Westmeath hurling clubs have reacted angrily to reports that one of the county's most respected and longest-serving officials was asked to leave the dressing-room before the Lake County's Allianz League opener against Kerry in Tralee in February.

Westmeath hurling committee chairman Matty Conaty, who previously served as secretary of the recently wound-up Westmeath hurling board for 25 years, has since received an apology for the incident, but this didn't stop delegates from condemning the treatment of the Lough Lene Gaels clubman at a meeting last Monday night.

Castlepollard clubman and Leinster Council delegate Willie Murphy claimed Conaty "was hunted out of the dressing room like a dog," before adding: "For someone who has given such service, that's shocking treatment. The hurling committee has been pushed aside by the management this year. We're not allowed do anything."

Brownstown's Billy Foley blasted: "A man that has given 35 years' service to the county to be treated like that! It's outrageous carry-on. That kind of behaviour should never happen again."

Nollaig McEntaggart of St. Brigid's also expressed disgust at how the chairman was treated.

"That's an insult to your position and to you, personally. It's unbelievable that could happen," he remarked. Tweet

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