Mayo GAA Discussion

The reason I asked is that you had Andy as a non-runner, but included McConville, so just wondered what the thought process was.

Personally I don't think Andy has shown enough yet, but I don't think McConville has either.

I think McEntee could be a very good appointment - the more I see of Rochford without McEntee, the more credit I'm inclined to give McEntee for our 2016/2017 setup!

A valid case to be made that he shouldn't yet be with the limited success at club or county… but he absolutely will be and is a runner when the role next comes up. We're all very familiar with the relationships & politics within the County Board decisions. It's far from a meritocracy (I'd much prefer someone with more success under their belt as a manager, but in the current drought of outstanding options I'd have Andy well above many that would be in with a fighting chance).

It'll be interesting to watch how Ray Dempsey's year goes as coach for Parke and if he'd throw his hat into the ring again in the future (and after the Limerick ordeal how it would be viewed). John Reilly (Kilmeena) who has been going great in recent years, Damien Mulligan coming out from the backbenches again, pulling Kevin Johnson (Corofin, former Tourlestrane and Ballintubber) back from Galway (you'd imagine he'll be towards the front of the line if/when PJ leaves) or maybe a return to county management for Peter Forde (going shockingly well with Ballinrobe in recent years) the only other names coming to mind.

A couple of those I'd never wish to see, but all I'd consider genuine options in the current environment. I'd even consider a surprise return for James a possibility…. all the while crossing my fingers Jim Gavin would like to put Jimmy in his place by showing what true managerial genius looks like by taking us to the AI win, cementing his place as the greatest ever.

The question isn't just limited to potential Mayo candidates, though. Westernview's post just got me thinking about managerial candidates around the country, given the local options don't jump out, and not too many names are jumping out there at the moment either.

McConville right up there with the top performers alright, relatively speaking. It'll be interesting to watch his next step(s). You'd expect a shoot-out between himself and McEntee if/when Geezer finally steps aside. I'd be picking Tony every time, but with the right ticket he'd make a real race of it.

Raymond Galligan with Cavan probably the other one that's punching above his expected weight and still looks to have room to grow. Super impressive year so far for his Cavan lads. If he can keep them competing without their talisman in the upcoming games (I'd expect they'll be a handful) he'll be building an impressive base to launch from next year.

Tony McEntee seems to be the pick of the bunch alright on the limited consensus here.

Very little apart from the list below. What has any manager done really apart from the very top level candidates, most of whom don't appear to be interested in taking on Mayo?. Don't think we are in position to be turning our noses up at anyone in terms of seeking out interest when the time comes.

Club

• 17 Armagh Senior Football Championship 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• 10 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
• 6 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship 1997, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2011, 2012

As manager

• 2 Armagh Senior Football Championship 2014, 2015
• 1 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship 2015

Inter-county

• 1 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2002
• 7 Ulster Senior Football Championship 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008
• 1 National Football League 2005

Individual

• 2 All Star 2000, 2002
• Amongst highest scoring players in All-Ireland Senior Football Championship history.

AI winner as a player is not an automatic predictor of success as a manager.

And winning two counties and and Ulster with Crossmaglen in the 2010's is about the equivalent of winning a Leinster football title with Dublin in the past 15 years. Look at what he is currently doing as an inter county manager and he does not compare favourably with McEntee. Demonstrated ability to develop a team should be the primary competency we look for if we were to go after a new coach. In the absense of a Jim Gavin type figure willing to come on board, if we were to go outside the county, the likes of McEntee and Malachy O'Rourke are who we should be after

I already mentioned him as a possible number 2 to McEntee. I'd imagine he'd have a lot to offer as a forwards coach and selector. If McEntee wasn't interested and McConville was I'd have no problem with McConville on a list of applicants.

I don't think O'Rourke's CV is that amazing that we'd discount someone like McConville entirely. It's about having a list of realistic candidates as TsuDhoNimh has said. We must have a very high opinion of ourselves when after more than 70 years without Sam Maguire we don't want to even consider multiple medal winning all-star and all ireland winners. We should be flattered that they'd show such an interest.

Agreed that they should be given the third year. Would advocate a new face in the team though to focus on attacking strategy.

If in future we are looking externally for a manager we should not just go for a big name with limited track record however. Assuming there are no proven all Ireland winning coaches available we need to go after someone with a demonstrated track record of developing a team

Names I've seen mentioned that I do not want anywhere near the Mayo job:

• Kevin Walsh
• James Horan
• Ray Dempsey
• Jim McGuinness
• Peter Forde
• Ger Brennan/Mark McHugh/Kieran Donaghy (not even one full season between them as a head coach)
• Malachy O'Rourke
• Jack O'Connor (wouldn't go near it in a million years, but Kildare showed what he can do without a couple of all time greats in his teams)

Names I've seen mentioned on this thread that I wouldn't have a problem with being the next Mayo manager:

• Tony McEntee
• Oisin McConville (preferably as on a ticket with McEntee)
• Andy Moran (long term, maybe, but not now)
• John Reilly (would like to see him added to a ticket at the very least)
• Eamon Fitzmaurice (although I'm not 100% as there might be a suspicion that he underachieved with Kerry and got very lucky with the one he won in 2014)

You know there's always going to be a wildcard or two, there always is.

Whether McStay goes or stumbles on for another year (like Horan in 2022), it's clear from what I'm hearing from people across the county that the support for him is evaporating and without Sam (which isn't going to happen) and/or a bad beating in the group/qualifiers that once the conversation even starts, he's a dead man walking…..

It was noticeable during the Ulster final the passion displayed by McGuiness during the team huddle before the game and before extra time. You could almost see the players feeding off his energy. He didn't allow them a minute to lose focus or intensity. It was the difference between winning and losing IMO.

I don't get the same feeling about Mayo. Letting games slip away that we should be winning suggests an issue with resolve and concentration. Kevin is a great guy but I'm not sure he has the energy levels to transfer to the team. He seems very passive on the line at times.

I was at the semi final and there was no portaloos, just plenty of permanent toilets that you could access without queueing for 20+ minutes like Castlebar….. Anyway, we've bigger problems to be worrying about at the moment than what ground has the better jacks! 😂

I never queued 20mins in McHale Park. It was portaloos in the Hyde at the back of the main stand a few weeks ago.

Its very hard to see him here for another two years. Granted he doesn't really have the quality of players that we had a few years back but it appears we are sliding further away under him, gone boring in our play, very predictable….

Anyway he deservered his shot. Probably should have got it the first time around and it may have been different as we had more quality.

In fairness, it was tactical genius to throw the game to Galway in Salthill. Avoiding Armagh and Derry and making it easier to claim a 2nd place in the Dublin group. And have more of a chance of beating Dublin in a neutral venue - could even top the group. Not many managers could have that kind of foresight. He must have been having a little giggle to himself seeing Joyce and Co jumping around with glee after the Connacht final.

* A little bit of tongue-in-cheek in the above comments. But it could work out in our favour. The next few weeks will tell.

Mike Finnerty from the Mayo Gaa pod and GAAGO says hes hearing Tullamore,he'd have good contacts.

As stated my preference is for Limerick but I'm in 2 minds about Tullamore. On one hand the Mayo support base isn't what it was. Just over 19,000 at the Connacht final and was there even 7,000 from Mayo?. And do all season ticket holders really have to have a seat?

On the other hand it's Dublin that may have more issues with getting enough tickets for their supporters. I think it highlights a need for a 30,000+ venue somewhere in the midlands. It wasn't much of an issue up to recently but if the group stages become a permanent fixture it's likely that a modern central stadium would be useful to facililtate a lot of games.