Mick O’Dwyer sends out mixed messages to Mayo

O’Dwyer sends out mixed messages to Mayo


Mike Finnerty

With Mick O’Dwyer sending out very mixed messages about his interest in being the next manager of the Mayo senior football team, it seems no surprise that two home-grown candidates are now leading the betting with a local bookmaking firm in the county.
Speaking in Dublin yesterday (Thursday) as Cork’s Billy Morgan was being inducted into the MBNA Hall of Fame, O’Dwyer, who confirmed his interest in the Mayo post to a County Board official last week, was giving little away when speaking to the media.
The 74 years-old also made the startling claim that he would, “take Kilkenny as quick as I'd take Mayo if I got a notion” despite the fact that he was is one of five nominees for the vacant Mayo job — along with James Horan, John Maughan, Denis Kearney and Anthony McGarry.
“The 32 counties in Ireland would be appealing to me — I'd take Kilkenny as quick as I'd take Mayo if I got a notion,” said O’Dwyer. “And I've proven that, I took Kildare when they were down, I took Laois when they were down and I took Wicklow.
“It wouldn't matter one way or the other. I love training teams, I'm back training my old club in Waterville and I still get a buzz out of it."
“After the championship being over this year I said I was going to take a good break,” he added. “And, to be very honest, I have made no decision, one way or the other. Every county that becomes available they will generally associate me with going looking for the job but I’m having a good rest and I’ve made no decision about where I’m going or what I’m doing.
“It’s a bit flattering in a way,” he commented when asked about speculation linking him with a move to Mayo. “Mayo have a lot of good players and some good men have been nominated there to do the job there as well so. .
“Maybe they’re looking for somebody from outside the county for a change. But, whatever happens, they have plenty of players in Mayo there’s no doubt about that.”
Meanwhile, John Maughan and James Horan are now the front-runners to eventually get the job according to Mayo bookmaker, Stagg Betting.
The odds on both candidates have shortened considerably in the last 48 hours with Maughan now the 4/6 favourite and Horan’s price cut down to 2/1.
This morning (Friday), the Ballindine bookies had also priced Mick O’Dwyer (3/1), Peter Ford (6/1), Denis Kearney (10/1), Noel Connelly (10/1), Ray Dempsey (14/1) and Anthony McGarry (14/1).
The matter will be discussed at official level again next Tuesday evening when the Mayo GAA executive meet in Castlebar.