Exile Glennon set to return for Westmeath

EXILED Westmeath star Denis Glennon is expected to rejoin the county football squad next week.

The Tyrrellspass player quit the squad after the second round of this year’s NFL but following the appointment of interim manager Pat Flanagan last week, Glennon has indicated a willingness to return to the panel after this weekend’s club championship action.

Flanagan is still attempting to entice former All-stars Dessie Dolan and John Keane back to the fold, but key defender Derek Heavin looks unlikely to make a comeback.

“Of course we’re very interested in getting those lads back who stepped away from it,” said new Westmeath selector Paul Conway.

“Denis Glennon has indicated a desire to come back immediately and I know Pat is working on one or two other things. There’s not a county in the country who wouldn’t want the likes of Dessie Dolan, John Keane and Derek Heavin involved, but their individual situations are all very different and we’ll just have to wait and see what materialises over the coming weeks.”

Meanwhile, Ballyduff Lower are set to concede a walkover to Mount Sion in tomorrow night’s Waterford SHC group game in Walsh Park due to a lack of available players. Their squad has been severely depleted from last year due to emigration and injuries. Two players have recently emigrated to England, one to Australia and Pat Fitzgerald has transferred back to his home club Modeligo.

A spokesman for the club insisted they are not withdrawing from the championship and plan to fulfil their next group fixture against Tallow in June.

“Our decision to concede a walkover to Mount Sion hasn’t been taken either lightly or easily, and everyone in our club is deeply disappointed.

“However I want to stress as forcibly as I can that we have not withdrawn completely from the championship race, and we will do everything we possibly can to fulfil our next group fixture against Tallow which will be sometime in June.”