Ó'Sé climbs into Westmeath hot seat

Westmeath officially ratified Páidí Ó Sé as their new manager for a two-year term last night.

The process was completed without objection as the football board chairman, Denis Coyne, presented the candidate to the county delegates.

The official announcement was scheduled for next Monday in Mullingar, but the county board accelerated deliberations due to Ó Sé's expected appearance on Eamon Dunphy's talk show this Friday.

"He is a very high-profile appointment and hopefully it will work," said Coyne. "It will take the first four or five games to see how it is developing, but this would have been the case even if Luke Dempsey was still in the role."

Dempsey's reign as manager ended in acrimonious circumstances when he refused to re-interview for the position. Yet any flack the county board may have received over his departure all but disintegrated with the appointment of Ó Sé.

Some delegates did express concern regarding the expenses that would incur from such an appointment, but county board chairman Séamus Whelan was adamant that this would not be an issue.

"Our players are looking forward to his arrival," said Whelan. "It has spread a great enthusiasm throughout the county. The response has been 95 per cent positive. The 5 per cent is natural."

It is a move into uncharted territory for everyone involved, as Ó Sé has never taken over the reigns of a team outside the Kingdom. However, his success as a manager cannot be overlooked.

While still a player he managed West Kerry to back-to-back county championships in 1984-85. Then, in his eight years as the senior Kerry football manager he won two All-Irelands and six Munster titles.

Westmeath officials may have observed that the early years of his tenure were the most successful. In his first year, 1996, he led the under-21s to an All-Ireland title. The following year he produced a rare National League and All-Ireland double that ended an 11-year wait for Sam Maguire in Kerry.

Ó Sé is to spend a few days in Westmeath after Monday's press conference. He will be selecting his own management team, all expected to be from the county, although, there will be scope for outside assistance.

Sources revealed that Ó Sé has suggested bringing in two former Irish rugby internationals, Mick Doyle and Mick Galwey, both Kerry natives, to play a role.

Doyle was Irish national coach during the 1980s, when he led Ireland to their last Triple Crown success in 1985, while Galwey is not alien to Gaelic games as he won an All-Ireland medal with Kerry, alongside Ó Sé, in 1986.

Elsewhere, the meeting of the Clare County Board regarding the appointment of a new hurling manager has been put back to next Wednesday.

Duffry Rovers GAA club have lodged an appeal to the Leinster Council against the €2,500 fine and two suspensions handed down following their Wexford senior football championship semi-final clash with Horeswood.

They were fined as a result of incidents at the end of the game when referee John Denton was assaulted. Two players, Tomás Kavanagh, who received a 96-week ban, and JJ Doyle, a 24-week ban, have also appealed their suspensions.

Noel Fitzhenry, Larry Doyle and Wexford hurling goalkeeper Damian Fitzhenry have decided not to appeal their bans. A date for the hearing is yet to be confirmed.

This year's Hurling/Shinty International will take place in Fort William, Scotland, on Saturday, October 25th. In an attempt to promote hurling in weaker counties team selections have been confined to players from developing counties.