Mike Finnerty in the Mayo News is reporting that George Golden, Padraic Walsh and Tony Duffy have all allowed their names to go forward for the post of Mayo minor bainisteoir, which was vacated when Ray Dempsey moved up to take over the U21 slot last month. George Golden was, of course, a senior selector during the John Maughan II era and so was in the dugout on All-Ireland day in 2004. He was, in addition, part of the sideline team for the U21s that year, where All-Ireland final defeat (six days after the senior final loss) was also destined to be their lot. Padraic Walsh has held club management positions in his native Louisburgh, as well as in Westport and West Mayo and he has been the Mayo GAA Youth Officer since 2007. Tony Duffy was joint manager (along with James Horan) of Ballintubber when the club won the county Intermediate title two years ago and he’s been having a fruitful time of it on the coaching front of late along with Maurice Sheridan at Kiltimagh Community School.
Mike says in his report that it’s not clear whether or not any other names were put forward ahead of yesterday’s closing date but, if so, no doubt we’ll hear about it on the jungle drums soon enough. Interviews for the post are set to take place next month. May the best man win and all that.
Thats a bit underwhelming. A pity that James Horan himself didnt put his name forward, from what he has done as a manager and what I have read in his articles he seems to have a bit of steel in him. Golden and Maughan certainly didnt cover themselves in glory at that U21 final. Their idiotic removal of the best Mayo player(Michael Conroy) on the pitch eight mins into injury time actually let to the Armagh winning score. That final had in excess of 12 injury time if I recall. Conroys replacement, cold and not up to the speed of the battle , threw a pass out to one of the Armagh half backs, the rest is history. We need to keep the past away. Even Johnno cant reurrect it.