COLUMN: The right men for Mayo GAA's toughest job

If only the FBD League was still in existence. There'd be 10,000 Mayo souls pouring into a freezing cold, damp and windy MacHale Park in January filled with optimism and excitement.

A new era has officially begun, and if there’s a more popular pairing than Andy Moran and Colm Boyle to take the reins, I’d be very surprised.

Two cult heroes of Mayo football. Two of the greatest players to ever wear the jersey. Two players who helped Mayo get as close as we’ve ever come to that damn Sam Maguire. 

But the cauldron they’ve stepped into is a different kettle of fish. A clean slate, if you like. They won’t need to ask the many great men who have taken the reins before them about how quickly your past heroics are forgotten if things go sour. 
This is the big time and primary success metric for Andy Moran is simple. Win the All-Ireland! 

In these same pages this columnist wrote these very words about James Horan’s second reign. About Kevin McStay too. There are other KPIs, sure, but none matter like Sam Maguire for the Mayo supporters. 

Harsh or not, that’s what they will be solely judged on. 

DELIVERY

It was hard not to feed off the enthusiasm and optimism that Andy and Colm Boyle brought to Thursday night's press conference. 

They said all the right things, like every manager before them, but Andy delivered it in a way that only Andy could.

There were fascinating nuggets throughout. The intentions about getting lads playing for Mayo while working and living in Mayo struck me. Having everything within arm's reach - medical, training, strength and conditioning. Creating a proper Mayo camp. 

We've been lucky working alongside Colm on the Mayo Football Podcast over the past couple of years. His knowledge of the game is second to none. What he says off camera is more interesting than what he says on it.

New coach Paddy Tally brings that outside perspective that an internal management needs. That fresh voice. The man has tasted success nearly everywhere he went. His football pedigree is up there with the best and it will be interesting to see what touch he puts on this Mayo squad.

A new management team will bring a huge bounce within the county. 

One that's desperately needed. The exit from championship last year was symbolic of where the team was heading  - just off by the fine margins but consistently coming up short. 

Players left in exodus – a new phenomenon for Mayo football in the modern generation. 

If there's a single club footballer in the county who wouldn't want to go back in under the new management team of Andy Moran and Colm Boyle, I'd be massively surprised. That's the great excitement of new management. 

Everyone is on board at this stage. Anything seems possible.

SIZE OF TASK

MAKE no mistake, the size of the task ahead for Colm Boyle and Andy Moran is enormous.

They carry heroic status in the county as a management team because of what they've done on the pitch over the last number of years. 

But it will count for absolutely nothing unless there is success.

Sam Maguire is success. Nothing else matters for Mayo people. That's the ruthless nature of this job and they'll know that.
Development of teams and players is important, and it was great to hear them emphasising the importance of aligning S&C from minors up. 

But that shouldn't even have to be said. That should be standard, but it’s a sign of Mayo’s failings that it’s not in place before this. 

Mayo will be heading into 2026 with as much chance of reaching a league final as they have of getting relegated.

They are picking up a team who showed, on their day, they weren’t far off the pace. However, finding that consistency they’ve lacked over the past number of years has got to be a focus. 

RELATIONSHIP QUESTION

One of the main questions about this appointment I’ve been hearing time and time again is whether the close relationship Colm Boyle and Andy have with current players will become a problem.

Will Andy be able to go in there and judge completely objectively? Can he put any allegiance aside?

Anyone who has played football and shared a dressing room with players at the level of success these lads have knows the lifelong bond that creates. 

Andy is carrying that into a room with some of those same players. It's going to be a challenge, but I don't think it will be insurmountable.

At the end of the day, Andy is a businessman. I'm convinced he understands this is business. There's no room for cozy friendships in business.

He’s going to have plenty of tough calls to make. He’s going to have to show a ruthless streak akin to James Horan and Conor Mortimer.

These lads are ambitious enough to know it's all about the team.

THE FOOTBALL

Colm Boyle has been blue in the face over the past number of months in his media gigs talking about how Mayo simply don’t get enough scores for the modern game.

Mayo's style of football under Kevin McStay, and coached by Stephen Rochford, didn’t work. 
It was systematic. Conservative. Risk averse. When the new rules were introduced it went out of date almost overnight. Like college students writing essays before AI rolled out.

With a talented group of players coming through from minor, U-19 and U-20, now is the time to start developing for this type of football. 

An emphasis on finding two-point shooters is key. The agricultural midfielder is back in the game too. Tall, can fetch ball, deliver and run all day are the attributes. We’re talking John Maher style. 

It will be interesting to see if Andy, with that forward's mindset, can put his stamp on our attacking play.
Boyle and Tally are more defensive-minded; Andy will need to find the balance of coaching and managing, but the appointment feels right. 

The county is ready for a management team like this. 

The question is whether they are ready for it.