Maughan returns for Mayo

JOHN MAUGHAN last night ended weeks of speculation and accepted a second term as Mayo manager.

Maughan addressed the 12-man committee set up to find Pat Holmes' replacement in Castlebar last night and told them he expected a backroom team to be in place within a week.

Two players who featured in Maughan's Mayo of the late 90's are expected to be in that management team one a current player, the other has since turned to the coaching ranks.

"It's a challenge and one I'm looking forward to a lot,""It's a challenge and one I'm looking forward a lot to, said Maughan, who dispelled rumours he was to resign from the plumb club post as manager of his home club Crossmolina.

Maughan has an impeccable record in management with Mayo the one blot on his copybook being two All-Ireland defeats in 1996 and 1997.

Howeve, he did lead his county to three Connacht championship titles in three years including an emotional dethroning of Galway then All-Ireland champions in Tuam in 1999. Last year's under-21 side were beaten All-Ireland finalists, while this year's side were short-headed by eventual All-Ireland champions Galway in the Connacht final. "Considering the age profile of the team, I think the way forward for the moment is to combine both jobs the senior and under-21,' he said. Just over two weeks ago Maughan helped Crossmolina regain their Mayo senior crown and already they have been installed hot favourites for provincial glory with their sights firmly set on the All-Ireland club crown they won in 2000. Speculation was rife in Mayo yesterday that Maughan had addressed the Crossmolina panel, informing them of his decision to rejoin the Mayo management.

It had been reported that he was to leave the post within weeks.

"That's complete rubbish, I can tell you. I have no intention of leaving Crossmolina in the middle of the season we have lots of work to do." Meanwhile Cork footballer Ciaran O'Sullivan has reacted angrily to newspaper suggestions that he and his fellow players did not receive playing equipment during the season.

He has also criticised a report which quoted him as saying that certain aspects of the county's preparations this year were a "joke."

"We would hardly have reached this year's All-Ireland semi-final if our preparations were a joke", said a clearly upset O'Sullivan. "On the question of playing gear, it is not correct to say that we did not receive football boots. Every member of the panel received two pairs of boots and to suggest otherwise is wrong and unfair to me, the team management, and the county board.

"Of course there are problems but nothing that cannot be rectified through dialogue between the players, selectors and the county board.

"I'm being held up to ridicule because of those totally unfounded claims in a Sunday newspaper. I've made incredible sacrifices in order to play for Cork, and don't deserve to be misquoted or mistreated by the media.