Maughan’s Under 20 manager nomination is a massive boost for Mayo

As Friday last was the final day for nominations for the post of Mayo GAA Under 20 football team manager, The Connaught Telegraph has learned that there is only one nominee for the position – former county senior manager John Maughan, writes Aiden Henry.

That being the case, other than the county board adding a late candidate for the role, the Crossmolina native will be the county's new Under 20 manager.

It would not alone represent a boost to the development of Mayo's up-and-coming footballers, but could also be considered a plus for new senior manager Andy Moran. The senior squad is bound to be enhanced greatly by the young players that Maughan mentors over the next two or three years.

While delighted with the news that Maughan is expected to be the new Under 20 manager, many Mayo supporters are bound to be a little gobsmacked given that he could have had the pick of several senior inter-county senior jobs if he wanted to go down that route again.

However, while Maughan has managed several county senior teams (including Mayo on two occasions) and has had tremendous success along the way, his heart was always in Mayo football.

The fact that he is willing to bring all his great knowledge and experience to the emerging young footballers in the county speaks volumes for his great passion for the game within Mayo.

If I was on the Mayo GAA County Board, I would act quickly on Maughan’s nomination as one wouldn’t want him to have a change of heart. Getting anyone else close to the calibre of John Maughan willing to take on the Mayo Under 20 job would likely be difficult.