A Mayo man who succeeded in making people proud

by Martin Carney, Mayo's foremost GAA columnist

AS the year runs out there are people who merit mention and by their actions over a lifetime deserve recalling.

In life we are often fortunate to encounter some who quite simply make our lives better and convince us to believe that anything is possible, above all through hard work. John O’Mahony was one of those.

In a lifetime of endless devotion to family in particular, work and his chosen sport, John left an indelible mark.

Time waits for none of us. John was no exception; he shuffled off the mortal coil on July 6 this year following an illness.

In his 71 years on Earth he managed to fulfil most of the targets he set, brought happiness to the communities he served, and, above all, provided – along with his wife Geraldine – for his five daughters.

A native of Kilmovee – the son of a Cork father and a Mayo mother – John grew up along with his brothers Dan and Stephen in Ballaghaderreen.

From an early age he was recognised as one with a very competitive streak. During his formative playing period he was part of Mayo’s All-Ireland-winning minor team in 1971 and three year later the victorious Under 21 team.

A no-nonsense corner back, he was a byword for dependability. Adding to his achievements, he was a defensive lynchpin on the Ballagh’ team that won their first ever county senior title in 1972.

After graduating from Maynooth University he secured a teaching post in his Alma Mater, St. Nathy’s, and settled into life after marrying the love of his life, Geraldine Towey.

It wasn’t long before he realised his wider sporting strengths lay in managing and in 1983 he steered a talented Mayo team to success in the All-Ireland Under 21 championship when they beat Derry in a replay.

Later, three men from the squad – Peter Ford, John Maughan and Kevin McStay – went on themselves to forge illustrious careers in senior inter-county management.

Like so many before him and after, he had a burning desire to see Sam return to the county for the first time since 1951. Working to achieve this became an obsession.

He watched the group he had nurtured at underage continue to prosper and in 1987 was appointed senior manager. A Connacht senior title success in 1988 (hard to believe it was only the second such honour in 19 years) was a prelude to an even bigger achievement the following year.

In 1989 he came close to realising his dream when leading the county to their first All-Ireland final appearance in 38 years.

Defeat to Cork then, whereas bitterly disappointing, served to strengthen and awaken a Mayo sense of identity worldwide that had lain dormant for some time.

In reaching the final, the broader sporting public witnessed a Mayo football team capable of challenging for All-Ireland honours. Furthermore, getting there strengthened a sense of self-belief with players and set the foundation for many subsequent final appearances.

One of the clearest memories I have from that occasion is to do with a photo taken immediately after the final whistle. Etched on Johnno’s face in the picture was a reflection of the sense of utter devastation felt by him personally and by so many others.

John was a sporting pioneer in many ways. During that initial spell with Mayo, he was prepared to explore what would then have been regarded as innovative training methods; today they are taken for granted.

He was the first I recall who saw the benefits of using a team psychologist. Video analysis was virtually unheard of until he worked extensively with it.

His training methods were to a degree old- school (I remember excruciating runs on Lacken beach), but he had an uncanny ability to get inside a player’s head and convince him that everything was possible.

Breege Ruane’s restaurant on Main Street became a focal post-training stopping-off spot. Team discipline and the overall culture surrounding Mayo football tightened significantly.

The tenet that no one was bigger than the team was something he religiously espoused. He worked endlessly on increasing that inner self-belief that he saw as vital to success. Above all he treated players with respect.

The relationship between board, management and team remained healthy. Yet football is notorious for spitting out those who are willing and capable of making a difference.

Mayo proved no different and after a split with the county, Johnno found himself commander-in-chief in Leitrim, where he led them to Connacht success in 1994.

Like many before and afterwards, Leitrim found that he never hid behind a false front; people who dealt with him respected this honesty and forthrightness. Arguably this victory was his greatest sporting achievement.

Once he stepped aside from Leitrim, Galway weren’t slow in recognising what he could bring to the Tribesmen.

Knowing they possessed a talented team but one lacking discipline and direction, the Galway board, in appointing Johnno, believed they found the man who could turn lead to gold.

Sure enough, All-Ireland success followed in 1998 and 2001, thus securing forever his reputation and legacy.

Professionally, he switched direction soon afterwards. Between 2007 and 2016 he served as a TD (elected twice although his hometown, Ballaghaderreen, wasn’t in the constituency!) and thereafter to 2020 as a member of the Senate.

That said, the itch for football and in particular Mayo football never settled, and when offered the opportunity he took the helm for his second stint in 2006.

Different to his first period in charge, where he effectively inherited a team he himself moulded from underage, this time round he came in contact with a very talented, young but raw squad.

Another Connacht title followed in 2009 but a devastating defeat to Longford the following year brought the curtain down on his inter-county managerial career.

Many who went on to serve Mayo with distinction made their debuts during this spell. Among that cohort were Chris Barrett, Ger Cafferkey, Donal Vaughan, Kevin McLoughlin, Aidan and Seamie O’Shea, Tom Parsons, Colm Boyle and Mickey Conroy.

Illness in recent years didn’t diminish his love for managing. He steered Salthill/Knocknacarra to success in Galway club football.

Yet nothing compared to his love of place nor the love of the ladies in his life. For wife Geraldine and daughters Grainne, Niamh, Rhona, Deirdre and Cliodhna, this will be a difficult Christmas.

But if it’s any consolation, by witnessing the numbers alone that attended his removal and funeral, they saw the respect and affection that he was held in far and wide.

When all is said, John O’Mahony was one who strove to and succeeded in making people proud.