Maughan to remain at Mayo helm

JOHN MAUGHAN was reappointment Mayo senior football manager for a three-year term last night, after stating he and his selectors were not interested in 12-month appointments.

Maughan addressed a meeting of the Mayo County Board in Castlebar, and said he believed there was huge potential in the county, with future success dependent on the development of minor and U-21 teams.

However, he said he and selectors Liam McHale and George Golden were not prepared to return for a rolling one-year term, as was the case for the previous two years. He said there was no guarantee of success, but he believed there were young players who could bridge the gap to success.

The management were returned for three years after a show of hands.

Meanwhile, Lismore hurler James Shanahan, brother of county star Dan, received a 48-week suspension for striking a referee after the ill-tempered Waterford SHC semi-final against Ballygunner last month.

Match official Michael Wadding stated in his report that he was attacked and struck by Shanahan after the final whistle.

The ban was one of a number of penalties recommended by the GAC and ratified at Monday night's county board meeting.

Lismore goalkeeper and former Waterford net-minder, Brendan Landers, has been suspended for two months while Ballygunner's Paul Flynn and Lismore midfielder Michael Walsh were each given one-month bans.

A fine of €1,000 has been slapped on the Lismore club, with Ballygunner escaping monetary censure.

Flynn and Walsh received straight red cards following a major second-half brawl which resulted in Landers' dismissal by referee Wadding.

He also reported Landers for verbal abuse of one of his umpires.

The GAC has decided that the referee has no case to answer following serious allegations levelled against him, in writing, by Lismore.

"That matter is closed as far as the GAC is concerned," one member said.

However, a Lismore official accused the GAC of wanting only to "sort Lismore out".

The death has occurred of Kevin O'Connor, a member of the first Waterford team to capture the All-Ireland SHC title.

O'Connor, a member of the Erins Own club, who was buried yesterday in Kilmacow, played at right half-forward on the team that defeated Dublin in the 1948 final.

He also won county senior championship honours with Erins Own in 1942, 1946 and 1947.

Leinster yesterday announced their team to play Munster in the semi-final of the M. Donnelly Inter Provincial hurling championship at Croke Park on Sunday (12pm).

LEINSTER (SH v Munster): D Fitzhenry (Wexford); M Kavanagh (Kilkenny); D Ryan (capt) (Wexford); D O'Connor (Wexford); B Whelahan (Offaly); D Ruth (Wexford); JJ Delaney (Kilkenny); M Cordial (Offaly); D Lyng (Kilkenny); B Murphy (Offaly); H Shefflin (Kilkenny); T Walsh (Kilkenny); M Jacob (Wexford); G Hanniffy (Offaly); E Brennan (Kilkenny).

Subs: J McGarry (Kilkenny); N Hickey (Kilkenny); M Travers (Wexford); R McCarthy (Wexford); C Cassidy (Offaly); J Young (Laois); J Hoyne (Kilkenny); C Keaney (Dublin); D O'Callaghan (Dublin); M Jordan (Wexford).