Latest news with #KevinMcStay
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Mayo GAA axing Kevin McStay as manager was not massive surprise but it's hard to make sense of how they did it
AFTER giving three years of his life to managing his county, the least Kevin McStay deserved was a fond farewell. The manner in which Mayo Advertisement 2 Kevin McStay was let go by Mayo Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 2 Graham Geraghty reacted to his axing Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile Still, it is hard to make sense of why they were in such a rush to But justifying such a hasty decision on those grounds — and the With Mayo still licking their wounds after having their season harpooned just ten days earlier, was there really a need to put the boot into the management so soon? Advertisement Read More on GAA The gentlemanly thing would have been to sit down with McStay, talk through the last three years and engage on what would be best for the Equally, the management were entitled to be treated with more respect. McStay is a passionate Mayo man who took on the job with the best of intentions. And he will feel more disappointed than anybody that his tenure did not yield more success. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Exclusive But it should not be forgotten that his reign brought a National League title. Championship wins over 'So much integrity' - RTE viewers hail Stephen Cluxton for 'principled stand' Dublin GAA icon took during Parnells saga His successor is sure to discover how difficult a job it is to manage Mayo. In many ways, it is the hardest one in reality . Anything less than an All-Ireland will not satisfy Mayo fans — but their best chances of achieving that are behind them at this stage. Advertisement If I had aspirations of being involved in inter-county management, the Mayo gig is one I would not go near. With that in mind, one can only admire McStay for his efforts. But the events of the last few days would suggest that he is better off without it. I wish him all the best for a happy and healthy future. Advertisement
Extra.ie
a day ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Five contenders to take Mayo hot seat
Mayo county board announced on Wednesday night that it had 'relieved' Kevin McStay and his management team of their duties. The news came less than two weeks after Mayo's championship hopes were ended by a defeat to Donegal. Attention now turns to possible successors: Andy Moran. Pic: INPHO/James Lawlor He is a folk hero to supporters for his exploits as a player, and managed Leitrim for three years before joining Gabriel Bannigan's Monaghan set-up this season. Would be the popular choice with many in the county, but there are questions around his experience for what is a relentlessly scrutinised role. Austin O'Malley. Pic: INPHO/Tom Maher A native of Louisburgh, O'Malley was a classy forward who played for the county in the 2000s. However, it was his achievement in managing Cuala to the All-Ireland club title in January that propelled him to national attention. Very well regarded by the Dublin champions, but experience a potential issue again. Stephen Rochford. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile When the final whistle went against Donegal, there was a reasonable case to be made for Rochford's return given how the team had performed while under his care. If a coronation was never likely, he did seem a strong contender. That looks impossible now given the manner in which the management was dismissed this week. James Horan. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile A third term is considered unlikely, even if there are plenty of Mayo fans who would welcome it. Horan's second tenure ended in some recrimination following the flaccid loss to Tyrone in the 2021 final. But supporters remember it was he who transformed the county in the 2010s, turning them from a punchline into contenders over four thrilling seasons. Oisín McConville. Pic: INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon If the county board looks outside its own resources, there isn't a glut of contenders. McConville has been mentioned in dispatches, and was part of a proposed management team under Ray Dempsey when McStay got the role in 2022. Has worked tirelessly at Wicklow, but he looks a distant prospect.
Extra.ie
a day ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Clinical decision leaves Mayo in a familar state of flux
After a three-month review into the 2024 campaign, Mayo County Board eventually confirmed Kevin McStay as manager for the following season late last September. Ten days after that 2025 campaign concluded, by startling contrast, McStay is gone, and with him one of the best-stacked management teams in the country. Stephen Rochford took Mayo closer than anyone to a first All-Ireland since 1951 in his own time in charge. Donie Buckley is among the small band of football coaches with a national profile; Joe Canney is a highly regarded figure who has emerged through the celebrated Corofin culture; and there were figures in Mayo who insisted that another selector, Damien Mulligan, would one day manage the county. Kevin McStay has been axed by the Mayo County Board. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile All are out, relieved of their duties, to echo the sentiment in a county board statement that dropped shortly before 9.30pm on Wednesday, and which carried the cold and clinical message heretofore confined to Premier League dismissal notices. Perhaps the Mayo executive was trying to avoid the mistakes of last summer, when the months-long interregnum between the team's exit on penalties to Derry in the Championship and confirmation that McStay would be there for year three of his four-year term gave rise to rampant speculation. Much of this was aired from the floor of a county board meeting by delegates. Gossip about player unhappiness and unease was publicly uttered. Derry goalkeeper Odhran Lynch saves a penalty from Mayo's Ryan O'Donoghue during last year's shoot-out. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie Whether much or indeed any of it had a foundation in reality never became clear, but what the entire farrago meant was that the management team started the year at a significant disadvantage in public perception terms. A middling Allianz League campaign didn't assuage doubts, especially when it concluded with a thorough beating from Kerry in the final. The Connacht campaign hardly fired either, with stumbles against Sligo and Leitrim countered only by a rousing third quarter against Galway. Drearily familiar failings cost Mayo that day, when, after levelling the match, they didn't have the attacking edge to kick on. Aidan O'Shea at the final whistle against Donegal. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie It was eventually the same problem that did for them against Donegal in the group series game, which saw them leave the Championship almost a fortnight ago. Turning possession into points has been the besetting failure of Mayo teams for at least a generation, and while managers can't magic up the fabled 'marquee forward', the ongoing difficulties of squeezing more points out of the possession they did win was a major problem for McStay and his coaching team. The transformation in football this summer exacerbated Mayo's difficulties, given their inability to land two-pointers while all around them, the main contenders for Sam Maguire did so. There was an ominous early portent of this in the League when Galway devoured them in MacHale Park, winning by 10 points, their tally bloated by seven two-pointers across the 70 minutes. Kevin McStay. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile There was a grim symbolism in Mayo's last act of the Connacht final being a two-point attempt from Matthew Ruane drifting wide. But it wasn't the only area of the new game that Mayo struggled with at times, with their kick-out a point of weakness in the spring but which tightened up considerably as the summer progressed. Scoring was the issue, with Ryan O'Donoghue carrying an enormous burden. It wasn't the only problem, but it was more often than not a decisive one. It's not the only frustration McStay, a palpably decent man who considered managing his county a pinnacle achievement, should feel. Ryan O'Donoghue carried an enormous burden when it came to scoring. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile The way in which his departure was announced was shoddy, via a statement that was both unfeeling and clunky. It has only been a matter of weeks since he had to step aside following health concerns, with Rochford taking over for the group games against Tyrone and Donegal. The former brought a famous win in Omagh, the latter ended with dramatic late defeat. But neither of these games are the reason Mayo footballers will watch on this weekend as the Championship enters a thrilling turn. Stephen Rochford and Kevin McStay. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile Their dismal defeat at home to Cavan in the first round of the group series is what did for them, an outcome that was as abject as the performance that preceded it. And it was that tendency to fall apart that was crucial, too: Mayo's floor was always potentially alarmingly low, just as their ceiling sometimes felt promisingly high. And now the search begins for the next saviour, the next soul willing to take on the oppressive hopes of a people stone-mad for football. The way McStay's departure was announced was shoddy. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile There is a presumption that the county board has a man in mind, but that theory is mainly borne of the circumstances in which the last man was packed off: if they were that brutal in getting rid of McStay, goes this line of reasoning, then they surely must have someone they'd like to step up. It's a generous analysis, and if it doesn't come to pass, then local unhappiness will only grow. A significant number of Mayo supporters may have been demanding change, but more again will understand McStay's years of service to the cause, and the impact that Stephen Rochford has had, too. Debate is already underway, as it should be, about who gets the gig, about whether it should be an outsider or a native, about what went wrong and what must come next. The pursuit is endless — but events of the past 36 hours have seen the dream darken.
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Colin Sheridan: Kevin McStay departure brings as many questions as answers
The treachery of Fredo Corleone in Godfather II. Lando Carissian's betrayal of Han Solo in the Empire Strikes Back. Hans, the Charming Prince, double-crossing Anna in Frozen. The older I get the wiser I am to the fact it's not Homer and Shakespeare movie-makers have been imitating off all this time, it's Mayo football politics. Even when the obvious happens - such as the departure of Kevin McStay from his managerial position - it somehow evokes whispers of 'Et tu, Brute?'. Such has been the back-catalogue of mishandled appointments, dismissals, and financial philanderings, everything - from the magical to the mundane - becomes bigger news than it ever needs to be. Let's begin at the end. On Wednesday night, the County Executive released a statement advising that a decision had been made to 'relieve Kevin McStay and his management team from their roles with the Mayo Senior Football Team with immediate effect.' The press release went on - with, some might argue, notable brevity - to thank Team McStay for their service. If a non-native English speaker reading this statement was immediately questioned as to whether it achieved its objective, I'm guessing they would say that it did. Somebody had a job. It didn't go great. They were let-go from said job. That information was communicated to all concerned. Alas, this is Mayo and this is the GAA, and still waters run friggin deep. The critical word in the executives farewell was the 'relieve' part. Nobody wants to be relieved of their command, so when you are, it's almost always under protest. In the GAA, where legacy bloodlines run like streams down Nephin, you are usually first offered the opportunity to honourably discharge yourself when your services are no longer required. This negates the possibility of any ugly power struggle. It should prevent, too, the airing of dirty laundry. We tried. It didn't work. We're all sorry it didn't work. Time to move on etc. This course of action pushes the postmortems to the high-stool over winter. At worst, an ill-advised biography rushed out in time for Christmas. At best, the circulation of unprovable scenarios on whatsapp groups. Bottom line, when something isn't working, and the Kevin McStay/Mayo combination was just not working, the end is sadly inevitable. What is telling at this early juncture is that McStay did not step down himself. Three years, three rather tepid championship exits, it would be difficult for him to make a case the fourth year he signed up for, especially as his own involvement this summer ended in him stepping back due to health concerns. It goes without saying that no pursuit of glory, especially one as emotionally charged as Mayo's - is worth risking one's health. Loss to Donegal in the All-Ireland was the final nail in the coffin for McStay, it would seem. File picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile Everything, then, pointed to him ending his involvement under its current conditions. That he didn't do so himself poses three questions: was he afforded the opportunity to do so first? If not, why not? And, if he was, and he eschewed the chance to step away of his own volition, what alternative did the Mayo County Executive have other than to issue a statement announcing they were parting ways if they believed the partnership untenable? Yes, they could've been more effusive in their thanks, more hyperbolic in their praise, but if they had already broached the subject and still, no resignation was forthcoming, one could forgive them for ripping the bandaid off, especially since they are already behind in their hunt for a new manager. We all leave jobs. I left the army after 26 years during which I was nearly killed a couple of times and far from being clapped out the door, the only communication I received was an angry text from a disgruntled quartermaster looking for my kit back. I would imagine my experience is true for most of us. McStay has not sought any praise for his role, nor has he criticised the nature of his exit (yet), so - and I understand the hypocritical ice I tread on here - there is a chance this uncoupling is a polite and courteous one. It'd be an outlier if it was, but stranger things have happened, especially in Mayo. The facts are that he was a desirable and popular candidate with an excellent CV who was appointed to win an All-Ireland. Mayo won a National League in his first season, before a forgettable loss to Dublin later in the summer. Derry defeated them at home in a preliminary quarter final last year. The chaotic nature of their loss to Donegal two weeks ago served as an allegory of the inconsistency of his tenure. Undoubtedly, he was unlucky; trying to win an All Ireland with a squad so clearly in transition was an incredibly difficult thing to do, but those were the terms of his employment. Cillian O' Connor's curious sabbatical, and a stacked backroom team that included another recent Mayo manager in Stephen Rochford, added layers of intrigue to a story that never needed them. So much has happened it's easy to forget the departure of Liam MacHale from his staff after just one season, an exit made all the more unexpected by the closeness of their relationship. The County Executive's reputation for ineptitude may be well earned, but it is hard to see any other way this scenario played out, especially if Kevin McStay was offered the chance to leave on his terms, but chose not to. Whatever happened, he is gone, and his departure brings as many questions as answers. And so, Mayo start again, again. Experience, Julius Caesar said, is the teacher of all things. Let us see if the battered bastards of Gaelic Football have finally learned something.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Letters: As McStay leaves Mayo role, expect a few sparks ahead of the next appointment
Once, while visiting a rural pub in Hollymount, Co Mayo, a mature regular made a valid point: 'It's the hope that keeps us going – and if we ever win an All- Ireland football final, the hope would turn to complacency.' As we say farewell to Kevin McStay and his team, every bar in Mayo and beyond will be the setting for discussions about who should be next to drive forward the county's footballers. I hope it's a well-charged battery. There may be some sparks from the positive and negative leads that lie ahead. Seamus Joyce, London Mayo's ruthless handling of manager's dismissal leaves bad taste in mouth As a Sligo and Connacht GAA supporter, I am dismayed and disappointed at the way in which Mayo GAA has dispensed with the services of the senior inter-county manager Kevin McStay. Given the man himself must have been bitterly upset to step back from management on health grounds, having taken ill at a training session, I think it crass of the county board to have cut short his tenure in this way. If there is a chink of light, there is currently a senior management vacancy in Sligo, and I know Kevin would receive a warm welcome in the Yeats county if he felt he had unfinished business in the GAA. Stephen O'Hara, Carrowmore, Co Sligo Denying fans the chance to watch today's game on RTÉ is beyond scandalous Can anyone out there give me one good reason why we, the licence fee-payers, can't view a very exciting anticipated match today at 4pm in Croke Park between Donegal and Monaghan on our national broadcaster, RTÉ? This is a disgrace. Shame on the GAA. Brian McDevitt, Glenties, Co Donegal ADVERTISEMENT Relying on other nations for our security is absurd in this unsettled world In support of Christy Galligan ('Who will protect Ireland when we cannot, and will not, protect ourselves?', Letters, June 23), I wish to cite the imprudence of Europe's long-standing defence and security dependence on the US 'coming home to roost'. This week, we witnessed Nato secretary general Mark Rutte grovel to Donald Trump at a meeting in The Hague. On the battlefield, without US overwatch, Ukraine continues to be hammered by Russia, leaving its citizens more vulnerable to future aggression from Vladimir Putin. These lessons could not be starker. Depending on another party (as Ireland has always done) to provide or guarantee our security is absurd. The perpetual prevarication about our defence must stop and be replaced by a set of resolute actions. Will this be costly? Most definitely, yes. Michael Gannon, St Thomas Square, Kilkenny Nato leaders have learnt the best way to get results is to capitulate to Trump It was reported that the atmosphere at the recent Nato summit was little short of obsequious towards Donald Trump. It seems leaders have worked out that if they want a US buy-in to Nato, they have to commit to Trump's spending demands and then flatter him into believing he is the only person who can make things happen. It appears to have worked. The US has renewed its commitment to defending other Nato countries and the language was expletive-free. But I would like to ask: Why did Nato leaders refuse to mention Russian aggression? I find this perplexing. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Using 'Republic' as prefix in Ireland's name does not discount the six counties I read with interest Gerry Cummins's letter ('That Republic of Ireland moniker belongs only in one place – a football park', June 26). I think the use of 'Republic of Ireland' is correct, as is Ireland and/or Éire. I prefer Ireland, but the prefix 'Republic of' is also correct and doesn't mean the six counties in the North are disclaimed. The island of Ireland will be reunited sooner rather than later. I predict that one day, an all-Ireland football team will win the World Cup. Dominic Shelmerdine, London While Gaza and Ukraine dominate the headlines, we cannot forget Sudan As the horrors of war in the Middle East fill the headlines, it is important that we do not forget the apocalyptic suffering of the Sudanese people, who are in the middle of 'the world's largest humanitarian crisis', according to the UN. Tens of thousands of people have died as a result of the country's civil war, which began in 2023. More than 12 million people have been displaced. According to the World Food Programme, 24.6 million people face food insecurity, while 637,000 face 'catastrophic levels of hunger'. There have been attempts to end the conflict, and the Irish Government has provided over €10m in humanitarian support. Unfortunately, this horrendous war continues. It is imperative that world leaders give this the same attention as the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and the devastating war in Ukraine. Tadhg Mulvey, Trim, Co Meath When it comes to doing certain chores, it's best to strike while the iron is hot I ironed a shirt this morning. That may not seem newsworthy, but in my household it marks an event of some significance due to its rarity. It brought me back to my teenage years, when I first started taking an interest in girls. At that time, the only way I could appear in a crisply ironed shirt was by paying my sister 50p to do it for me. This morning, however, I took matters into my own hands. To be fair, the front looked fine. It was only when I removed my jacket during the meeting that I realised I'd forgotten the sleeves. From the elbows down, it was creased chaos. Still, no one said anything, which either means they were being polite or they've stopped expecting much from me.
