Dempsey resigns as Westmeath manager

Luke Dempsey has stepped down as manager of Westmeath after the county football board delegates voted to reinterview for the position. He felt this situation was effectively "a vote of no confidence".

Dempsey has nine years of intercounty involvement, three as senior manager. He led Westmeath to minor and under-21 All-Ireland titles.

"I feel a bit let down that they wish to reinterview me after nine years. They should know the efforts and commitment I have given and recognise the level of success I have brought," said Dempsey.

Despite winning the National League Division Two title this year the championship campaign was a disaster after failure to overcome Meath in the Leinster quarter-final, a game that will be remembered for Dessie Dolan's missed free in the last minute. Meath beat them in a replay and their season came to an end with defeat to Monaghan in the qualifiers.

In the aftermath the players voiced their dissatisfaction with the management but Dempsey met an eight-player representative body to iron out their grievances.

"I had an excellent two-and-half hour meeting with the players and went away to put a system in place for the new year. They were very pleased and their unrest was nipped in the bud. Throughout I kept the football board informed of all movement."

His management team of Jack Cooney and Ollie Keating had already resigned, for personal reasons, so part of the new system Dempsey agreed with the players was to bring in a coach. However, two weeks ago the county delegates decided to reopen the post for interview.

"I did not merit what went on at that meeting. If logic prevailed I would have been given another year as the team was developing nicely."

Dempsey intends to stay in management and hopes to continue with the Leinster Railway Cup team this year.

Cork under-21 football manager Tony Davis has kept senior hurling players Setanta Ó hAilpín and John Gardiner in reserve for the Munster semi-final against Waterford tonight at Walsh Park.

"It was out of concern for the players really," said selector Anthony Cashman "They both came a through a hard game last Sunday and they are only young lads with a lot of pressure on them."

Both lined out for their club, Na Piarsaigh, in the county championship victory over Dohenys at the weekend.

Another problem for the football management team is - if they overcome Waterford - the duo will possibly be unavailable for the final, against Kerry on August 3rd, as this match precedes the All-Ireland hurling final by 11 days. The county board may seek to postpone the final but with the All-Ireland under-21 semi-final against Dublin scheduled for September 20th it may not be feasible.

At least they can call upon senior footballers Niall O'Donovan and Conrad Murphy. Cork are tipped to progress with 11 of the 2000 All-Ireland-winning minor line-up in the side.

Meanwhile, Limerick referee Pat O'Connor will take charge of the All-Ireland hurling final on September 14th, the GAA announced yesterday. O'Connor, a native of Ahane, has previous experience of Cork-Kilkenny finals, having refereed the two sides in 1999, and he was in the middle again in 2001 when Tipperary beat Galway.

He has refereed provincial finals, National League finals, club finals and senior championship games since 1993, including this year's Munster final between Cork and Waterford.

The minor All-Ireland hurling final referee will be Diarmuid Kirwan (Offaly) while Michael Wadding (Waterford) will referee the All-Ireland under-21 hurling final between Kilkenny and Galway in Thurles on September 21st.

The GAA have announced that Sunday's football semi-final between Armagh and Donegal is heading for a sell-out. A limited number of tickets will go on sale from the ticket office at the rear of the Cusack Stand in Croke Park today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets will also go on sale from Parnell Park from 9.30 a.m.

CORK (Under-21 F v Waterford): K Murphy; M Prout, N O'Donovan, R McCarthy; B O'Regan, E Burke, P Nealon; M Kelleher, K Murphy; SP O'Connor, C Murphy, G McLoughlin; J Masters, D Barron, C Brosnan. Subs: O O'Brien, B Crowley, S Marshall, N O'Leary, D O'Hare, P Deane, J Gardiner, M Cussen, S Ó hAilpín.

WATERFORD (Under-21 F v Cork): D Hickey; M Crotty, G Hayes, J O'Reilly; N Hennessy, E Rockett, J Hurney; S Dempsey, M Walsh; T Power, M Power, T Whelan; L Ó Lionnain, S Walsh, B Harty.