3 days ago
Andy Moran presents his manifesto after ratification as Mayo's new manager
Andy Moran is taking a 'back to basics approach' following his ratification as the new Mayo boss tonight.
And Moran wants the best players involved in the county set-up again after claiming that might not have been the case in recent 41-year-old's name was put forward to succeed Kevin McStay in the role earlier this week and the Ballaghaderreen man will have former team-mate Colm Boyle and ex-Derry boss Paddy Tally working alongside him after agreeing a three-year stint."We're back to the basics," Moran said. "Galway have won four Connacht titles in a row. Before we even get to talking about All-Irelands and '51 and all this stuff, the big thing is we need to get back to work, get back to basics. "We need to build on some of the good work that Kevin and Stephen (Rochford) have done last year. And we need to get better at every aspect we're chasing. Where can we get better? I think the new rules are great to coach, we can see it's a way better game. It's a way better product."
Padraig O'Hora and Cillian O'Connor are two former stars who didn't play for the county this year and Moran told RTÉ: "The key thing is to get the best players in Mayo playing for Mayo - which, quite unusually over the last couple of years, mightn't have always been the case. We need to get the best players playing. Padraig O'Hora (Image: ©INPHO/Tom Maher)
"In terms of young talent, there's a crop of under-20s there that just missed out narrowly against Louth this year (in the All-Ireland semi-final).
"There's a crop of minors coming through that are really talented, who lost to Armagh in last year's All-Ireland semi-final. There's been a few Connacht titles (at underage) and a few green shoots over the last couple of years, which is great to see.
"It's about how we keep being competitive with the strong players we have and embedding these young players in amongst it. That's going to be the major role for the management team over the next couple of years." Moran managed Leitrim before he coached Monaghan last year but this is his dream role. "Was it always an aim? Yes, it was always an aim," he admitted."But do you think about that when you're managing other teams? You don't. You're really stuck in the moment, you're trying to get the best out of them players while you're there. And then some day, if you're deemed good enough and take your home county, that's great."I always had great role models growing up in the likes of John O'Mahony and the likes of James Horan coming in in 2011 and John Maughan before him. I've always had my eye set on coaching and managing.
"So, yes, you always think some day you'd love to get a rattle at it. Until that day arrives, I suppose it's a pipe dream. But it's come true today and we're back in the Mayo dressing room, so it's great."
