One of the worst kept secrets in football was confirmed this evening when the Mayo county board officially announced that Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes will take over from James Horan as the senior county managers.
It had been widely speculated that the pair would take up the post and in a statement from the county board this evening that speculation was proved correct.
Today Saturday 20th September 2014 the Mayo Senior Football Team Interview Committee met with the Executive of the Mayo County Board where they gave the recommendation that Noel Connolly & Pat Holmes be put forward for the position as Senior Football Team Manager.
The pair have previously taken charge of the Mayo U21 panel together and they led them to an All Ireland title in 2006. A number of the players from that team have since progressed to the senior panel including Ger Cafferkey, Colm Boyle and Seamus O’Shea.
Holmes, who stood down as Castlebar Mitchells boss earlier this year, previously led the senior team between 1999 and 2002. Connelly is currently in charge of Hollymount/Carramore.
Many had assumed that Kevin McStay would be in line for the position, yet, although it was confirmed that he was in the running, the board have obviously decided that he wasn't the right man for the job.
The other candidate in the process, Kevin McStay, was this afternoon informed of this intention. Mr McStay, while very disappointed, stated he was happy with the board’s decision and wished Noel Connolly and Pat Holmes the very best with their future endeavours.
Picture credit; Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
