Horan named as Mayo boss
James Horan has been announced as the Mayo senior football manager, following a meeting of the County Board at McHale Park in Castlebar tonight.
Horan was the unanimous recommendation of the County Board Executive which met prior to this evening's full County Board meeting.
Horan is the current Ballintubber senior football manager. He will have Martin Connolly, Paul Jordan, James Nallen and Tom Prendergast as selectors in his Mayo backroom team.
The new Mayo management have been appointed for a three-year period, subject to a yearly review.
Former Dublin manager Tommy Lyons and Anthony McGarry were the other candidates interviewed for the position. Lyons had been favourited by many to take over from John O'Mahony who resigned in June.
But, in recent days, there was increasing support for the New Zealand-born Horan to take the role after John Maughan's decision to drop out of the running.
Lyons has not managed an inter-county team since his stint in charge of Dublin ended in disappointment six years ago.
Horan, 38, won two All-Star awards as a player with Mayo. He made the All-Star team in 1996 and 1999 as a wing forward, having helped Mayo win the Connacht title in both years.
He has been handed the Mayo managerial reins after guiding Ballintubber to the county final this year.
Mayo Chairman James Waldron welcomed Horan's appointment, saying: "On behalf of the County Board and the selection committee and everybody associated with the GAA and football in Mayo, it gives me great pleasure to welcome James Horan and wish him the very best of luck as senior team manager for a three-year period.
"I have no doubt that he will do a wonderful job. As a player he excelled himself as an All-Star and as a manager of his club Ballintubber.
"His knowledge of the county, of players and of the club scene is second to none and that is what is needed in this county."
Meanwhile, it was announced at tonight's Mayo County Board meeting that beaten All-Ireland finalists Down will travel to McHale Park on Sunday, February 6 to face Mayo in their 2011 Allianz NFL Division 1 opener.
