’s appointment was just for one year. New Coiste na nÓg chairman, Paddy Wallace, said it is hoped to hold a review at the end of the year rather than changing the management team every year.

“We will be looking at the possibility of extending it. Unfortunately, last year, it was just for a one-year term,” he said.