 He stayedwith Laois for many years and was part of the team that won the National Football League title in 1986.As a manager Dempsey managed Laois to the Leinster U21 Football Championship title in 1994 and managed the Laois senior team in 1997 and 1998.With the Carlow club O’Hanrahans coach, Dempsey led the Blues to three championships and a Leinster title (2000) in his four-year tenure.