O'Rourke to take charge of Fermanagh

Managerial MovesOne of the last managerial posts for next year has been filled with the appointment of Malachy O'Rourke as Fermanagh's new county football manager. O'Rourke takes over from Charlie Mulgrew, who stepped down at the end of this summer's championship campaign, but for now his main concern will be with the Cavan Gaels club, whom he recently managed to the Cavan county title.

Cavan Gaels are out again this Sunday in the preliminary round of the Ulster championship, when they face Donegal's St Eunan's at Breffni Park, and O'Rourke will remain committed to the club as long as they remain in that competition.

A former Fermanagh county player, O'Rourke has considerable experience at club level, in charge of the Loup team that captured Derry and Ulster club honours in 2003, while more recently winning county championships with Errigal Ciarán in Tyrone and now Cavan Gaels. He's been given a three-year term.

Kerry, meanwhile, are finally set to reappoint Pat O'Shea as their senior football manager at the next county board meeting, scheduled for November 12th.

O'Shea was initially handed a one-year term in order to assess his ability to combine the role along with his job as games officer with the Munster Council, but having already outlined his desire to continue for another year, O'Shea's reappointment should now prove a formality.

The Kerry county football final will take place the day before, November 11th, when Feale Rangers will meet the winners of this Sunday's replay between Mid-Kerry and South-Kerry.

Kerry's representatives in the Munster championship, however, is already decided as Kilcummin, the last non-divisional team to progress to the semi-final stage, and they will next play on the same day, November 11th, when they meet Clare champions Lissycasey in the Munster quarter-final.

Still playing a key role for Kilcummin is Kerry's former All-Ireland winning defender Mike McCarthy.

Defeated All-Ireland finalists Cork are still no closer to confirming their senior manager for next year, with some uncertainty still surrounding the intentions of Billy Morgan.

It is understood he intends appealing the recent 24-week ban handed down for verbal abuse of a sideline official in the All-Ireland final, but the county board won't be making any progress on the matter until after the conclusion of the county football final, set for Sunday week.

Morgan's term officially ended with defeat to Kerry in the final, but in the meantime the county board voted to introduce a new selection process, establishing a special sub-committee to appoint the new manager.

The committee will also appoint four senior selectors, which up to know had been the choice of the manager.

In other managerial news, former Armagh football trainer John McCloskey is set to join the backroom team of the Derry footballers, and will next year work with manager Paddy Crozier and his backroom team of Bernie Henry, Peter Doherty and Martin Heaney.

McCloskey had been part of Joe Kernan's Armagh management team from their All-Ireland season of 2002 up until this past summer.

GAA Fixtures

TOMORROW

Dublin SFC semi-finals: St Jude's v St Brigid's, Parnell Park, 6.45; St Vincent's v Kilmacud Crokes, Parnell Park, 8.15.

SATURDAY

Interprovincial semi-finals: SH: Ulster v Connacht, Ballybofey, 6.0; SF: Ulster v Connacht, Ballybofey, 7.45.

SUNDAY

Tipperary SHC final: Loughmore-Castleiney v Drom-Inch, Thurles, 3.30.

Galway SHC final: Kinvara v Portumna, Pearse Stadium, 3.30.

Monaghan SFC final: Clontibret v Castleblayney, Clones, 3.30.

Offaly SHC final: Kilcormac-Killoughey v Birr, Birr, 3.30.

Meath SFC final: Seneschalstown v Navan O'Mahonys, Navan, 3.45.

Clare SHC final: Tulla v Crusheen, Cusack Park, 3.30.

Derry SFC final replay: Glenullin v Bellaghy, Celtic Park, 3.0.

Carlow SFC final replay: Pallatine v Éire Óg, Dr Cullen Park, 3.45.

Wexford SHC final: Oulart-the-Ballagh v Buffers Alley, Wexford Park, 3.45.

Westmeath SFC final: Mullingar Shamrocks v Tyrellspass, Mullingar, 3.45.

Kildare SHC final: Confey v Coill Dubh, Newbridge, 3.30.

Waterford SHC semi-final: Ballygunner v Lismore, Dungarvan, 3.30.

Kilkenny SHC semi-final replay: Fenians v St Martin's, Nowlan Park, 4.0.

Kerry SFC semi-final replay: Mid-Kerry v South Kerry, Killarney, 3.0.

Dublin SHC semi-finals: O'Tooles v St Vincent's, Parnell Park, 2.30; Ballyboden St Enda's v Lucan, Parnell Park, 4.0.

Ulster Club SFC preliminary round: Cavan Gaels (Cavan) v St Eunan's (Donegal), Breffni Park, 3.0.

Ulster Club SHC semi-final replay: Ballycran v Dunloy, Casement Park, 3.0.