Qualter steps down as Westmeath hurling boss

Christy Ring Cup champions Westmeath are on the lookout for a new manager after Seamus Qualter's decision to step down from the position he has held for more than two years.

Westmeath beat Kildare 2-15 to 0-13 on August 5 to win their second Christy Ring Cup during Qualter's reign, but the Galway native feels he has done all he can with the Lake county.

Between being a selector and manager, Qualter has been involved in the Westmeath set-up for the past four years. He took over as interim manager from Tom Ryan in May 2005, after Ryan quit when only 13 players turned up for a training session.

Qualter steered Westmeath to victory in the inaugural Christy Ring Cup but the following year, they were beaten by Dublin in a relegation play-off and lost their All-Ireland championship status.

But following a solid league campaign in 2007 - they reached a National League Division Two semi-final - Qualter's side mounted a determined challenge to annex their second Ring Cup title.

There were wins over Down, Mayo and Kerry and a draw with neighbours Meath in the group stages, they downed last year's beaten finalists Carlow in the last-four and Kildare were no match for them in the Croke Park decider.

The win earned Westmeath an invite to play in the 2008 Leinster championship but Qualter, a member of the Southern Gaels club in Athlone, will not be at the helm for next season.

The Westmeath County Board has thanked Qualter for the many years he has given to the county's senior hurling team, firstly as a player, then as a selector and finally, as team manager.