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| | Monday, 14 October, 2002, 14:37 GMT 15:37 UK Hegarty set for Antrim job  Father Sean Hegarty managed Derry in the early 1990s Former Armagh football boss Father Sean Hegarty is set to make a surprise return to intercounty management. The Tyrone-based priest is in line to take over as Antrim boss. The Saffron county have been looking for a successor to Brian White who stepped down after Antrim's Championship defeat by Westmeath in June. Hegarty, a popular figure throughout Ulster, had two stints as Armagh manager in the 1970s and '80s and also managed Derry for a year in the early 1990s. His longest spell as Armagh boss was between 1983/88 when Eamon Coleman served as his assistant. League fixtures revealed During that period, Hegarty's Armagh team were beaten in the 1984 and '87 Ulster finals. Hegarty also guided Armagh to the 1985 National League final where they were defeated by Monaghan. Former Down boss Peter McGrath, ex-Armagh player John Rafferty and Damien Cassidy have been among the men linked with the vacant Saffron job. Cassidy was rumoured to have been very close to taking the job but it appears that he couldn't agree terms with Antrim officials. Hegarty has not been in the best of health in recent times but it is understood that he has assured Antrim officials that he is capable of giving the role his full commitment.
Meanwhile, the dates and pairing for the 2003 Allianz Hurling and Football League have been confirmed. The football league begins on 2 February with the big game the Division 1A clash between All-Ireland champions Armagh and Dublin at Parnell Park. In the same section, holders Tyrone face an opening trip to Roscommon while Donegal must travel to take on Galway. Division 1B games see Kildare tackling Cavan and an all-Ulster clash between Fermanagh and Down. Dropping down a division, Derry, relegated last season, have an Ulster battle against Monaghan in 2B while in 2A, Antrim will open up against London. The National Hurling League opens on 23 February with Ulster's only Division One representives Derry having a home game against Wexford. In Division 2A, Ulster contenders Antrim and Down will meet on the opening afternoon. | | See also:  13 Oct 02 | N Ireland 13 Oct 02 | N Ireland 08 Jun 02 | N Ireland Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top N Ireland stories now: Links to more N Ireland stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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