Coffey takes Athlone reins as Hanamy joins Offaly panel

Former Rhode manager Tom Coffey has been appointed as the new boss of the Athlone GAA senior football team. The recruitment of Coffey will be viewed as a significant coup for Athlone as the Ballyfore native had a highly successful spell as Rhode manager. He guided the club to two Offaly senior titles and two Leinster final appearances (2008 and 2010), both of which they lost to a strong Kilmacud Crokes outfit. Coffey played at wing-back on the last Offaly team to lift the Leinster senior football title in 1997, and he has managed the Faithful County's U21 team. He previously served as Offaly senior football manager on an interim basis for a short spell in 2009, after Richie Connor resigned from the post. Indeed, Coffey was the front-runner for the Offaly post last year but he withdrew from the process due to the length of time it was taking the Offaly County Board to make an appointment. Athlone GAA chairman Paul Connellan was a member of the club's sub-committee which was established to appoint a manager. He said the club is "delighted" to be appointing a manger of Coffey's calibre and track record. "We're delighted that Tom has agreed to come on board," Connellan said. "When Offaly were in the throes of appointing a manager last year, I was following developments with interest, and I was pleased when Tom opted out of that process so that he became available to talk about the Athlone job. We were anxious to get the best man and, in my view, Tom is the best man available." Last year, Athlone had to win a relegation play-off against neighbours Tubberclair in order to secure senior status for 2012. With Coffey now at the helm, they will be aiming to at least qualify for the knockout stages this year. Elsewhere, Offaly hurling legend Brian Whelahan has been appointed as manager of Galway side Kiltormer for the coming season. The much-decorated Birr clubman - the only player from the modern era to be named on the Hurling Team of the Millennium - will be hoping to revive the east Galway club's fortunes as they seek a return to their former glories. Meanwhile, Kilmacud Crokes clubman Brian Hanamy has been included in the Offaly football panel for the Bord na Móna O'Byrne Cup. Hanamy qualifies for the Faithful County under the parentage rule (his father Ken is a native of Ferbane and he is related to legendary Offaly hurler Martin Hanamy) and will follow in the footsteps of former Dublin minor player John Coughlan, who lined out for Offaly in 2011. Absentees from Offaly's first squad of 2012 include Niall McNamee (who is expected to return for the league), John Reynolds, Walsh Island's Brian Connor, Clara's Thomas Deehan, Scott Brady and Joe Quinn, as well as the retired Ciaran McManus and Karol Slattery. Bernard Allen (Tubber), David Egan (St Brigid's), John Maloney (Tullamore), Sean Pender (Edenderry) and Anton Sullivan (Rhode) are all unavailable for the O'Byrne Cup because of commitments with college teams. Clara's Kevin Meehan has been selected in goal for Offaly's O'Byrne Cup opener against Westmeath on Sunday (O'Connor Park, 2pm).Meehan, who has been out of the inter-county scene since 2007, is named in Gerry Cooney's new-look side, while last year's goalkeeper Alan Mulhall is named at full-forward. Edenderry's Dowling Cup winning captain Richie Dalton partners Clara's Ross Brady at midfield. Kilcormac/Killoughey's Daniel Currams, who has concentrated on hurling in recent years, is included among the substitutes. Offaly (SF v Westmeath) Kevin Meehan; James Gallagher, Paul McConway, Sean Pender; James Keane, Brian Darby, Lorcan Hiney; Richie Dalton, Ross Brady; Graham Guilfoyle, Nigel Dunne, Aidan Keenaghan; Willie Mulhall, Alan Mulhall, Ken Casey. Offaly panel for O'Byrne Cup Ross Brady (Clara), Michael Brazil (Tullamore), Ken Casey (St Brigid's), Daniel Currams (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Richie Dalton (Edenderry), Fergal Daly (Ballycumber), Brian Darby (Rhode), Niall Darby (Rhode), Nigel Dunne (St Sylvester's), Ian Duffy (Walsh Island), James Gallagher (Walsh Island), Graham Guilfoyle (Clara), Brian Hanamy (Kilmacud Crokes), David Hanlon (Edenderry), Lorcan Hiney (Clara), James Keane (Tullamore), Aidan Keenaghan (Ferbane), Kevin Lynam (Erin Rovers), Kevin Meehan (Clara), Alan Mulhall (Walsh Island), Willie Mulhall (Walsh Island), Paul McConway (Tullamore), Niall Smith (Gracefield) and Ger Treacy (Cappincur). Bord na Móna O'Byrne Cup Fixtures Sunday 8th January (All games 2pm) Páirc Tailteann: Meath v Wexford, Paul Kneel (Louth). Baltinglass: Wicklow v DCU, Fergal Barry (Kildare). Leo Casey Park, Ballymahon: Longford v Athlone IT, Fergal Smyth (Offaly). Newbridge: Kildare v DIT, Joe Curley (Meath). Tullamore: Offaly v Westmeath, John Hickey (Carlow). Carlow: Carlow v Dublin, Anthony Nolan (Wicklow). Crettyard: Laois v UCD, Niall Ward (Westmeath).