Month: September 2021

THE U21 SUCCESS was being celebrated but senior matters did not stray far from Tipperary hurling thoughts in the Gaelic Grounds last night.

It was an All-Ireland underage triumph for the county to cherish after a major revival since the Munster final but when the man at the helm for Tipperary spoke afterwards, the issue of the vacant senior position in the county was always set to crop up.

That’s two national titles as a manager now for Liam Cahill, 2018 success at U21 level following on from the back of the 2016 glory in the minor grade.

But does he want to make the step up to replace Michael Ryan in the senior hotseat?

“My mother used to always say, ‘be fierce careful what you wish for’. The bottom line is sure, I’m a Tipperary man and I love Tipperary hurling. I said during the week that if the opportunity arises to sit down and talk to the relevant people selecting the next Tipperary manager, I’d love to sit down and talk to them.

“Whether I’m right or not for the job, I’m not sure. I’d like to remain where I am. I know I’m talking a bit too much but I feel now the right place for me to be is with next year’s U20s, and to get another year under my belt – and then to see if the opportunity comes around again.

“But look there’s no time like the present. We’ll sit down and see if I’m approached and if we do, we do. The bottom line, as I said during the week, the manager’s appointment is big, but it’s whoever is going to be on this man’s ticket is the key.”

Tipperary’s manager Liam Cahill celebrates at the final whistle with his wife Eimear.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

This All-Ireland win represented an impressive management feat. After losing to Cork by 13 points in early July, Tipperary have seen off Galway by six and then Cork in a re-match by three.

The surgery performed to the Tipperary starting side was notable with five personnel changes and another five positional changes from that Munster decider. Four players who started last evening did not feature at all in the provincial showdown.

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“In fairness to the media and the public, they had every reason to write us off. We did salvage some bit of our pride and our ability against Galway but it wasn’t really enough to convince people, and rightly so.

I know it’s easy to say it afterwards when you win that we were quietly confident behind the scenes but it was always going to be a narrower gap. It was never going to be a 13-point gap, that’s for sure. Different environment, different set-up. We knew a bit more about Cork than we did in the Munster final.

“They worked their socks off all over the field. Incredible to pick themselves up after the Munster final. All credit to the players. These are a very capable bunch of young men. A testament to the work that’s being done at underage in Tipperary. We don’t do everything right but we do an awful lot of things right.”

Tipperary captain Colin English lifts the trophy after yesterday’s game.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

After a season where the county senior side exited the championship arena on 10 June, an All-Ireland U21 title is a jolt to the fortunes of the Tipperary hurlers.

“It was vital, Tipperary people’s teams had the summer cut short this year,” stated Cahill.

“We love our hurling in Tipperary and hopefully the supporters came out today. I thought there’d be more of them, to be honest, but the real loyal supporters came out today and we’re really thrilled with them.

“I said during the week that we were coming into the final with no expectation, and for a Tipperary team coming into an All-Ireland final with no pressure, that just made the job a little easier.

“The Tipperary public know that as well, there has to be a major shake-up in the Tipperary squad. Thankfully these men today it might be a bit soon for them, but they are nipping nicely on the heels of some of them guys on the Tipp senior set-up that maybe (have been) in a comfort zone for a year or two. We will see what will happen.”

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THE GAELIC GROUNDS has not been a happy hunting ground for a bunch of Cork underage hurlers.

2015 saw them lose out by three points in a Munster minor semi-final to a Limerick team that they had defeated by 10 points a few months previously.

Last summer brought a two-point loss in a Munster U21 decider to another Limerick outfit.

And then last night a slender injury-time advantage morphed into a two-point loss to Tipperary with an All-Ireland U21 trophy up for grabs.

Three nights of underage hurling frustration with several players common to a couple of the sides, while seven hurled last night and lost out for a third occasion in four seasons.

Falling adrift on the scoreboard in injury-time when Tipperary bagged a late tally of 1-1 made it tougher for Cork boss Denis Ring and his players to bear.

“We were behind a number of times and responded very well to come back into the game. A late goal like that, it is a sucker-punch. It is desperately disappointing.

“Tipperary, to be fair, kept going and going. Every time they came up the field, they were a threat. We had our chances. We got ahead and we, maybe, could have pushed on from there.”

Conor Cahalane scores a brilliant goal for Cork after an incredible run. pic.twitter.com/JrYB2I3MWZ

— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 26, 2018

The upturn in Tipperary’s fortunes since the Munster decider did not surprise Ring.

“Tipperary came into the Munster final off the back of a win over a fantastic Limerick team. Maybe, they weren’t necessarily in the best place. We played very well that night, but I did identify that they were below par and they were a lot better than they showed that night.

“They proved they are a lot better than that. They beat a very good Galway team. Tipperary’s work-rate was phenomenal. They were faster to the break for a lot of the game.

“Early on, a lot of ball went up to our forward line and didn’t stick. They were fast onto the break, they were hungrier on the breaks. Balls went into our forward line in the first-half where we thought we could cause a but of trouble and create a bit of danger, but we didn’t, unfortunately.”

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Cork’s Declan Dalton is halted by the Tipperary defence.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Cork’s wait for underage glory stretches on, this U21 reversal hot on the heels of a minor decider loss last September. The national success was not delivered but Ring is hopeful these players can develop further at senior level.

“Being part of an All-Ireland is a great experience. Obviously, you want to win and it is hugely disappointing for all of us. There is no sugarcoating that.

“At the same time, they are gaining valuable experience every day they are going out. They are improving and developing as players. Some guys today, in particular, stood up to the plate, maybe, lesser-known names. That, hopefully, will reap rewards going forward when they move up to senior level.”

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LATE HURLING DRAMA is not just currently the preserve of All-Ireland finals, as evidenced by the conclusion of yesterday’s Kerry senior decider in Tralee.

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A week after Limerick held off a Galway comeback at senior level and on the same day a Tipperary revival caught Cork in the U21 grade, county hurling final day in the Kingdom ended in a blaze of drama yesterday afternoon.

For the second time in five seasons, Lixnaw saw off Kilmoyley in a decider as they eventually triumphed by 1-16 to 2-11 against the 2015 and 2016 champions.

The match concluded with Kilmoyley winning a late penalty as they trailed by two points. 

But county senior Daniel Collins saw his penalty for Kilmoyley saved by Lixnaw goalkeeper Martin Stackpoole, and with Tipperary referee Fergal Horgan having informed he had to score direct, it meant that the full-time whistle sounded before the rebound was despatched to the net.

Watch the late drama unfold here at Austin Stack Park from the 11 minute mark.

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FORMER TYRONE PLAYER Enda McGinley says the current Dublin team are unlikely to be affected by complacency compared with previous Dublin sides he encountered during his playing days.

Jim Gavin’s charges are aiming to win the Sam Maguire for a fourth successive time this weekend against Tyrone, which would leave them one title short of the unprecedented five-in-a-row.

But the three-time All-Ireland winner believes that Dublin will not be distracted by any mention of those prospective achievements when they take to the field in Croke Park.

“I think Dublin teams in the past, they wouldn’t have got to four-in-a-row… so the only reason that’s even a possibility is because unflappable this current Dublin team is,” he said.

“Being in the capital with all the attention that that brings, it was always their Achilles heel.”

Dublin’s unbeaten run in the championship stretches back to 2014, when they were beaten by Donegal in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Tyrone came agonisngly close to getting a result against the men from the capital during the inaugural Super 8s competition earlier this summer, but Dublin survived the stern test in Omagh.

McGinley credits former Dublin manager Pat Gilroy for introducing this new mindset which helped produce such a formidable outfit, but he recalls playing against a different Dublin team during his inter-county career.

I remember the team in the noughties used to go down and applaud the Hill and there was always this great show about Dublin, and we were rubbing our hands at that.

“That has all stopped. These boys are ruthless winners.

“You see it in the National League games where they shouldn’t have any desire to win it and yet they’ll come from three or four points down and absolute die on the pitch for random National League points when they’re sitting with three or four All-Ireland medals in their pockets.

[For] ordinary teams, complacency is a big thing but the way Jim Gavin has this team structured, even how he has them playing, they are so disciplined, they are so well drilled. I don’t think complacency is going to be an issue with Dublin.

Dublin are naturally considered to be overwhelming favourites going into this decider, but McGinley reports that there is a ‘remarkably confident’ atmosphere among Tyrone fans.

And having played under Mickey Harte, McGinley knows that the Tyrone manager shares their belief despite the heavy defeat they shipped against Dublin in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.

“From the moment they got hammered in last year’s semi-final, he would have been believing they could win this year’s All-Ireland, and that is with complete belief. And he’ll be talking like that to the team from day one this year.

“And you don’t really believe it, you’re still a sensible player. You’ve just had that hammering and you don’t really buy in. But as the season goes on you just believe more and more and more. And by this stage of the season you just believe fully.

The much-anticipated documentary ‘Tír Eoghain: The Unbreakable Bond’ was aired on TG4 on Sunday night, and the programme was well received by GAA viewers.

Ná caill amach! @TG4TV @UlsterGAA @TyroneGAALive pic.twitter.com/LsQ1i6nuMy

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) August 26, 2018

McGinley, who featured in the documentary, was unable to catch the broadcast but has recorded it at home.

He has received plenty of messages since it hit the screens and he was honoured to be part of the project.

“To be reminded of that story, you were there yourself but at 17/18, how much are you really taking in? Yes, you knew how it progressed over the years.

“But to see it put together in a programme like that, and I thought it was done really, really well, it’s brilliant to have it captured because Tyrone gets plenty of negative press and having been there through that journey I think what we were lucky enough to be part of as a team and as a group and what happened in the county is an amazing story.

“It’s just phenomenal and it makes you very proud of that group and something always to be.”

Enda McGinley was speaking at a media day ahead of this weekend’s GAA Football All-Ireland Final.

The former inter-county footballer has teamed up with Guinness as part of their GAA campaign ‘Bound Together’ which celebrates the power of the GAA to unite, and heroes the fans and their passionate commitment and connection to their local communities.

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This year’s victorious Galway, Limerick and Tipperary winning captains.

Source: INPHO

THE CURTAIN WAS brought down on the 2018 inter-county hurling championship season yesterday at the Gaelic Grounds as Tipperary lifted the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 crown.

It’s been a great few months of hurling action but how much do you remember? Time to test your knowledge.

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JIM GAVIN ARRIVED at Dublin’s All-Ireland final media night armed with facts and figures that show how Tyrone have evolved into a more attacking outfit. 

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Jim McGuinness suggested last week that Tyrone may look to drop 15 bodies behind their own 45 in an attempt to arm wrestle the four-in-a-row chasing side into submission. 

“It could become very ugly and farcical,” he wrote in his Irish Times column. ”It might lead to a farcical and even notorious All-Ireland final.”

But Gavin painted a different picture of Mickey Harte’s team and argued they are not given the credit for their attacking flair. 

“In the ten games they played, they have been impressive,” said Gavin. “They’ve racked up 17 goals which is a fair old achievement, over 160 points.

“Even when we were playing them in Omagh, going into that game they played Roscommon the previous week and the week before that they had played Cork, and they scored 7-44 in two games. 

“The perception that they’re just defensive is incorrect. They’ve got a very very potent attacking force. Obviously Connor McAliskey and (Niall) Sludden, Lee Brennan, Mark Bradley, they’re obviously very potent forwards.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

“Then you see Tiernan McCann coming up for scores, the two Donnelly brothers chipping in, Peter Harte, even the last day (against Monaghan) Colm Cavanagh got a long-range score. Frank Burns even up there popping away.

“So they have been very potent up front and I don’t think they’re getting the credit they deserve. But I think their supporters do realise that, and the expectation their fans have for their team, I think you see 7 goals and 160 odd points being scored in ten odd games, that’s pretty impressive.”

Red Hand boss Harte is one of the few inter-county managers with a credible record against Gavin, although he’s yet to manage a championship victory over his counterpart. 

Gavin heaped praise on the “all-time great” career Harte has enjoyed.

“He’s an incredible manager, one of the all-time great Gaelic football managers. He’s won so much in the past and will win a lot with this team into the future.

“Last year he got a three year contract which brings him to 2020, which obviously he saw that there’s a lot of potential in this particular group and they’re paying him back with the faith that they’ve put in him. So he’s put together a formidable football team.

“There’ll only be a kick of the ball between us. Hopefully the ball will bounce our way in the final.”

Diarmuid Connolly kicked 0-12 to help Donegal Boston lift the Boston title over the weekend, but there are still 10 players that saw game-time in the breakthrough 2011 All-Ireland final who are part of Gavin’s current squad. 

Paul Flynn and Bernard Brogan both played key roles against Kerry seven years ago, but now Flynn must be satisfied with an impact sub role while Brogan will be hoping to make the 26-man panel for Sunday after recently recovering from cruciate surgery.

“His attitude, his passion for Gaelic games is infectious,” he said of Flynn. “As it is with a lot, most, all the players in the squad really. Paul is a great leader as well has a great influence on the team dynamic.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“Team meetings, even on the training field, he drives everything along. A lot of players get that this team is the sum of its parts. Whatever part they’re asked to play, be it 70 minutes, they’re happy to do it.”

On Brogan’s speedy recovery, Gavin remarked: “That’s a very good demonstration of the commitment of these players. He could have chosen one particular part, having got back earlier in the season.

“But he decided to, over the last five and a half months, get himself back in the position to be competing for game-time which is an incredible feat of mind over the body. To push himself so far. He has a very successful but busy business, profession.

“His wife has just had twins – there’s a lot going on with Bernard’s life! To be able to compartmentalise and give so much time to Gaelic games has been inspirational.”

Despite their patient style of play, the Dublin manager feels his team “stay true to that style of Dublin football.”

“It’s open, it’s honest, attacking football. Obviously, we’re playing different defensive systems than we would have in the past, and the environment the players have created for themselves is that it is a team sport and they acknowledge that.

“So it is about contributing as best they can to that team effort. So whether that’s in terms of game-time. Obviously, they all want game-time, I get that, but they just want to play their part for their team. Then in terms of the attack, if they create a scoring opportunity, if the score is on then you take it, we’ve always said that to them.

“That will never change. The challenge has been meeting those different defensive structures that we have met in the past. That changes every year and it keeps everyone fresh on their toes.”

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 MAYO ARE ON the look-out for a new senior football manager after Stephen Rochford confirmed his resignation following three seasons in charge.

Rochford looked set to remain at the helm 2019 when Peter Ford and Shane Conway were confirmed as the new members of his backroom team earlier this week.

But speculation began to mount last night that Rochford was on the verge of resigning and he confirmed his departure in a statement released this evening. 

Rochford said: “After a meeting of the Mayo GAA Board’s Executive Committee last night, held to discuss the management team I had assembled to manage Mayo senior men’s team in 2019, the board issued a statement saying they wished to meet the management team and me about our structure and plans.

“It was apparent from what transpired at that meeting that the desired level of support for me as manager was not forthcoming from the Executive Committee. This disappoints me greatly.

“Accordingly, I see no value in meeting with the officers of the board and I am resigning my position as Mayo manager. I thank all those who supported me during the past three years, two of which saw Mayo come so close to winning the All-Ireland title.

“Like all Mayo people, I enjoyed the good days when the team won and suffered the disappointments when the results didn’t go our way. It was a great privilege to manage the Mayo team.

“The 2018 season was a disappointing one for all involved, and for our supporters.

“However, I had every confidence that our new backroom team had the capacity to build on the progress of previous years and drive the team on in 2019.

“In particular, I thank the players, backroom team, spouses and partners, family members, our team sponsors Intersport Elverys, the county board, the clubs and the Mayo supporters worldwide who turned out in huge numbers to support us during the three years and who lent financial backing to the team.

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“A special word of thanks to my wife, Laura, and our children, and both our families, for their support and forbearance at all times.

“I wish all who will wear the Mayo jersey in 2019 and beyond every success and I look forward to supporting the footballing fortunes of the county.”

The 39-year-old took Mayo to two All-Ireland finals during his tenure. They lost to Dublin by a point after a replay in 2016 and by the same margin to the same opposition in the 2017 decider.

Mayo’s interests in this year’s championship were ended by Kildare in round 3 of the qualifiers back in June. 

Mayo chairman Mike Connolly thanked Rochford following his decision to step down.

“We sincerely thank Stephen Rochford for all the hard work and commitment he has given to Mayo GAA since he was appointed in 2015,” Connolly said. 

“Stephen has given an enormous amount of service to Mayo and has given us as supporters many great days on the pitch.

“Since he become senior team manager he has been involved in three great years for Mayo GAA. He has brought Mayo to two All Ireland finals, losing both by the narrowest of margins. We wish him and his family all the best for the future and thank him for all he has done for Mayo GAA.”

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THE ALL-IRELAND football final is only days away but Stephen Rochford’s decision to step down as Mayo boss will dominate the news agenda over the next 48 hours as the county begin their search for a replacement. 

[image alt=”Stephen Rochford” src=”http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2018/08/stephen-rochford-63-630×323.jpg” width=”630″ height=”323″ title=”” /end]

Few details around his departure have emerged as of yet, but in a statement released this evening Rochford said a lack of support from the county board’s executive committee led to his resignation.

Rochford’s appointment in December 2015 arrived on the back of a player heave against joint-managers Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly. He led the county to narrow All-Ireland final defeats in 2016 (after a replay) and 2017 before their round 3 qualifier exit to Kildare this summer.

Attention now turns to Rochford’s successor, with several big names being linked for the position.

[image alt=”pjimage (1)” src=”http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2018/08/pjimage-1-246-500×500.jpg” width=”500″ height=”500″ /end]

Favourites

James Horan may fancy another crack at delivering the Sam Maguire back to his native county. Horan managed Mayo between 2011 and 2014 where he oversaw their All-Ireland final defeats of 2012 and 2013.

The Ballintubber native is currently in charge of Lee Keegan’s club Westport, who booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Mayo SFC at the weekend. 

The other frontrunner is Donegal’s All-Ireland winning manager Jim McGuinness. He was linked with the role earlier this month while there have been suggestions that Mayo’s US-based benefactors would be willing to fund a move for the Glenties man. 

McGuinness has been working as a TV pundit with Sky Sports during the summer and has been unattached since leaving Chinese soccer club Beijing Sinobo Guoan in January. It remains unclear whether he fancies a return to inter-county management.

Local options

If Mayo want to appoint a man from within the county’s underage set-up, they may look to Michael Solan. The Ballaghaderreen man led the county’s U21 side to All-Ireland success in 2016 and this year was in charge of the U20s who were defeated by Kildare in the All-Ireland final.

[image alt=”Alan Flynn” src=”http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2018/08/alan-flynn-5-406×500.jpg” width=”406″ height=”500″ /end]

Another potential candidate is former Galway U21 boss Alan Flynn. He managed the Tribe to All-Ireland U21 victory in 2013 and is highly experienced on the club circuit.

Castlebar Mitchels joint-manager Declan Shaw is another man being linked to the role. Shaw helped Mitchels to the Mayo SFC three-in-a-row as joint boss with Declan O’Reilly – another man who may fancy a crack at the job. This year Shaw is sharing the Mitchels manager’s role with Eamonn Smith. 

Outside bets

Current Roscommon boss Kevin McStay is likely to find himself mentioned as a potential successor given he has applied for the position in the past. McStay was a star forward for Mayo during his playing days and managed the county’s U21 side to the Connacht title in 2001. 

[image alt=”Tony McEntee” src=”http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2018/08/tony-mcentee-10-420×500.jpg” width=”420″ height=”500″ title=”” /end]

Peter Forde and Shane Conway were part of Rochford’s ill-fated management team for 2019 prior to his resignation, while renowned Armagh coach Tony McEntee was part of the Mayo backroom team for the past two seasons.

Maurice Sheridan led NUI Galway to the Sigerson Cup final earlier this year and played in two All-Ireland finals with Mayo during a nine-year senior career.

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Who do you think should get the job?

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OFFALY ARE SET to turn to John Maughan to take charge of their senior football squad for the 2019 season.

Maughan has been recommended by a committee comprising of Tommy Byrne, Pauric Pierce, Vinny Claffey and Eddie Fleming to take charge of the Faithful county.

It will bring to five the number of county senior outfits that Maughan has managed after previous spells with Clare, Mayo, Fermanagh and Roscommon, while also meaning he has been in charge of counties in each of the four provinces.

Maughan steered Clare to a historic 1992 Munster title win, while also being at the helm when Mayo lost All-Ireland deciders in 1996, 1997 and 2004.

He takes over a vacancy that arose since Offaly exited the championship with Paul Rouse having filled in on an interim basis after he was appointed in May.

Rouse took charge following the dramatic departure of Stephen Wallace that month after a provincial championship exit in their Leinster opener against Wicklow.

In the All-Ireland qualifiers, Offaly saw off Antrim by 2-20 to 1-15 before losing out to Clare by 1-19 to 2-14. They will ply their trade in Division 3 of the football league next spring after narrowly avoiding relegation to the basement tier earlier this year.

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EVEN BY MAYO standards, it’s been a madcap couple of weeks in the county.

Last night, Stephen Rochford confirmed his resignation as Mayo manager citing a lack of ”a desired level of support” for him to continue in the role for a fourth season.The 2015 All-Ireland club winning Corofin manager agreed on a two-year extension to his deal last October, which was supposed to bring him up to the end of 2020.

But the search for Rochford’s successor is now underway, with former boss James Horan one of the leading contenders to replace him. 

The ladies game is also in turmoil in the county after reigning All-Ireland club champions Carnacon were thrown out of the Mayo championship last week for “bringing the game into disrepute.”

Carnacon were punished for withdrawing their players from the Mayo squad during the summer and are set to have their appeal heard with the Connacht Council this week. 

On a positive note, the county board also announced plans for a new Centre of Excellence in Castlebar’s Lough Lannagh last week, but that’s been overshadowed by other off-field matters. 

In the aftermath of Mayo’s All-Ireland round 3 qualifier exit to Kildare in Newbridge back in June, Rochford indicated he would take some time out before making a decision on his future. 

“The group will dust themselves down over the winter and look to re-energise to come again in 2019,” Rochford stated.

“That group, there are four or five guys came into that group this season in their very early 20s. There are a lot of good quality players, Mayo have just won the (Connacht) Under-20 title. There may be some of them that won’t be available next season, but Mayo football will be competitive in 2019 – I have no doubt about that.

“That would be the case no matter when you go out in the championship – it isn’t necessarily a knee-jerk reaction to going out in round three. We have two years left on our term so I don’t want anyone reading into that either way.

“It’s just a case of reflection which would happen if you went to the last Sunday in the competition as well.”

There were several twists and turns before Rochford’s eventual resignation last night.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

23 July – Mayo county board chairman Mike Connelly says he expects Rochford to remain in charge for a fourth campaign, but they’re giving him a month to make his mind up. He also speculates there might be changes in his backroom team.

“There’s a lot of rumours that Donie Buckley isn’t going to be there and maybe Peter Burke (too),” Connelly tells the Western People. “We haven’t been told this but I presume that if that is happening, that (Stephen is) talking to whoever is remaining in his backroom and planning for next year. He was at the All-Ireland U20 semi-final in Carrick on Shannon so I presume he was there for more than one reason.”

1 August – It emerges that long-serving coach Buckley and goalkeeping coach Burke have both informed Rochford that they will be stepping down from their roles. It appears that Tony McEntee will be joining them.

14 August – Rochford officially commits to remain in charge of Mayo for the 2019 season. He also informs Connelly that Buckley, Burke and McEntee will not be continuing in their roles as part of the Mayo management team, while selector Joe Keane will remain in place.

15 August – Mayo forward Jason Doherty expresses his relief that Rochford is staying on. “Stephen has done some great work with us over the last number of years,” he said at a media event in Croke Park.

“We have definitely developed our game and new selectors coming on board will bring in new ideas and as a player you look forward to that, the anticipation of who will be in.”

16 August – Connelly and four other county board officials meet with Cillian O’Connor, Tom Parsons and Aidan O’Shea for an annual review meeting in MacHale Park, Castlebar.

17 August – The board meet with Rochford in MacHale Park and he informs them he is in the process of putting together a new backroom team.

21 August – At a Mayo LGFA county board meeting in the TF Royal Hotel, the agenda turns to whether Carnacon should be punished for withdrawing their players from the county squad. The delegates present vote 29-4 that Carnacon had breached rule 288 of the LGFA official guide. They vote 26-2 in favour of removing Carnacon from the rest of the 2018 league and championship.

23 August – Mayo GAA unveil plans to for a new three-pitch centre of excellence in Castlebar, in co-operation with Mayo County Council.

23 August – Carnacon confirm they are in the process of preparing an appeal to the Connacht LGFA over their expulsion from the club championship. “Understandably, the entire panel, management, club officers, our families and supporters are devastated by the sequence of events which have transpired,” it says.

23 August – At a county board meeting, Connelly tells club delegates that Rochford has been given a deadline of Friday 31 August to come up with names for his backroom team for 2019.

24 August – Mayo defender Chris Barrett is non-commital on Rochford staying in charge. “I’m not going to go too much into that at the moment because I’m not sure if it’s all rubber-stamped,” Barrett told the press at a Londis GAA event.

“He’s putting together his team at the moment. Continuity is great in football and it’s probably a key thing that it keeps going. Obviously there’s a shake-up in the backroom team so we’ll see who comes in.”

25 August – It emerges through media reports that Breaffy’s joint managers Peter Ford and Shane Conway have agreed to come on board as selectors under Rochford for next season. Ford previously managed  Sligo and Galway, while Conway is a respected coach on the club circuit.

26 August – Mayo county board release a statement through their official Twitter account stating that officers of the board had been “authorised” to meet with Rochford and his management set-up to discuss their plans for 2019.

Following an executive meeting of Mayo GAA this evening the officers of the board were authorized to meet Stephen Rochford & his management team on their structures & plans for 2019. #mayogaa #gaa

— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) August 26, 2018

26 August – Rochford meets with the board’s executive committee as planned. It’s expected they’ll ratify his new backroom team of Ford and Conway. Although the exact details of the meeting have not come out, it’s believed they did not endorse his new selectors.

It has also been speculated that the executive members were not happy that the names of new management team made their way into the public domain prior to the meeting.

Later in the evening, speculation on social media begins to mount that Rochford will tender his resignation. 

27 August – Connelly confirms to Midwest Radio and The Connaught Telegrah that Rochford remains the manager of Mayo.

Hours later, Rochford releases a statement confirming his decision to step down as manager. “It was apparent from what transpired at that meeting that the desired level of support for me as manager was not forthcoming from the executive committee,” he said. “This disappoints me greatly.

“Accordingly, I see no value in meeting with the officers of the board and I am resigning my position as Mayo manager. I thank all those who supported me during the past three years, two of which saw Mayo come so close to winning the All-Ireland title.”

Mayo release a brief statement thanking Rochford for his three years at the helm.

“We sincerely thank Stephen Rochford for all the hard work and commitment he has given to Mayo GAA since he was appointed in 2015. Stephen has given an enormous amount of service to Mayo and has given us as supporters many great days on the pitch.”

28 August – The search begins for Rochford’s successor with Horan, Jim McGuinness and Mike Solan the early frontrunners.

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