'Shameful' - The GAA world reacts to Kevin McStay dismissal by Mayo county executive
'No class', 'disgusting' - Lee Keegan, Des Cahill, Tommy Rooney, Fintan O'Toole and many others do not hold back in criticising the Mayo GAA county executive for their decision
Kevin McStay and his management have been sacked from their duties by the Mayo GAA county executive.
Mayo crashed out early in the group stages of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. A dramatic defeat at the hands of Donegal with the last kick of the ball sealed the management's fate.
And then it all happened a mere ten days later: The news spread like wild fire last night. The county executive sent out a short press release at 9.30pm.
The official statement was only four sentences short. It read: "a decision was made to relieve Kevin McStay and his management team from their roles with the Mayo Senior Football Team with immediate effect."
READ: Three years as Mayo manager: A look back at Kevin McStay's stint in charge of the Green and Red
There is heavy criticism online about how Kevin McStay and his management were treated. Many will have expected this outcome, but they question the timing and manner.
On X, formerly Twitter, the tone of the comments Michael Verney, from the Irish Independent said: "There’s a right way to go about your business and this is not it!"
Tommy Rooney, from Off The Ball, wrote: "The nature of the lengthy management review in the off-season last year made it a messy winter for Mayo Football - it did not help anyone, the complete opposite approach taken now, with his 'relieving' handled equally poorly."
And Des Cahill, famous RTÉ sports broadcaster, slammed the county board by saying: "Absolutely no class from Mayo GAA. Totally insensitive to Kevin McStay who served the county since he was a teenager. I wonder if #Mayo sponsors stand over the tone and language used in dumping a group,who admittedly failed to win an All-Ireland - like every predecessor since 1951"
Another user summarises the affair simply: "One of the most insensitive press releases I’ve seen."
And Fintan O'Toole from the42.ie makes a telling comparison between the way Kevin McStay and his colleague from Antrim, Andy McEntee, were treated:
Bernard Flynn didn't hold back either, calling out 'shameful' behaviour in his opinion: "What a horrible disgusting way to treat a really good classy guy like Kevin Mc Stay …no game until next February & to do this to a gentleman who has been unwell & one who has served his County with distinction."