Latest news with #KevinMcStay
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘We air our dirty laundry' – RTE pundit doesn't pull any punches in cutting verdict of Mayo GAA county board
MAYO legend Lee Keegan has slammed the Mayo GAA county board for multiple decisions and actions. The five-time All-Star has vented his frustrations about the many issues within the Advertisement 2 Mayo failed to advance from the group stages of this year's championship 2 Keegan was very disappointed in Mayo GAA's statement when 'relieving' Kevin McStay of his duties at the time Credit: @talksportireland The Green and Red county failed to reach the knockout stages of this year's Championship after a Kevin Keegan has suggested that underlying issues within the county board have more to do with Mayo's lack of success than McStay. The Westport man said: "There's trust and loyalty issues. There's too much talking. The expectation for me is too much. Advertisement Read more on GAA "This is the problem like you know, we sometimes as players we get ridiculed and obviously we didn't get over the All-Ireland stuff but listen that's our fault I take that. "We are the only county I feel anyway that we air all our dirty laundry to everybody for good or bad. Like I mean from the the simplest stuff to the outrageous stuff, everything just gets out." Keegan also feels the expectation put on the current crop of Mayo players is far too high and needs to be more realistic after recent struggles in the All-Ireland series. Since Mayo's All-Ireland final loss to Tyrone in 2021, the Westerners have failed to pass the quarter-final stages of the Championship. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Comment It was a stark demise for Mayo who suffered a Connacht quarter-final defeat to Galway in 2022, before being knocked out by Kerry at the same stage in the All-Ireland series. The following year brought another Connacht quarter-final exit, this time at the hands of Roscommon. A preliminary quarter-final win against provincial rivals Galway saw them reach the quarters yet again but a rampant Dublin team beat them by 12 points. David Clifford's son adorably hijacks RTE interview after dad dominates All-Ireland final A preliminary quarter-final The seven time Connacht champion added: "We probably get talked about more than most. We were in the conversation for the quarter-finals this year when we shouldn't have. Advertisement "I think in Mayo sometimes the expectation is way too high. I think we need to.. not lower, I mean you obviously want to win the big ones and stuff. "We haven't won a Connacht medal in a few years now, we won a league and got to a league final. That doesn't cut it. We need to win provincials, like Galway have won four-in-a-row. "That needs to be a realistic expectation, we are on about All-Irelands for the last few years. MCSTAY SYMPATHY Keegan also felt former Mayo manager Kevin McStay - who had to temporarily step away from the role due to health reasons - was hard done by by the Mayo GAA county board. Advertisement The RTÉ pundit sympatised: "I've felt really sorry for Kevin in particular. "We lost a lot of big figureheads of that group that didn't get over the line (2021), we went very close. It's very unfair to ask the same of the group that's in there now "I felt sorry for Kevin at times, I think his writing was on the wall this year because he didn't win the provincial. "Kevin is a great football man and a very proud Mayo man I thought it was really handled badly." Advertisement With the poor treatment of McStay and previous Mayo managers, Keegan has issued a warning to anyone thinking of taking up the vacant role. "I think whoever is going to go in there is going to have a tough job. That's just being straight up with you. And I wish them the best because they are going to be working with tough people. "They need to be given time to integrate as well, I think this whole thing about All-Irelands needs to be cut for now and start working on the short term and see where that brings us."
The Irish Sun
24-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
RTE GAA pundit Lee Keegan backs former star teammate to succeed Kevin McStay as next Mayo manager
LEE Keegan has backed fellow Mayo great Andy Moran as the man to replace Kevin McStay as the county's next senior boss. McStay's three-year term 3 The 41-year-old made his first inroads into coaching with Mayo's Under-20s 3 Keegan played alongside him from 2011-2019 when Moran retired from inter-county football 3 Mayo were dumped out of the Championship at the group stage due to a last-gasp loss to Donegal Two-time boss James Horan Moran has previously been a senior inter-county boss with Leitrim for three seasons before The Westport clubman has heard that Moran's been well-received in the Monaghan camp and reckons he is ready to take the big step that would be leading his own county. While discussing where the Green and Red ought to go on talkSPORT Ireland's Read More On GAA He said: 'I think Andy Moran would be a nice fit. I think lads know him, they respect him. "And even listening to the Monaghan group this year, in particular, he has an energy. That kind of affection and emotion towards players, that's hard to replicate sometimes. 'I think Andy is very emotionally attached to the players, and he gets the best of them. So for me, he'd be a great candidate.' Austin O'Malley and Ray Dempsey have also been bandied about as potential candidates. Most read in GAA Football It was reported by Mayo News on July 9 that the county board were aiming to have a new manager installed within the next five-seven weeks. Whomever takes over, it's likely one of the first measures they take is to gauge whether they can tempt Cillian O'Connor to rejoin the panel. Sharlene Mawdsley takes part in hilarious road race as part of Tipperary's All-Ireland celebration He opted out of the 2025 season, however, he's this week Appearing on William Hill's He outlined: 'I didn't say anything (to make the news public), I think someone did an interview and said that. 'I didn't put anything out. I rang the management, and met the management. I rang a few senior and younger players and told them. 'I met Kevin McStay in the autumn and we had a few good, frank conversations. "Kevin was keen in the end, when he had accepted I was going, to ask me not to draw a line under anything and not to be definitive. 'If he had asked me to draw a line, one way or the other, I would have been happy to go and leave it at that. I wasn't going to put out a statement anyway.' Reflecting on his new vantage point this summer from the sidelines rather in the thick of it, he added: 'It's been different obviously. I'd say elements of it have been enjoyable. "It's been nice in a way too, first time since 2011, and even including Minor and Under-21 since 2008 to be outside it. "To step off that roller coaster for a bit and enjoy it a bit more and appreciate the skills that everyone's showing at the weekends and not be as intense and uptight. 'When you're watching games, it could be two teams at the other side of the country, but if we're still in the Championship, you're thinking 'if we get one of these now, what am I gonna do?' "It's nice to be able to breathe a bit.'
The Irish Sun
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Mayo GAA offer ‘heartfelt' apology to Kevin McStay over widely criticised county board statement
MAYO GAA have apologised to former manager Kevin McStay for the county board statement issued 'relieving' him of his duties. The statement - which was released nearly two weeks ago - has received heavy backlash from the GAA community. Advertisement 2 The former Mayo manager had been in the role for three seasons 2 McStay played for Mayo between 1983 and 1990 winning two Connacht titles It has been labelled as In a meeting between the Executive and Mayo club representatives, Vice Chairperson Michael Diskin issued an apology on behalf of Mayo GAA. Per 'The manner and tone of the original communication didn't adequately reflect the deep respect and appreciation we hold for Kevin. Advertisement Read More On GAA 'For this, we offer our heartfelt apologies.' The Ballina native took the role in 2023 and won the NFL Division 1 title in his first year at the helm. However there was a lack of Championship success during his tenure, as The 63-year-old had to step aside from his role as manager due to health reasons following a medical incident which occurred during a training session. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Stephen Rochford took charge of the Westerners just a week before their shock Despite the statement win, Mayo failed to progress to the knockout stages as they fell to a RTE pundits weigh in on scoreboard controversy that marred Tipperary's dramatic win over Kilkenny Just 10 days after the Maritime counties championship exit, Mayo GAA released the controversial statement regarding McStay's future. Advertisement 'We would like to sincerely thank Kevin and his management team for their time, effort, and commitment to the Mayo Senior Football Team during their tenure. "Their dedication to the players and the jersey has been greatly appreciated by all involved with Mayo GAA. 'We wish Kevin and his management team every success in the future, both on and off the field. 'An update regarding the future management of the Senior Football Team will be provided in due course.' Advertisement Kevin McStay also served as a player for Mayo in the 80s. The 1985 All-star won two Connacht titles with the Westerners. The former Army officer was an Under-21 All-Ireland winner and was also apart of the 1989 Mayo team who lost out to Cork in the All-Ireland final.
The 42
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Mayo GAA apologise to McStay over statement, U20 and minor managers step down
MAYO GAA HAVE apologised for the controversial statement they released last month that announced the departure of senior manager Kevin McStay and his backroom team. The original statement released on 25 June sparked huge criticism after it was announced that McStay had been 'relieved of his duties'. Advertisement At a county board meeting last night, Mayo GAA chiefs apologised and said the statement was never intended to cause offence. The Mayo News reported that the county's vice-chairman Michael Diskin said they 'express clearly and unreservedly that it was never the intention of the Executive to cause offence'. 'The manner and tone of the original communication didn't adequately reflect the deep respect and appreciation we hold for Kevin. For this, we offer our heartfelt apologies.' Diskin also stated that the former inter-county footballer's commitment to leading his county 'has been nothing short of exemplary.' McStay was praised after his 'leadership of the Mayo senior team brought pride in the county' and it was also noted that he led 'with integrity and commitment at all times,' The statement concluded by wishing McStay and his management team 'well and the very best in the future, in health and in every new chapter they pursue.' Meanwhile, Mayo are also searching for new managers at minor and U20 level. It was announced last night that U20 boss Peadar Gardiner and his minor counterparts David Heaney and Tom Reilly, would not be seeking a new term. Related Reads 'There will be a huge appetite to go again' - Galway's recovery from shock All-Ireland exit If Padraic Joyce wants to begin again with Galway, he needs to find a way to begin better No rush in appointing Dessie Farrell's successor, says Dublin GAA chairman Gardiner had completed his two-year term and won the Connacht final this year, before losing out narrowly to Louth at the All-Ireland semi-final stage. The former Mayo senior footballer had former county players Keith Higgins and Ger Cafferkey as part of his backroom team. Heaney and Reilly had also been charge for two years, in a joint managerial capacity. Mayo lost to Roscommon this year in the Connacht final before bouncing back to contest the All-Ireland semi-final where they lost to Kerry.
Irish Examiner
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
James Horan: 'I won't be going for the Mayo manager position. It is time for something different'
Former Mayo manager James Horan has ruled himself out of a return to the county hot seat as they begin their search to replace Kevin McStay. McStay was relieved of his role as senior football manager last month and local media had speculated that Horan would seek a return for a third spell. The former Mayo player was first appointed in 2010 and led the county to successive All-Ireland finals in 2012 and 2013 before stepping away a year later. He returned in 2018 and again led the team to All-Ireland finals in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, he stepped down. Speaking on the Irish Examiner podcast, Horan said he won't be in the running for the role and has spoken to the Mayo chairperson to confirm this. 'I won't be going for the Mayo manager position,' he said. 'Not at all. It is not for me. I had a go at that and I think it is time for Mayo to look at someone different or something different. I'm just a supporter and happy in that position, going to the games with my young fella, cheering them on. "Where I am at the moment, I've had a chat with Seamus Tuohy on that just to clear it up, because I don't even want my name associated with it in case there is any confusion. Absolutely not.' Meanwhile, Former Tyrone star Peter Canavan said it is still an attractive position, although he was strongly critical of the statement issued about McStay's departure. 'The hunger and passion among their supporters for an All-Ireland, they are craving and crying out for it,' said the two-time All-Ireland winner. 'The fact they have been knocking on the door, I've a degree of sympathy for them but they just keep shooting themselves in the foot. Time and time again. They need a really strong character. They need another James Horan. 'They need someone who can pull the thing together but when they treat Kevin McStay in the manner that they did, how do they expect to get a good, homegrown talent like Andy Moran or somebody. "Who would want to step into that position when you see someone like Kevin McStay being treated the way he was. 'It was just an unbelievable decision, I thought someone was winding me up when I heard the statement that came out. But in terms of potential, in terms of quality players, there is so much going right in Mayo.'
