Kevin McStay appointed Mayo manager for four-year term
A new era for Mayo football begins
Kevin McStay has been named the new manager of the Mayo senior football squad for the next four years.
The former All-Star was confirmed as the successful candidate at a special meeting of the Mayo County GAA Board in Castlebar tonight.
An interview panel nominated him for the role ahead of Ray Dempsey, Mick Solan and Declan Shaw.
Clubs delegates have ratified the appointment on the recommendation of the executive.
Ahead of the interviews at Knockranny Hotel, Westport, over the weekend, McStay named former Mayo manager Stephen Rochford, ex-Mayo coach Donnie Buckley, coach Liam McHale and former Belmullet manager Damien Mulligan as his backroom team.
McStay, who resides in Roscommon, is expected to meet club delegates and the local media in the coming weeks to outline his plans.
His appointment represents a remarkable turnaround for the Ballina man who had ruled himself out of ever seeking the position again after missed out on securing the job in 1995 and 2015, having being led to believe on both occasions that he was the leading contender for the post.
Speaking at the launch of his book, The Pressure Game, at An Sportlann, Castlebar, in October 2019, he announced that his memoir signalled the end of his career in football management.
"When I finished up with Roscommon, I was physically exhausted. I knew it was time to make a clean break and the time was right to write my book."
He confirmed he then he would not be applying for the Mayo management position if the opportunity arose in the future.
Having missed out for the post twice, he said he was particularly disappointed by the circumstances in which he lost out seven years ago.
He revealed: "I knew the team was so close in 2015 after James Horan did an unbelievable job.
"I was the only candidate but I was not appointed. I believe it was down to a combination of bad luck and poor communications rather than what the conspiracy theorists may have been saying.
"But it was the lowest point of my sporting career. It was a pity for myself and my family to miss out. I have moved on from all that, however."
However, such is his passion for Mayo football he could not keep the promise he made to himself three years ago.
And when the vacancy opened up following the decision of James Horan to step down at the end of June following Mayo's quarterfinal exit from the All-Ireland SFC to Kerry at Croke Park, he applied for the role.
And now he is the man in the hot seat for the next four years with the objective of winning the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time since 1951.
County Board chairman Seamus Tuohy wished McStay and his team every success over the coming seasons.
He paid tribute to all four candidates for their passion and their impressive interviews.
He also thanked James Horan who the time and effort he had invested the Mayo football.
McStay (60)) will begin his term by attending club county championship games across Mayo over the coming weeks before selecting a panel ahead of the 2023 National League series.
As a player, he made 56 senior appearances for Mayo before retiring from inter-county football in 1990 due to a serious injury. He won an All-Star Award in 1985.
As a manager he led Mayo to a Connacht Under-21 title in 2001. His greatest managerial success was achieved in 2013 when he led Roscommon club, St. Brigid's, to the All-Ireland Club SFC crown.
McStay served as manager of the Roscommon senior football team from October 2015 to September 2018, his first year being in a joint capacity.
He has worked with RTÉ Sport over the past numbers of years, both as a co-commentator during live matches and as an analyst for The Sunday Game, during which he showed himself as having a tremendous knowledge and insight of the sport.
His appointment will be warmly welcomed by Mayo supporters who look forward to him bringing a fresh dynamism and approach to a squad already rich in quality and young talent.
Let a new era for Mayo football begin.