Top Mayo GAA boss steps down

NEWS is breaking this afternoon that Seán Deane has stepped away from his role as manager of the Breaffy senior team. The former Mayo Minor manager had been in charge of the West-Mayo men since July 2004 and led them to two county semi-finals, a quarter-final and a Division One league title.

Deane took on the job in July 2004 and immediately was tasked with keeping the team in Division One after assuming the role following a poor run of results. Survival was achieved when Breaffy defeated Aghamore in a relegation battle. They then went on a run that took them to the county semi-final where they lost to Knockmore after extra-time.

The following season, the men in blue and white won the Kelly Cup for the first time in nine seasons before creating their own type of history when winning the Division One league final in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park. This was the first senior final ever won by Breaffy and there were scenes of great delight when they got their hands on the cup named after their beloved former team-mate David Gavin.

Later in the season, Westport edged past Deane’s men in a memorable quarter-final, but Breaffy bounced back this season when topping their championship group. They were then, once again, drawn against Westport in the quarter-final and gained revenge for the 2025 setback with a 2-18 to 0-18 win on home soil.

That set them up for a semi-final clash with neighbours Castlebar Mitchels in O’Hara Park, Charlestown. However, Breaffy, arguably the most consistent side in the competition to that point, failed to hit form and bowed out as the Mitchels powered into the decider and on to the title.

Deane, now steps away and is sure to be sought-after following a successful stint with Breaffy and a memorable run with the Mayo Minors which yielded two Connacht titles and an All-Ireland final appearance in three seasons.