Divided loyalties as Hanley eyes an upset

YOU could call Westmeath manager Brian Hanley a high flyer these days. A few weeks ago, having overseen the exploits of Liam Mellows in the Galway SHC in the morning, he was flown by helicopter to Dr Cullen Park in Carlow where Westmeath were taking on the home side in the Leinster championship.

Victories in both games made it all worthwhile. But the surprise win in the second game set up a meeting against his native Galway in the Leinster quarter-final. Thankfully though, there’s no high jinks on this occasion.

“The Galway county board really helped me out before Carlow, fixed the Liam Mellows game for early in the morning which allowed me to get in both games,” he said.