O'Brien departs as hurling boss
BREAKING
Departing Westmeath senior hurling manager, Kevin O’Brien has rejected suggestions that he was struggling to get players to commit for the 2027 season.
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, he confirmed that he and his management team were working with a panel of 33 players for next year, 17 of whom tested. The remaining players are tied up with clubs who are involved in the Leinster club campaigns.
“Any suggestion that Westmeath is struggling to get a panel is unfair,” he insisted.
O’Brien, whose departure was confirmed by Westmeath GAA this afternoon, is bitterly disappointed that the current situation has come to pass and admitted he is hurting.
“I’m a Westmeath man and I have given my heart and soul to this. I have plans in place, Abbotstown has been booked, I only want the best for hurling in the county. But I have been thrown under the bus here. People have set about undermining me at every turn and they have succeeded,” he said.
O’Brien was critical of social media platforms where untruths were written and spoken, all of which he feels has been an effort to derail the current management.
Westmeath GAA are facing something of a crisis following the latest development with the senior hurling side.
O’Brien was facing a challenge to turn things around after a disappointing 2026 campaign. There was also concern that no Westmeath selector was part of the senior management. Westmeath GAA had announced coaches, Adrian Clancy (Offaly), Shane Keegan (Laois), Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny), Niall Stack (Offaly) and Ollie Baker. Strength and Conditioning was to be led by Caoimhin O'Brien (Offaly) with Rory Fleming (Kildare).
Brennan's recent announcement was seen as a positive move.
O'Brien, who led Clonkill Clonkill to senior success, previously managed the county's U20 hurlers, but has served just one year in charge of the Westmeath senior side, enduring difficult league and Joe McDonagh Cup campaigns.
Westmeath GAA has confirmed they will now begin the process of appointing a new senior hurling manager.
News of O’Brien’s departure also means that a new panel will now be put in place for the new seasons and players who had fallen out of favour with the former manager may now come back into the reckoning.
O’Brien was ratified at the recent Westmeath GAA County Committee meeting and since then, it was announced that Kilkenny’s Eddie Brennan would be joining the backroom team as a coach.
Former Clare hurler, Ollie Baker, was part of O’Brien’s backroom team in 2026 and it was recently confirmed that Offaly’s Kevin O’Brien had been secured as strength and conditioning coach. It’s not known whether Brennan would be interested in the now vacant manager’s position, but it is unlikely given the county’s challenges regarding training facilities.
The statement from Westmeath GAA reads as follows:
"Westmeath GAA confirms that Kevin O’Brien’s tenure as senior hurling manager has come to a close.
"We thank Kevin for his commitment and contribution to Westmeath hurling and the senior hurling team in 2026 and wish him every success in the future.
"Westmeath GAA will now commence the search for a new senior hurling manager for 2027. Ends."
Westmeath defeated London in this year's Joe McDonagh Cup, but lost to Carlow, Laois, Antrim and Down. They had Division 2 league wins over London, Meath, Derry and Mayo.