Quinn takes trainer role in Flanagan's Westmeath set-up

Clara football star Joe Quinn is set to join the Westmeath backroom team as physical trainer for next season. Quinn, who runs the sports conditioning business Aspire in Clara, has played at full-back at senior level for Offaly. In his new role, he will link up with fellow Clara man and Westmeath football manager Pat Flanagan. In 2009, Quinn recovered from a life-threatening illness - his heart stopped beating for 15 minutes after being suddenly struck down by illness in May of that year. And after Clara won the Offaly senior championship in 2009, then team manager Pat Flanagan dedicated the success to Quinn, recalling how the defensive ace had been "fighting for his life" earlier in the year. Thankfully, the Clara man made a full recovery from his illness and he played in the 2010 and 2011 Offaly senior football finals, in which Clara were narrowly defeated by Rhode and Edenderry respectively. Quinn has previously been a fitness advisor to the Leinster rugby team, and Aspire has hosted a number of high-profile teams for training weekends, including the Tipperary senior hurlers. Westmeath Football Board chairman Liam Gavin said he was "delighted" that Quinn has agreed to join the county's set-up for 2012. Gavin said that Quinn has indicated that he will not be part of the Offaly county panel for next season, so that will be able to concentrate on his role with Westmeath. Westmeath endured a very disappointing championship campaign this year and the fitness levels of the team came in for criticism at subsequent county board meetings. Meanwhile, Offaly will begin their 2012 Allianz Football League Division 3 campaign with an away clash against fellow midlanders Longford on Sunday, February 5. This will be followed by a home game against neighbours Roscommon, while a long trip north to face Antrim awaits currently managerless Offaly in round 3. Wexford - who handed out a heavy defeat to Offaly in the 2011 Leinster championship - provide the opposition in round 4. An away tie against Cavan is next on the list, while Offaly's penultimate round game is at home to Sligo. A trip to Tipperary completes Offaly's seven game programme. Offaly narrowly missed out on promotion from Division 3 earlier this year. In hurling, Offaly start their Division 1B campaign with a midlands derby with Laois, who are under new management in the shape of former Cork star Teddy McCarthy. Offaly's other games in Division 1B are against Wexford (away), Antrim (home), Limerick (away) and Clare (home). The last of the scheduled games will see new Offaly manager Ollie Baker in opposition to his native Clare, now under Baker's former Banner team-mate Davy Fitzgerald. At present, the fixtures are in draft form as venues have yet to be confirmed, but the provisional list has been revealed. 2012 Allianz Football League Division 3 Offaly's Fixtures Round 1: Longford v Offaly (Sunday, February 5). Round 2: Offaly v Roscommon (Sunday, February 12). Round 3: Antrim v Offaly (Saturday, March 3). Round 4: Offaly v Wexford (Sunday, March 11). Round 5: Cavan v Offaly (Sunday, March 18). Round 6: Offaly v Sligo (Sunday, March 25). Round 7: Tipperary v Offaly (Sunday, April 8). 2012 Allianz Hurling League Division 1B Offaly's Fixtures Round 1: Offaly v Laois (Sunday, February 26). Round 2: Wexford v Offaly (Sunday, March 11). Round 3: Offaly v Antrim (Sunday, March 18). Round 4: Limerick v Offaly (Saturday, March 24). Round 5: Offaly v Clare (Sunday, April 1).