Westmeath chairman staying put amid minor hurling controversy

The Westmeath hurlers run out at TEG Cusack Park. ©INPHO/Brian Reilly-Troy.

Westmeath GAA chairman Paddy Wallace has denied reports that he has stepped down.

Rumours were rife in the Lake County last weekend that Wallace had resigned, but the Multyfarnham clubman confirmed to the Westmeath Examiner that he is still in situ. The rumours would appear to have stemmed from the fallout arising from the surprise departure of minor hurling manager Ger Beehan and his backroom team.

The Kilkenny native, along with selectors Pat O’Brien, Seamus Ennis, Greg Gavin, Fintan Clarke and Martin Geary, oversaw Westmeath’s most successful Leinster MHC in years which yielded wins over Dublin, Laois and Offaly. However, things turned sour amid reports that the management received no reply from the county board to a request for extra support pertaining to S&C, recovery, nutrition and training facilities for the coming season.

Meanwhile, it’s understood that senior selectors Jamie Gonoud and Emmet McDonnell will be part of a new-look Westmeath U20 football management for 2027 following the recent departure of Kenny McKinley as manager. The appointments of most – if not all – Westmeath managers for the coming year are expected to be ratified at tonight’s county board meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel.