Ó Sé commits to a second year with Westmeath footballers

Speculation that Páidí Ó Sé would leave Westmeath after winning a Leinster senior title in his first year in charge has been dispelled - he has been reappointed for 2005.

And the Kerryman is almost certain to be rejoined by his successful management team of Tomás Ó Flatharta, Jacko Cooney and Paddy Collins.

There was talk of Ó Sé leaving Westmeath for another management job, possibly in Dublin, but Westmeath board chairman Séamus Whelan dismissed this as being "without foundation".

He said: "Páidí was appointed for a two-year period, and there was never any question of him not doing the second year. He is an honourable man and he was always going to fulfil the commitment.

"Páidí's second year was a formality that we ratified at a meeting of our county board on Wednesday night last. There was a very good mood at the meeting, with everyone very appreciative of all the work that was done to bring us our first Leinster senior football title.

"Many tributes were paid to the ordinary workers in clubs who paved the way over the years for a season like this to happen."

Not alone will Ó Sé and his management team take charge of the senior team for 2005; they are also likely to have a strong say in the under-21 management. Football board chairman Denis Coyne was instructed to talk to Ó Sé about possibly integrating the two grades for training and management purposes next season.

"My feeling is that the under-21 team should be a starting ground for players who want to get up to senior level," said Coyne.

"I imagine a lot of the under-21s would be anxious to come on board at senior level now that our profile has risen."

It is likely a member of the senior management team, perhaps Ó Flatharta, will be appointed under-21 manager.

The Westmeath team holiday, a reward for their 2004 exploits, is likely to take place in November, to South Africa. A meeting between team and management is expected to be convened during that trip to lay plans for 2005.

The Westmeath GAA Supporters' Club hold a race day in Kilbeggan on Friday next, but that is likely to be an informal occasion without any meeting between players and management.

Meanwhile, former Limerick hurling manager Tom Ryan is expected to be ratified as Westmeath hurling boss at a meeting of the hurling board on Monday night next.

All-Ireland senior football finalists Mayo are keeping their fingers crossed they will have their county senior championship completed in time for the Connacht club championship.

The county board have announced that all club championship matches are off until after the senior and under-21 teams are out of their All-Ireland championships.

The seniors are scheduled to play Kerry on September 26th, and if the under-21s beat Kildare this Sunday in Pearse Stadium, Galway, they will have a final outing on October 3rd.

The county senior championship has not yet reached quarter-final stage, but county PRO Kevin O'Toole yesterday said they hope to run off the championship over four consecutive weekends.

"The Connacht club championship is back a bit this year because of the International Rules and the Interprovincial Cup," he said.

If the under-21s are beaten this Sunday, the club championship will restart on the weekend of October 2nd and 3rd. If the under-21s are in the All-Ireland final, the club championship will restart on the weekend of October 9th and 10th.

A new rule forbids counties from nominating clubs for the provincial club championships if their own county championship is not completed.