O'Connor and Greville in frame for Westmeath hurling vacancy
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Leo O’Connor managed the Offaly minor hurlers to All-Ireland success and was a leading candidate for the Westmeath vacancy in 2025. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILEImage 2 of 3
Adrian Moran managed Westmeath U21 hurlers in 2016 and later managed Longford senior hurlers. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile Matt Browne / SPORTSFILEImage 3 of 3
Johnny Greville served as a Westmeath coach and selector in the past and went on to manage Meath at senior level. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILEWestmeath GAA held crisis meetings with the hurling clubs of the county on Monday night to determine the next steps after Kevin O’Brien’s term as senior hurling manager came to an abrupt end on Thursday.
It is understood that the 15 hurling clubs will play a central role in the process to appoint a new manager. Players have also met on the same evening and those who were not considered for this year’s panel will no longer be ruled out.
There are major challenges in finding a new manager at this belated stage, but it is understood Westmeath have already identified prospective candidates and are keen to make a quick appointment.
Johnny Greville is the obvious choice internally, but he is in charge of Raharney and recently guided them to the senior hurling final in his first year back.
Greville is highly regarded and with Westmeath now facing a challenge to unite the hurling clubs, his time may have come. Many believe he should have already got the nod at this stage. He managed Westmeath at minor level and was a coach/selector under Joe Fortune before going on to manage Meath senior hurlers.
Adrian Moran, who managed the Westmeath U21s to that famous win over Kilkenny ten years ago, is another potential candidate. He has served as Longford senior hurling manager and is very familiar with young, emerging hurlers as he works as a coach with Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar, who have made great progress in recent years. Castletown Geoghegan manager Alan Mangan could also feature on the shortlist.
Castlepollard’s Darren McCormack was Moran’s assistant manager when Westmeath toppled Kilkenny in TEG Cusack Park on that famous night in 2016.
Eddie Brennan was recently announced as part of the O’Brien coaching team. The eight-time All-Ireland winner, who was part of Derek Lyng’s management team in Kilkenny this year, signed up to the Westmeath ticket last month.
Aside from those options there’s no obvious outside candidate at this stage. Former Offaly U20 All-Ireland winning manager (2024) Leo O’Connor, who was a leading contender for the vacancy in 2025, may come into the reckoning. He previously led Offaly to the All-Ireland minor final in 2022.
O’Brien insisted his task was made impossible and said players dropped from the panel began undermining his position. “It is very obvious what has happened here,” he remarked.
O'Brien was in charge for just one season and he insisted there was a panel of 33 players in place ahead of next season, 17 of whom recently attended for testing.
Prior to O’Brien, Seoirse Bulfin resigned after just one season in charge, having replaced Joe Fortune. The new Westmeath senior hurling manager will be the fourth in as many years.
However, the general consensus among the hurling fraternity is that there are players available who can help Westmeath be more competitive in the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2027 after they recorded just one victory (against London) in the Tier 2 championship this year.