WESTMEATH FOOTBALLERS HAVE suffered a huge blow ahead of the new season following the news that John Heslin has decided to step away from the panel to focus on his college commitments.
Heslin, who was the team captain for the 2018 season, has informed the new manager Jack Cooney that he is concentrating on his PhD studies at the moment.
“I can appreciate that it takes a massive amount of time and dedication to complete a PhD and nobody is going to put on any additional pressure on John given the circumstances,” Cooney told The Westmeath Independent.
Heslin could make a return to the squad after he has completed his PhD and Cooney says that the St Loman’s star is welcome to come back “if things change for him.”
Meanwhile, Westmeath will also be without the services of Ray Connellan in 2019, as he is set to return to Australia after his time with AFL side St Kilda came to an end earlier this year.
The42 understands that Connellan played a few matches with his club Athlone after his contract finished up with St Kilda, and is hoping to return to Australia in the new year.
Connellan spent the past two seasons with the Melbourne-based club, having joined them when he signed a two-year contract in July 2016. However, the club opted not to hand him a new contract.
He previously lined out for St Kilda’s affiliate club Sandringham in the Victorian Football League, along with making his first-team debut in February in the pre-season AFLX tournament.
“It’s only natural that he wants to return to Australia to pursue his career,” Cooney told the Westmeath Independent.
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Best of luck hon tipp
Well done Tipp – great man for a demanding role and sure to get results with his dynamic approach – best of luck Colm
Wait a second… these are fake hands!
@bob hope: brilliant
@bob hope: brilliant
By god we have fairly gone downhill in a couple of weeks…. All Ireland pretenders and now a Joe McDonagh team in situ… and our crop of brilliant hurling giants being coached by a team who failed to win the Joe McDonagh two years in a row. Tipperary hurling at a low ebb when we have to go to Kildare for a coach.
@Jim Hickey: They haven’t even played a game under him yet
@Jim Hickey: you’re clearly a close and long term fan of all things Tipperary hurling. Or did you just learn about the game 2 minutes ago?
@Jim Hickey: Kildare? Thought he was a Tipp man!
Brilliant appointment for Tipp. He will do a savage job for them.
A person who has won it all at every level
@Philip McLoughlin: an impressive CV alright in fairness to him.
What a disaster of an appointment.
Tipp could have a few barren years ahead
@Niall Lee: tube