Westmeath appoint new ladies football manager

Westmeath LGFA has announced that Clíodhna O’Connor has been ratified as manager of the county’s senior football ladies team.

O’Connor’s appointment was confirmed at a Westmeath LGFA meeting last night (Tuesday), and the former Dublin goalkeeper succeeds Frank Browne in the role.

A member of the Naomh Mearnóg club in Portmarnock, O'Connor has previously been involved with the Westmeath ladies as a coach.

O’Connor was Dublin’s goalkeeper when they won the 2010 LGFA All-Ireland Senior Championship and she has served as a selector with the Dubs after her playing career came to an end. She has also worked for the Ladies Gaelic Football Association at national level.

In addition to her involvement in Gaelic football, O'Connor has extensive experience in other sports, having served as lead athlete development coach with the Irish hockey team, as well as being involved with the Dublin hurlers.

Joining O’Connor in the Westmeath backroom team are Pat Geraghty (Loughnavalley), Paul Ahearne (Mullingar Shamrocks), Yvonne O’Brien (Knockbride, Cavan) and Conor Hanley (St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh, Dublin).

Westmeath were knocked out of the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship at the semi-final stage for the last two years, losing out to neighbours Roscommon this year and to Tyrone in 2025 (in agonising fashion after extra-time).

In both of those years, the team which defeated Westmeath went on to lift the Mary Quinn Cup - which shows how close the Lake County ladies are to making a breakthrough. Westmeath also won the Leinster intermediate title in 2026 and 2025.

And with several talented players coming through at underage level, Westmeath will be hoping to make a strong bid for success next year.

"We welcome Clíodhna and her team and wish them every success," Westmeath LGFA posted online.