Mayo club managerial vacancies persist as county-title-winning managers to remain on

AT least seven Mayo GAA clubs have yet to appoint managers to their adult teams following a raft of new appointments. 

Niall Heffernan will remain on for a fifth season with county senior champions Ballina Stephenites. Likewise, Brian Benson, who guided his native Crossmolina Deel Rovers to senior football and provincial and All-Ireland glory, will remain in situ. 

Cill Chomáin, who won the junior title under the guidance of Nigel Reape and John Maloney, have yet to appoint a manager as they prepare for life in the intermediate ranks. 

Kiltane, Louisburgh, Charlestown, Belmullet, Moygownagh and Kilmovee Shamrocks are also yet to appoint managers. 

Meanwhile, John Brogan, who co-managed Knockmore to last year’s county senior final, will be coaching Parke in the coming year after Tom Walsh and Martin Keaveney were installed as joint managers. 

Moy Davitts, who were beaten in the intermediate county final replay by Crossmolina, will be managed by Paul McGarry in 2025.

McGarry, who won an All-Ireland senior title with Ballina Stephenites, managed Mayo Gaels in recent years and helped them retain their senior status last season with a victory over Kilmeena in a play-off.

In his absence, Mayo Gaels have appointed former players Johnny Griffin and Niall Brett as joint managers with former Galway, Corofin, and Garrymore footballer Ciarán McGrath installed as coach. 

McGrath lined out in goal last season with Garrymore, who have stayed within the club with their appointment of Tony Corcoran who returns to the manager’s role for a second spell as the men in red look to make the breakthrough at senior level. His former Corofin and Galway teammate, Kieran Fitzgerald, who served as a selector with Garrymore in recent years, will coach Ballinrobe under new manager Eoin Hughes.

Ballaghaderreen also opted for a local manager when Patrick Sharkey took on the role. He’s joined on the management team by coach/selectors John Mitchell and David McHugh.

Davitts, meanwhile, have secured the services of former player Martin Connolly, who will coach the border men alongside local man Liam Nyland, who will remain at the helm for 2025. 

Connolly guided Westport to their first and only senior county in 2022. He stepped down last season after the Clew Bay men exited the senior championship to Breaffy in the quarter-finals. 

Another Davitts man, former Mayo footballer Mickey Conroy, will coach the Ballyhaunis footballers this year under Tuam native Pete Warren, who is also staying put as manager. 

The current list of Mayo clubs with managers appointed to their adult first teams is as follows: Ardagh: Paul Moran; Ballycastle:  Pat Tighe; Ballycroy: Ger McNulty; Belmullet TBC; Bonniconlon Nobby McLoughlin; Ballina Stephenites: Niall Heffernan; Crossmolina: Brian Benson; Killala: Martin Farrell; Northern Gaels: Micheal Collins; Cill Chomáin: TBC; Kiltane: TBC; Knockmore: Ray Dempsey; Moygownagh: TBC; Lahardane: Eddie Conroy; Ardnaree: Rory Clarke; Westport: Pat Holmes; Kilmeena: Damien Egan; Louisburgh: TBC; Achill:  Brian Lavelle; Breaffy: Sean Deane; Balla: Alan Nolan; Castlebar Mitchels: Kevin Filan; Ballintubber: Damien Coleman; Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin: Tom Walsh/Martin Keaveney; Islandeady: John Kelly; Tuar Mhic Eadaigh: Shane Moran; Garrymore: Tony Corcoran and Fintan Forde; Mayo Gaels: Johnny Griffin and Niall Brett; Hollymount/Carramore: Mark Concannon; Ballinrobe: Eoin Hughes; The Neale: Donal Costello; Davitts: Liam Nyland, Shrule/Glencorrib; Tom Flynn, Aghamore: Patrick Finnegan; Ballaghaderren: Patrick Sharkey; Charlestown TBC; Kiltimagh: Mick Regan; Ballyhaunis: Pete Warren; Eastern Gaels: Paul Hickey; Kilmovee Shamrocks TBC; Bohola Moy Davitts: Paul McGarry.