All-Ireland medallist Glennon opts for new shade of maroon

Former Galway hurler and All-Ireland SHC medallist Davy Glennon has declared for Westmeath, but whether or not he will be available for the Lake County’s Joe McDonagh Cup campaign is unclear.

The Mullagh clubman, who was omitted from the Galway panel earlier this year, qualifies to hurl with Westmeath through the parental rule. He is also involved in a business in the Athlone area.

The midfielder (29) was part of the Galway panel which won the 2017 All-Ireland SHC, and while he may not play this year, he will certainly be eligible for Westmeath at the start of the 2021 Allianz National Hurling League campaign.

“The opportunity to play for Westmeath was there through my mother,” Glennon told John Fogarty of the Irish Examiner yesterday. “I still have a lot of hurling in me and inter-county is obviously the highest level you can play.

“When I met Shane O’Brien and the Westmeath management, I was massively impressed by their professionalism, ambitions, and expertise. I have attended some of the training and club matches and the talent within the county squad is really impressive and there is huge potential there.”

The necessary documents for Glennon’s transfer are being considered by Croke Park at the moment, and a decision on his availability is imminent.

Pending further measures to alleviate the Covid-19 situation, Shane O’Brien’s Westmeath charges are down to play Antrim in their Joe McDonagh Cup opener on October 25, and there is already a Galway flavour to the Lake County setup.

Recently, O’Brien added Noel Larkin – who trained Portumna to All-Ireland Club SHC success in 2014, and also served as a selector with Galway manager Micheál Donoghue (2017) – to his backroom team.