Clonkill's Paddy Dowdall has been named as Westmeath hurling captain for the coming year.

Dowdall, who won a SHC medal with the Loughegar-based club in October, takes over the role from Raharney's Brian Smyth, who was sensationally axed from the squad last month because new manager Brian Hanley doesn't believe it's feasible for him to be commuting back and forth from London - where he works as a teacher - for training and games.

The vice-captain will be Philip Gilsenan from Brownstown.

"We've chosen Paddy because of his obvious leadership qualities," Hanley said in the Westmeath Topic.

"He captained Clonkill to win an All-Ireland intermediate title in 2008, I've won All-Ireland club medals myself with Athenry and Peter Leahy (the hurling team's new physical trainer) managed the Westmeath ladies to an All-Ireland intermediate title this year, so we know what it takes to be successful."

Hanley revealed that three of Westmeath's most experienced players - Andrew Mitchell, John Shaw and Darren McCormack - have committed to the cause for another year, though McCormack could miss the start of the new season because of a knee cartilage problem. Tweet

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