Roscommon appoint Qualter as new hurling manager

Roscommon GAA have appointed Seamus Qualter as their new senior hurling manager.

Having been ratified as manager, Qualter will be assisted by Daithí Hand (coach) and Peter Galvin (selector). Hand is a former Sligo hurling manager and Galvin was part of his management team with Sligo.

It will be Qualter's second spell in charge of Roscommon as he managed the county's senior and U-21 teams from 2010 to 2013.

Qualter was in charge of the Roscommon team which won the All-Ireland U-21 ‘B’ hurling title in 2012, defeating Kildare in the final at Semple Stadium. In 2013, the Roscommon seniors reached the Nicky Rackard Cup final, losing out to Donegal.

Qualter succeeds Francis O'Halloran who stepped down recently in the aftermath of Roscommon's disappointing defeat to Louth in Division 3A of the Allianz Hurling League.

The new manager's first game in charge will be against Fermanangh in Derrylin this Sunday (2pm).

Roscommon GAA Hurling chairperson Christy McDermott has welcomed the appointment of Qualter, and expressed hope that the new management team will "get the support of the players and Roscommon clubs".

Seamus is from a well known hurling family in Turloughmore and his late father P.J. played for Galway for more than a decade. After moving to the Athlone area, Seamus played for Southern Gaels.

Qualter is also a former Westmeath senior hurling manager and he led the Lake County to Christy Ring Cup success on two occasions (2005 and 2007).

In 2005, Westmeath defeated Down in the inaugural Christy Ring Cup final, in what was a thrilling encounter at Croke Park. At that time, the Ring Cup was the second tier hurling championship before the Joe McDonagh Cup came into existence.

In 2006, Qualter guided Westmeath to a notable Leinster SHC victory over Dublin in extremely wet conditions at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise. This set up a Leinster semi-final clash with Kilkenny which drew a large crowd to Cusack Park.

In more recent years Seamus managed Athleague when they won the Roscommon senior hurling title in 2018.

Qualter's son Danny is a current Buccaneers rugby player, having played for Connacht in the past, and he also represented Ireland at U-20 level. Danny played hurling for Southern Gaels at underage level and subsequently played football for Clann na nGael and the Roscommon minor team.