John Maughan: Time to forgive Cormac Reilly

John Maughan insists Mayo supporters are a forgiving type and won’t give Cormac Reilly a hard time of it when he takes charge of their crucial final round game against Donegal in Castlebar on Sunday.

Wed, 29 Mar, 2017 - 01:00

John Fogarty

John Fogarty is the Irish Examiner’s GAA correspondent, with unique insights into the action on the pitch and in the Gaelic games’ corridors of power.

It is the Meath official’s first appointment to a Mayo league or championship game since the 2014 All-Ireland final replay defeat to Kerry in Limerick, a performance which drew the ire of several fans, including one who invaded the field and was later suspended by the GAA.

The Sunday Game analyst Kevin McStay described his officiating as “appalling”, while then manager James Horan, who stepped down after the game, lamented: “I’m not looking at refereeing decisions because it is not good for the soul.”