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Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ex-Mayo star disgusted with county board statement over Kevin McStay's exit
Lee Keegan has taken aim at Mayo GAA chiefs over the manner of Kevin McStay's and his management team's departure 'with immediate effect'. There was shock and anger expressed over the statement released on Mayo's official website and social media channels confirming that McStay's tenure was up after three years. The 63-year-old was forced to take a step back from his position after suffering a health scare ahead of Mayo's All-Ireland group phase clash with Tyrone, with Stephen Rochford taking the reins on a temporary basis. Mayo went out of the championship 10 days ago following their last-gasp loss to Donegal and, while it came as no surprise that McStay was not staying on for a fourth year, there was dismay expressed by former great Keegan and others over the county board's statement. "Ah Mayo never sees to amaze the good people," tweeted the RTÉ pundit. "Kevin and his backroom deserved better than that (s***) statement." The statement read: 'A Coiste Bainistíocht Meeting of Mayo GAA was held in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park this evening, Wednesday 25th of June "At this meeting a decision was made to relieve Kevin McStay and his management team from their roles with the Mayo Senior Football Team with immediate effect. "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'. Former Sunday Game host Des Cahill also hit out at the Mayo county board over the statement. "Absolutely no class from Mayo GAA," blasted Cahill. "Totally insensitive to Kevin McStay who served the county since he was a teenager. I wonder if Mayo sponsors stand over the tone and language used in dumping a group, who admittedly failed to win an All-Ireland - like every predecessor since 1951."
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kerry warned they might not be 'properly prepared' for All-Ireland quarter-final
Lee Keegan believes Kerry might not be 'properly prepared' for their meeting with Armagh in the All-Ireland Football Championship this weekend. The former Mayo defender said that "Kerry's run to this stage hasn't been near as intensive, as Ulster folk won't be shy of telling them. But you'd fairly argue it hasn't properly prepared them for what's coming down the tracks this Sunday." The Sunday Game analyst also questioned the actions of David Clifford and Paul Geaney in the build up to the clash, where they requested their fans to show up in numbers at the quarter-final in Croke Park. He added to RTE: "Paul Geaney, last week, and David Clifford, this week, have made appeals for Kerry supporters to turn up in numbers. This is unusual enough talk coming from Kerry and probably indicative of the pressure they're under. "I know Jack O'Connor played up the impact the huge Armagh crowd had on the momentum of last year's semi-final, particularly when the game turned frenzied in extra-time. The wall of noise for every Armagh score was deafening and they can be intimidating." Despite this, he feels that Kerry will be very competitive in the match, saying: "So many people have written Kerry off in the last week and a half, most of them ex-Kerry players. I'd be wary of that talk. "With Kerry's array of attacking talent, they can catch fire at any time. But the big doubts surround Paudie Clifford and Seanie O'Shea. Paudie hasn't seen much game-time since getting harshly sent off in the Munster semi-final." Indeed, Paudie Clifford has been eased back into action, only seeing around 15 minutes in their last game against Cavan. It is reasonable however to not risk him after his injury woes. "Seanie's form has been hot and cold. Personally, I think he's devoting himself to too much donkey work. It's admirable but I feel he's more use to Kerry when he's focusing on attacking the opposition and putting their defence on the back foot. "Kerry have the raw material at their disposal. They can catch fire at any moment. But it's hard to trust their form when they're coming up against the All-Ireland champions, who are fresher, boast huge squad depth and have a very hard-nosed mentality." A bumper clash certainly awaits at Croker this Sunday.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘No class' – RTE pair Des Cahill & Lee Keegan blast Mayo's ruthless handling of Kevin McStay's exit
DES Cahill and Lee Keegan have led the consternation at the tone of Mayo's statement announcing the end of Kevin McStay's tenure. The line that really jarred described how the 63-year-old Advertisement 3 He still had one year of his four-year term left to go 3 Keegan claimed he 'deserved better' than the send-off he got 3 Even the usually mild-mannered Cahill was apoplectic over Mayo's statement The unnecessarily cold language is more akin with what you'd expect from a Premier League soccer club. That point was touched on by former Sunday Game host Cahill and county great Keegan. Cahill fumed on X: "Absolutely no class from Mayo GAA. Totally insensitive to Kevin McStay who served the county since he was a teenager. "I wonder if Mayo sponsors stand over the tone and language used in dumping a group, who admittedly failed to win an All-Ireland - like every predecessor since 1951." Advertisement Read More On GAA Similarly the 2016 Footballer of the Year posted: "Ah Mayo GAA never cease to amaze the good people. Kevin and his backroom deserved better than that s*** statement." Meath legend Bernard Flynn went even further in his condemnation of the county board's statement. He raged: "What a horrible disgusting way to treat a really good classy guy like Kevin McStay. "No game until next February & to do this to a gentleman who has been unwell & one who has served his county with distinction. Mayo GAA Is just SHAMEFUL." Advertisement Most read in GAA Football The Ballina native had But they failed to win any championship silverware under his watch, as Galway 'So much integrity' - RTE viewers hail Stephen Cluxton for 'principled stand' Dublin GAA icon took during Parnells saga McStay They Advertisement Former stars Austin O'Malley, Andy Moran and ex-gaffer James Horan are among the candidates for the job. O'Malley led Cuala to an All-Ireland club SFC triumph this year, while former hitman Moran is a coach with All-Ireland quarter-finalists Monaghan. Horan managed the county from 2010-2014 and 2018-2022, leading them to six Connacht titles and three All-Ireland finals across both stints in charge. Meanwhile Andy McEntee has departed as Antrim boss after three years at the helm. Advertisement The former Meath manager led them to back to back Tailteann Cup semi-finals last year, but suffered a preliminary quarter-final loss to Wexford earlier this month.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
‘So much integrity' – RTE viewers hail Stephen Cluxton for ‘principled stand' Dublin GAA icon took during Parnells saga
RTE viewers praised Stephen Cluxton after watching the financial ruin of Parnells GAA Club detailed on Prime Time. Established in 1893, the six-time county champions went into liquidation in January. 2 The Coolock club went into liquidation in January Credit: @RTE_PrimeTime 2 Cluxton was their most famous player That such a big club could go under is all the more amazing given it became the richest GAA club in the country in 2008. This was due to it selling land it had first acquired around Collinstown Lane near The club received €22million upon selling that land. Half of that sum was soon spent on purchasing land in their main catchment area of Coolock from the Marist Fathers. The rest was duly wasted as the club embarked upon reckless spending practices while building a state of the art clubhouse and other facilities. Read More On GAA In one stark moment during Tuesday's programme it's stated that Parnells went from employing two members of staff in 2007 to 69 by 2013. These habits ended up burdening the outfit with huge overheads as chickens came home to roost in the following years. The moment involving It informed viewers that the goalkeeper wrote an open letter to all members of the club's Executive. Most read in GAA Football In it, he outlined his "disgust" at the direction the club was going in. This prompted his "highly unusual" decision to regrade with their second team. In the letter, the 43-year-old is quoted as saying: "I don't agree with the policy of head-hunting players. Tomas O'Se calls out GAA's mid-season rule change but fellow Sunday Game pundit disagrees "I don't agree that inter-county players are treated to various perks. I am disgusted the club is now in debt." Among the online reaction to the startling show, prominent GAA journalist Cahair O'Kane praised: "Stephen Cluxton will be remembered for everything he's achieved on the pitch. "But part of his legacy of greatness ought to be the principled stand he took about the financial direction Parnells were taking. Fair play to him." Similarly, Conor succinctly agreed: "So much integrity. Great fella." LEADER ON AND OFF THE PITCH Máire pondered: "Prime Time about Parnells is crazy to me! How was a club allowed to go that far without any intervention. "The 'disquiet' should have been LOUDER, at least Stephen Cluxton showed a bit of integrity." Fin added: "Anyone watch the Prime Time programme on Parnell's GAA Club? Boom to Bust. Absolutely shocking. "Non Dublin fans might not like Clucko but his letter to the club in the midst of this fiasco, expressing his fears and thoughts, showed the character of the man - top class." To which Liz replied: "Most GAA people respect and admire Stephen Cluxton. He's a terrific player and a great captain. "He knew that Parnells were on the wrong track and expressed concerns but the club Executive ignored him. It became a social club. Shame on the Executive." In January, the north Dublin outfit returned their training ground complete with a floodlit astroturf, clubhouse and gym to the Marist Order.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
GAA All-Star marks ‘first night in our new home' by getting engaged as couple have two reasons to celebrate
MAYO captain Paddy Durcan and partner Alannah McBrien toasted their first night in their new house by getting engaged. On Tuesday Alannah shared several sweet photos on Advertisement 4 Paddy and Alannah had just moved into their new home Credit: @lannymcbrien and @paddy_durcan 4 The half-back immediately popped the question Credit: @lannymcbrien and @paddy_durcan 4 He had adorned the place with romantic balloons upon their arrival Credit: @lannymcbrien and @paddy_durcan 4 The Castlebar Mitchels ace earned an All-Star in 2019 She reflected: "What a way to top off our first night in our new home. Here's to forever with my best friend." Several of Durcan's past and present inter-county teammates were among the many well-wishers in the comments section. On a similarly joyous note, 2016 Footballer of the Year Lee Keegan added: "Class news!" Advertisement Read More On GAA Rob Hennelly and Diarmuid O'Connor were among the other Mayo legends to react to the post with rival Galway stars Shane Walsh and Damien Comer also expressing their delight. The 2025 inter-county campaign saw Durcan, 30, make his long-awaited return after While his return to the pitch was a welcome boost to their on-pitch fortunes, it wound up being another frustrating Championship for the Green and Red. After putting themselves in a hole by Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Comment Exclusive However, in a cruel twist of fate even by the standards of Mayo football over the past decade or so, And the off-season in Mayo never passes without some sort of circus. Tomas O'Se calls out GAA's mid-season rule change but fellow Sunday Game pundit disagrees The debrief after their fruitless 2023 and 2024 campaigns saw in-depth reviews go on for months, much to the frustration of their demanding supporters. The most worrying aspect of their season was of course that Kevin McStay suffered a health scare in May which Advertisement It means the county are It remains to be seen if McStay will remain on for a fourth campaign after coach and former boss Stephen Rochford temporarily took the reins last month. Rochford led them to the 2016 and 2017 All-Ireland finals where they agonisingly fell short against Dublin. Still, the Crossmolina clubman got a tune from them this term as they stunned Tyrone in the second round before their one-point loss to Donegal saw them finish bottom of Group 1. Advertisement He may be sick of the torment that comes with the job and there are questions over some stars' futures. January seems like a million miles away, but amid another sunny spell across the country, the dark clouds are again on the horizon in Mayo.
