LAST YEAR’S AIB All-Ireland club champions St Brigid’s have confirmed the transfer of former Westmeath footballer Paddy Mulvihill, although his former club Garrycastle have denied even receiving a transfer request.
Despite the Roscommon county board confirming the transfer, Garrycastle club secretary Harry Mooney claims he “has not received an official transfer request.”
Mulvihill has won six Westmeath senior championships and a Leinster title with his local club, as well as making numerous appearances for the Westmeath senior football team over the same period.
Interestingly in the Westmeath club’s run to the 2012 All-Ireland final, Mulvihill was pivotal in defeating their Athlone rivals St Brigid’s in that year’s semi-final.
Dessie Dolan snr took the reins this year after the dissapointment of club championship exits in the last two seasons, and it has been rumoured that the transfer is the result of a dispute between Mulvihill and the new manager.
While denying any transfer activity, Garrycastle have refused to comment on whether they expect the big full forward to appear for their club in the coming year.
St Brigid’s coach Liam McHale explained:
“As far as I know Paddy had signed and everything was gone through but we haven’t seen him to date.
“It was Paddy who made the initial contact. It’s not the club’s policy to go head hunting . But a player of that calibre, and I’ve seen him play on the tele a good few times, you’d be a fool to turn him down.”
Mulvihill will be a huge addition to a St Brigid’s team in pursuit of a fifth consecutive Roscommon senior championship. And Mulvihill may be in action in as soon as two weeks for the Roscommon club’s next league fixture.
“When he wants to go, and play here it‘s his own issue with his own club and it’s not our problem”, says McHale. “So we‘d be mad to say no and were looking forward to seeing him when he‘s ready.”
