Leahy and McHalein Westmeath row

Peter Leahy and Liam McHale have become embroiled in a war of words, with McHale denying he agreed to be part of the proposed backroom team to take charge of the Westmeath footballers.

Leahy was the preferred choice of county board officials to succeed Paul Bealin in the Lake County hot seat — but delegates shot down his candidacy on a vote of 24-19 at Wednesday night’s meeting.

When proposed by Westmeath chairman Sean Sheridan, delegates were informed that former Mayo footballer Liam McHale would be part of Leahy’s management team.