Process to appoint new Mayo GAA manager reaches interview stage

by Aiden Henry

NOW that the deadline has passed for potential candidates to express their interest in becoming the next manager of the Mayo senior football team and submit an application form outlining their qualifications and vision for the team, the focus turns to the interview stage.

It is expected that those interviews will be held sooner rather than later as the Mayo GAA County Board executive have said the intention was to have a new manager in place before the commencement of the second round of the Mayo club championships, which are due to be played on the weekend of August 23/25.

A special committee bearing the acronym MAC (Management Appointment Committee) has been put in place by the county board to oversea the new appointment.

This committee includes the county board chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer, coaching officer, at least two other county board members, and at least one external representative who would have a background in HR.

Although the second stage in appointing a new Mayo senior manager was for MAC to review the applications and shortlist candidates for interview, The Connaught Telegraph has learned that the number of applicants for the job is rather small and as a result there is no great need for shortlisting.

Despite the county board not revealing information regarding the whole process of who is interested in the job and who is not, we understand that the number of applicants could be as small as three, if not two.

If this is the case, there should be white smoke with regard to the successful candidate well in advance of the second round of the club championships late next month.

Despite plenty of speculation over the past number of weeks, there is little change among the front -runners for the vacant position in Mayo.

From day one, The Connaught Telegraph reported that the preferred choice was Armagh All-Ireland winner and former manager of Sligo, Tony McEntee. If anything, McEntee – who had a stint with Mayo as a selector a number of years ago (and was very popular among the players), and was joint manager of Crossmaglen when they won two All-Ireland senior club titles – has seen his popularity within the county grow day by day since the Mayo senior job became vacant.

The Connaught Telegraph understands that McEntee is indeed in the race to be the next Mayo manager, and is the odds-on favourite to replace Kevin McStay.

Another notable contender for the Mayo job is former Leitrim manager Andy Moran. Presently on the Monaghan senior backroom team, the Ballaghaderreen man is keeping tight-lipped as to whether he is interested or not in seeking the Mayo senior job at this time.

Many Mayo supporters feel the time is not right for the former senior football star as it may be very difficult for him to take over a team that would still have seven or eight players in the squad that he played with himself. It is very likely, however, that he will manage his native county one day.

The other main names mentioned are former Cuala senior manager, Louisburgh native Austin O’Malley, who led the Dublin club to All-Ireland senior success earlier this year.

Kieran Donaghy, who stepped down from his role within the Armagh backroom team a few weeks ago, is seen as a long shot to take the Mayo reins.

The four-time All-Ireland winner with Kerry was part of Kieran McGeeney's management team for five seasons, helping them win the All-Ireland title in 2024.

For now the process continues, and all will be revealed in a few short weeks when MAC will make a recommendation to the full county board for the final appointment.