O Se gets back into harness

Páidí Ó Sé is expected to be named manager of Westmeath on October 20th. The county board chairman, Séamus Whelan, confirmed at the weekend he is the favoured candidate for the job.

"What I can confirm is that the football board chairman, Denis Coyne, has concluded a number of interviews. One such interview was with Páidí Ó Sé. The discussions with Páidí Ó Sé have developed in a very positive way," he said.

Although Whelan said that the position which has been vacant since Luke Dempsey resigned in August has not yet been filled, he did express an eagerness for a high-profile name to take over.

"There is a lot of excitement around regarding such an appointment," he said before cautiously adding: "However, all the i's are not yet dotted and the t's are not yet crossed. He is not the manager yet, the process is not yet finished."

Nevertheless, Whelan expressed satisfaction with the forthcoming appointment, which will put Ó Sé back into management just a week after his eight-year term at the Kerry helm officially ended.

"Páidí Ó Sé has a great reservoir of experience, what with winning two All-Irelands in his eight-year period with Kerry. He had a great success as a player and as a manager," he said.

The date for appointment was made at the Westmeath club championship final yesterday, between The Downs and Athlone. Ó Sé was not present as he was watching his local club An Ghaeltacht play Laune Rangers in the Kerry final.

The Wexford County Disciplinary Committee have handed down heavy penalties for the attacks on match official John Denton.

Following the violence at the end of the Duffry Rovers and Horeswood county senior football championship semi-final on September 27th, the Duffry Rovers club have been fined e2,500.

The Duffry Rovers captain, Tomás Kavanagh, has been handed a 96-week ban, which will keep him out of hurling and football until September, 2005.

JJ Doyle (Duffry Rovers) was banned for 48 weeks while the Fitzhenry brothers, Noel and Damian, were banned for 24 weeks and four weeks, respectively. A fifth Duffry Rovers player, Larry Doyle, received a 12-week ban.

The bans are effective from September 27th, the date of the game.

Paddy Tobin, a Duffry supporter, was banned for three years from attending all venues where games are played under the auspices of Wexford GAA Board, to take effect from the date of the disciplinary meeting, October 10th.