Maughan amazed McGarrity overlooked for award
Maughan believes his side's deflating All-Ireland SFC final experience cost the county more representatives on the year's best selection.
The Ballina man, who had played basketball on a scholarship in the US, was a central factor in the Connacht side's run to the championship decider with Kerry in September.
However, Fermanagh's Martin McGrath and Tyrone's Sean Cavanagh have been preferred in the midfield slots by the adjudicating panel.
"I'm disappointed Ronan McGarrity didn't get an award because I thought he was the find of the year," said Maughan last night.
"I think the fact that we fell so flat in the final mitigated against us. Ronan snuffed Joe Bergin out of it, he snuffed Seamus O'Neill and Sean Cavanagh out of it and he did a great job on Martin McGrath in the semi-final.
"Like I said, had we not had such a poor final I feel we would have had more nominations in the first place. I felt five didn't do our season justice. I'd be thinking of guys like Conor Mortimer and especially Gary Ruane. He's had a brilliant career and now he might never get a nomination."
Maughan accepted that choosing such a team is a thankless task and also admitted that every manager in the country would be making claims for players on their own county sides.
Nevertheless, he feels Mayo's exhilarating contribution to the championship - when they came from long outside odds all the way to the final via the Connacht title - deserved more reward. "People shouldn't forget that we played champagne football against Galway, Roscommon and Tyrone this year. That said, I'm delighted for James Nallen and Ciaran McDonald. I felt the only certainties beforehand were the Gooch and Ciaran. Both of them have had unbelievable years."
Maughan also made cases for players from other counties, highlighting the stunning league campaign Seamus Moynihan had with Kerry before injury curtailed his summer.
"I suppose, the fact Kerry won the league is reflected in the fact they have six players represented, though," the Mayo manager added.
"If you're looking for other players who might feel hard-done by, then you'd have to think of Paddy Bradley and Eoin Brosnan maybe. It is amazing to think there's no Armagh players there either. Stephen McDonald had a good year, as did Tom Kelly with Laois." However, the ex-army man was delighted to be informed that two Fermanagh players had made the 15. Maughan had a spell managing the Erne county in between his stints with his native Mayo.
"I'm delighted for Barry Owens. I know he got injured against us but he had a great year and I know how good a player he is after my time up there. The same for Martin McGrath. He's a very honest lad and he deserves this totally."
Wexford manager Pat Roe welcomed the news last night that Mattie Forde was selected at corner-forward, just weeks after being named the GPA's Footballer of the Year.
"It's a great reflection on the year Wexford football has had and on the performances Mattie put in for us since last February. I thought he was, without a doubt, the best forward in Ireland this year," said Roe.
Meanwhile, the Carlow County Board expect to make an announcement as to the identity of their new senior football manager tomorrow.
It is believed that negotiations have been completed and the only delay at this stage is the fact that county chairman Eddie Byrne is in hospital undergoing a knee operation.
Sources in the county indicate the man in question is an outsider with prior inter-county management experience and who was a well-known figure nationwide in his playing days.
Former Dublin goalkeeper and captain John O'Leary's name has been mentioned, although he was uncontactable last night. O'Leary served as a Dublin selector under Tommy Carr, managed Wicklow's senior footballers and guided the Dublin senior ladies' team to last year's All-Ireland final.
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