Mayo review may see changes to Kevin McStay’s backroom set-up
Review: Mayo Term Manager Kevin Marken/sportsfile Through A Is Pic: Stephen Halfway Year Mcstay Four
A review of Kevin McStay’s second season in charge of Mayo could recommend changes be made to his management set-up.
McStay is halfway through a four-year term but it is understood a number of key county board officials feel alterations are required before he can be endorsed for 2025.
Following a disappointing season, McStay may choose himself to reshape his own non-playing team. The review is expected to be completed shortly.
Stephen Rochford is McStay’s assistant manager. Donie Buckley was also a coach during Rochford’s time as Mayo manager, while Damien Mulligan is a Crossmolina club-mate and former team-mate of Rochford’s. Joe Canney previously played under Rochford when he was Corofin manager.
McStay replaced his long-time coach Liam McHale with Canney following McHale’s decision to leave the set-up after one season. McHale later cited differences in opinion with the remainder of the management group: “There were five of us there and the four lads had a totally different philosophy on how this team should play than what I had.”
Mayo exited this year’s championship at the hands of Derry in an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final in Castlebar in June after a penalty shoot-out. A draw with Dublin in their final group game in Dr Hyde Park the previous weekend denied them an automatic quarter-final spot on score difference.
It was only the second time in 13 years, the first since 2018, that Mayo failed to reach the last eight of the championship. It came after they lost their first Connacht final in 16 years.
Aside from the relatively early championship exit, Galway’s domination of the province has brought an added focus on the current Mayo set-up.
Since the late John O’Mahony guided the county to the Nestor Cup in 2009, Mayo’s seven provincial titles have been won under the management of James Horan (six) and Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes (2015).
Speaking after the loss to Derry, McStay said Mayo had to realise where they stood in the hierarchy of inter-county football. “I’m going to reflect and say we’re hugely competitive but we’re not at the top, top level yet.”
McStay steered Mayo a Division 1 title in 2023 before they lost out to Roscommon in their Connacht opener a week later. They beat Kerry in their opening group game in the Sam Maguire Cup and saw off Galway in a preliminary quarter-final before shipping a heavy quarter-final loss to Dublin.
McStay was appointed as Horan’s successor in August 2022. He had sought a three-year term but was offered four years.