Mayo GAA club management team step aside ahead of 2026 season

THE management team that has led Tooreen through an extraordinary period in the annals of Mayo hurling have stepped down after rendering incredible service and devotion to the club for a number of seasons.

The club has paid a warm tribute to Ray Larkin, Dom Greally and Brian Delaney in the aftermath of their decision to pass on the reins to a new combination that will lead Tooreen for the 2026 season.

“They have been at the forefront of the most successful period in our club’s history and we would like to extend to them our sincere thanks for bringing us on a journey most clubs can only dream of.

“Their dedication, commitment and countless hours of work over the years gave our players the belief in what could be achieved and our supporters the best of days.

"On behalf of everyone in the club, we thank them for their efforts and wish them the very best for the future.

“And of course we will be cheering on Ray in his endeavours with the Mayo hurlers! Go n-éirí an t-ádh libh agus go raibh míle maith agaibh,” said a statement issued by Tooreen Hurling Club. 

Galway native and Kiltimagh resident, Ray Larkin, joined the management team headed by Paul Hunt back in 2016 and has been deeply involved with the club over the last decade.

The major breakthrough came in 2017 when Tooreen, still under the management of Paul Hunt, won their first Connacht Intermediate Hurling title when defeating Galway champions, Ballinderreen, by four points, an amazing achievement on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the club back in 1957.

Larkin was at the helm when Tooreen captured provincial honours in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, with Dom Greally and Brian Delaney as his selectors. Stephen Leneghan was also a selector with the team last season.

Tooreen came within a puck of the ball of All-Ireland glory in two dramatic showdowns in Croke Park with Monaleen of Limerick and Upperchurch-Drombane of Tipperary.

In early January of this year, it took a long range-strike from a free by Gavin Ryan (Tipperary) to bring the game to extra time and, ultimately, deny the Mayo champions national honours.

“We had great times on an incredible journey,” Dom Greally told The Mayo News at the weekend.

“There are a lot of demands out there and, while it can be hard going at times to fit everything in, it was worth every minute of the journey. It was a hard decision to make and we very reluctantly decided that change may be needed at this stage.

"The club is in a strong position and we will assist the new management team in any role we can in the times ahead.”