Ger Brennan management team set to include Dean Rock and Denis Bastick

Dean Rock won eight All-Ireland senior titles and three All-Stars with Dublin. File picture: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

New Dublin manager Ger Brennan’s coaching ticket is set to include former team-mates Dean Rock and Denis Bastick.

Brennan was appointed to succeed Dessie Farrell last week on a three-year term. Dublin GAA announced the two-time All-Ireland winner last week with his backroom team to be confirmed in due course.

It is understood that is set to include former midfielder Denis Bastick, who retired in 2018. Bastick won five All-Ireland senior titles during his county career.

Ballymun Kickhams man Dean Rock retired after the 2023 campaign. He won eight All-Ireland senior titles and three All-Stars.

Brennan’s long-time advisor Professor Niall Moyna is also expected to be involved. Moyna was part of the Louth coaching team last year as Brennan steered them to their first Leinster crown in 68 years. The DCU Health and Human Performance man was part of the backroom team for the 2011 All-Ireland triumph.

Dublin’s appointment, as well as the confirmation of Andy Moran in Mayo and Paul Madden in Clare, means that the number of counties with vacancies now stands at four: Roscommon, Waterford, Antrim and Westmeath are still in the hunt.

Kevin O'Brien is the new Westmeath senior hurling manager. File picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Elsewhere, Kevin O’Brien was officially ratified as the new Westmeath senior hurling manager on Tuesday night at a County Committee meeting. O’Brien previously managed the county’s U20s and replaces Seoirse Bulfin, who stepped down in June after only one season in charge.

The new boss was handed a two-year term with the option of a third. Westmeath were relegated last season to Division 2 of the Allianz Hurling League and finished fourth in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Westmeath chairman Frank Mescall expressed his frustration at how the process was covered in the media. Several names were linked to the role in recent weeks.

“I Am really disappointed that the whole process seemed to play out on media - social media, newspapers. How it happens, I do not know. But almost everything we did was on social media. It is fine for the person who gets the job, they won’t mind. But you have other people involved who are not successful and you have to be respectful of them,” he said, as reported by the Westmeath Examiner.