A safe bet

Boylesports chief executive Daniel O’ Mahony tells Liam Mackey why the company backed the Black Cats.

WHEN Boylesports and Sunderland announced in April that the Irish bookmakers were taking over as the club’s official sponsor, owner and founder, John Boyle, raised a few eyebrows — not least those of a certain Roy Keane — when he told a press conference at the Stadium of Light that he could see the Black Cats winning not only the Premiership, but the Champions League.

“I think it might be wise to urge a bit of caution,” chairman, Niall Quinn, was quick to interject. Still, just five months on, Sunderland have at least given themselves a shot — albeit a long one — at delivering on the first part of that forecast but, even with expectation rising daily on Wearside as the new season looms, Boylesports’ chief executive, Daniel O’Mahony, is not about to be tempted into emulating his boss in the colourful prediction stakes.