Mangan hits out over McKinley’s departure as U20 manager

Kenny McKinley’s time as Westmeath under-20 football manager recently came to an end in what is considered a shock move. And this year's U20 hurling manager Jody Murray has also been relieved of his duties.

There is speculation linking this year’s All-Ireland Hogan Cup winning management team with Coláiste Mhuire, Dean McNicholas, Brian Murtagh and Matthew Kearney, with the football vacancy. It remains to be seen if current senior boss Mark McHugh will have any of his management team involved, though it would make sense from the point of view of developing players for senior level.

Emmet McDonnell and Jamie Gonoud are both part of McHugh’s backroom team and played important roles during the successful Leinster senior football campaign.

Former senior coach John Keane is another potential candidate.

One man who has ruled himself out of contention is 2004 Leinster medallist Alan Mangan, who is currently in charge of the Castletown Geoghegan senior hurlers and worked closely with McKinley this year.

“I couldn’t consider going in after the way it was handled and having been involved with Kenny. The phone call he received wasn’t nice,” remarked Mangan, speaking on the Iarmhí Abu podcast.

“Kenny has done a really good job and was all set to go back in this year.”

Mangan feels an experienced manager is needed for the U20 side.

“It has to be someone with experience - someone who has managed at a very high level. And they have to be able to link in with Mark McHugh. I would love to have seen Kenny remain on and bring in the likes of Dean McNicholas, Brian Murtagh and Matthew Kearney after their success (Coláiste Mhuire),” he observed.

Mangan feels Westmeath made progress at U20 level this year.

“Louth, Dublin and Wexford - they got out of that group, which was labelled the group of death. They would have beaten Kildare on that wet evening in Kinnegad. They had a gale force wind in the second half, but a Kildare player suffered a serious injury and the game was abandoned. If Westmeath reached the Leinster final, there would have been no conversation about this,” he remarked.

“They played Wexford away on a Wednesday evening, not an easy place to go to, and won,” he noted.

“I was involved with Kenny McKinley in a very minor role and I know he is unbelievably disappointed with what has happened, with the way it was handled,” he added.

Regarding the U20 hurling, there is speculation linking former Longford manager Adrian Moran (Ringtown) with the role, but nothing has yet been confirmed. Senior hurling manager, Kevin O’Brien, may have a role for some of his backroom team in the set-up.