Mike Finnerty
THE saga regarding the next manager of the Mayo senior football team seems set to rumble on for at least another week as both the Mayo GAA Board and John O’Mahony remain tight-lipped about the current state of play.
A month has now passed since Mickey Moran stepped down from the position and John O’Mahony has been mulling over the vacant post in recent weeks. However, his involvement with Ballaghaderreen in both the drawn and replayed County Finals – allied to his role as an advisor with St Brigid’s of Roscommon for last Sunday’s Connacht semi-final with Crossmolina – have been cited as some of the reasons why he has not yet reached a decision.
Speaking to The Mayo News last night, Mayo GAA Secretary, Sean Feeney, would only confirm that O’Mahony had been offered the job and that the Board were awaiting his response. He refused to be drawn in relation to the issue of a time-frame for the situation to be resolved.
Feeney also explained that a date had not yet been finalised for the next meeting of the Mayo GAA Board. One of the reasons for this is to allow time for the Task Force Committee that was established to examine the thorny issue of club football fixtures to complete its proposals for 2007. These proposals will be unveiled to club delegates at the next board meeting.
MEANWHILE, at least four candidates have been nominated for the vacant post of Mayo minor manager. Eugene Ivers (manager of the last two years), Michael Moyles (Crossmolina), Barry Murphy (Ballina) and Ray Dempsey (Knockmore) have all been nominated with the deadline for inclusion in the race fast approaching.
ELSEWHERE, the Mayo Ladies GAA Board Chairman Bernard Comiskey has said that the process of finding the next manager of the Mayo Ladies senior football team is also still ongoing.
Charlie Lambert stepped down as manager earlier this month and since then the Executive of the County Board were empowered to appoint his successor. Former manager Finbarr Egan has submitted his name for the vacancy but Comiskey was unwilling to reveal any other names in the shake-up.
“We intend to talk to a few people this week. There are a few people we want to talk to, that is the position. There will certainly be no appointment this week. There are a few people who have come forward but I’m not at liberty to give their names,” he revealed.
