Old stamping ground finds Paidi all aglow

Beads of sweat glistened on the most famous brow in Kerry (and Westmeath) as Páidí ushered his gallery through.

Camera lights shone through the steam and warmth of the dressing-room. If Páidí was surprised by the size of his audience, he did not show it. Yesterday in Croke Park, he danced as he never danced after his new team earned a brave and narrow win. It was significant because it eased the pressure of his latest managerial venture but more so because it struck up another date with the Ventry man's eternal destiny: Dublin. In a fortnight, Páidí gets to show his boys the Croke Park he knows. He is back in the big time and it was only natural the television lights should follow.

"Ah look it, I am absolutely pleased because in fairness I was under my share of pressure up there," he said softly.

"We were trying to get to know the players and the best way to do that was to play games. So we took the O'Byrne Cup seriously and then in the league it backfired. But it was a great leveller because it showed the supporters that it is down to players. You can take a horse to water but you can't make them drink it. But today Westmeath played and I explained to them that if they dished out the stuff they had been up to now, they would not be in the championship this evening. They had to find something else in the belly. And they certainly found that."

It was a novel sensation for the maroon supporters, celebrating at the end of a Croke Park thriller. Maybe that is what happens when you brush against a man with ten All-Irelands to his credit.

"Well Offally will probably kick themselves because they kicked erratically at the end and could have equalised," reckoned Ó Sé. "But I suppose today for a change Westmeath deserved the win and I don't think anyone will begrudge it because they have come to Croke Park on a good few occasions and had games in the bag and ended up second best."

It is put to him that Dublin will represent a sterner test. "Ah, that will be a massive step up, especially here in Croke Park. Sure Dublin are shortlisted as a team going for the third Sunday in September."

Across the corridor, Gerry Fahy stopped to consider his day. It could have been so different.

"We are bitterly disappointed. But we have to accept that we didn't play well enough to win the game and Westmeath have been a good while waiting for this day to come.

"Everyone tried their best and there are days when things don't go well. It's too raw and open just at the moment to go talking about why. We will come back and we have vowed we will leave no stone unturned in trying to make further progress."