GAA Digest:Páidí Ó Sé has made a sensational return to inter-county management, reports Seán Moran. It was confirmed last night the former Kerry and Westmeath manager had been appointed manager of the Clare senior footballers.
According to county PRO Des Crowe, the approach to Ó Sé was made as recently as the last few days after the joint-management duo of Michael Brennan and Donie Buckley had broken up because of Brennan's appointment to a new job, ironically in Tralee.
"He wasn't contacted until the middle of last week and he agreed to a meeting on Friday night. A delegation of county officers went down to Ventry for what was a very positive meeting and although Páidí didn't make a decision, they left quite hopeful he would give the position positive consideration.
"He confirmed today to the Clare county board that he would accept the post, but so far there are no further details on his back-room team, but the appointment runs from now."
It is believed the delegation that spoke to Ó Sé included Tom Downes, the county's Central Council delegate and football liaison officer,and county chair Michael McDonagh, who had the full permission of the county executive - which in turn had been authorised by the county board to fill vacant management positions with county teams - to make the appointment. It's believed outgoing joint-manager Buckley will be involved with the new management team.
Over the past 10 years Ó Sé has been a very successful manager, leading his own county to two All-Irelands, in 1997 and 2000, before taking over in Westmeath in 2003 and managing that county to their first-ever Leinster title a year later before stepping down in 2005.
Death of Joe Smyth
Former Monaghan and Clontibret footballer Joe Smyth passed away on Saturday. Rated as one of the great players in the county's history, he played against eventual All-Ireland champions Cavan in the Ulster final and replay of 1952 and won eight county championship medals during a long career between 1949 and '68.
